You've thought of a great deal, John—you've not thought of the child. I can't let the child skulk into the world like a thief. Let him come in openly and lawfully. And let him go through the world with an honest name. Good heavens, the world's bad enough without fettering him all his life with a hideous stigma.
John.
Oh, my dear Basil ...
Basil.
[Interrupting.] You can bring forward a thousand objections, but nothing alters the fact that, under the circumstances, there's only one way open to a man of honour.
John.
[Drily.] Well, it's a way that may do credit to your heart, but scarcely to your understanding.
Basil.
I thought you'd see at once that I was doing the only possible thing.
John.