COKESON. [Reluctantly] I ought to tell you, perhaps. I've had the party here this morning.
JAMES. I thought so. [To WALTER] No, my dear boy, it won't do. Too shady altogether!
COKESON. The two things together make it very awkward for you—I see that.
WALTER. [Tentatively] I don't quite know what we have to do with his private life.
JAMES. No, no! He must make a clean sheet of it, or he can't come here.
WALTER. Poor devil!
COKESON. Will you—have him in? [And as JAMES nods] I think I can get him to see reason.
JAMES. [Grimly] You can leave that to me, COKESON.
WALTER. [To JAMES, in a low voice, while COKESON is summoning
FALDER] His whole future may depend on what we do, dad.
FALDER comes in. He has pulled himself together, and presents a steady front.