Walter. [Holding out his hand almost timidly] Very glad to see you again, Falder.

Falder. [Who has recovered his self-control, takes the hand] Thank you, sir.

Cokeson.  Just a word, Mr. James. [To Falder, pointing to the clerks’ office] You might go in there a minute.  You know your way.  Our junior won’t be coming this morning.  His wife’s just had a little family.

     Falder, goes uncertainly out into the clerks’ office.

Cokeson. [Confidentially] I’m bound to tell you all about it.  He’s quite penitent.  But there’s a prejudice against him.  And you’re not seeing him to advantage this morning; he’s under-nourished.  It’s very trying to go without your dinner.

James.  Is that so, Cokeson?

Cokeson.  I wanted to ask you.  He’s had his lesson.  Now we know all about him, and we want a clerk.  There is a young fellow applying, but I’m keeping him in the air.

James.  A gaol-bird in the office, Cokeson?  I don’t see it.

Walter.  “The rolling of the chariot-wheels of Justice!” I’ve never got that out of my head.

James.  I’ve nothing to reproach myself with in this affair.  What’s he been doing since he came out?

Cokeson.  He’s had one or two places, but he hasn’t kept them.  He’s sensitive—­quite natural.  Seems to fancy everybody’s down on him.

James.  Bad sign.  Don’t like the fellow—­never did from the first.  “Weak character"’s written all over him.

Walter.  I think we owe him a leg up.

James.  He brought it all on himself.

Walter.  The doctrine of full responsibility doesn’t quite hold in these days.

James. [Rather grimly] You’ll find it safer to hold it for all that, my boy.

Walter.  For oneself, yes—­not for other people, thanks.

James.  Well!  I don’t want to be hard.

Cokeson.  I’m glad to hear you say that.  He seems to see something [spreading his arms] round him.  ’Tisn’t healthy.

James.  What about that woman he was mixed up with?  I saw some one uncommonly like her outside as we came in.

Cokeson.  That!  Well, I can’t keep anything from you.  He has met her.

James.  Is she with her husband?

Cokeson.  No.

James.  Falder living with her, I suppose?

Cokeson. [Desperately trying to retain the new-found jollity] I don’t know that of my own knowledge.  ’Tisn’t my business.

James.  It’s our business, if we’re going to engage him, Cokeson.

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!