Stopping Dancy, who is about to speak, with a gesture.

To satisfy a debt of honour to this—­lady; and, no doubt, to save your wife from hearing of it from the man Ricardos.  Is that so?

Dancy.  To the life.

Twisden.  It was mad, Captain Dancy, mad!  But the question now is:  What do you owe to your wife?  She doesn’t dream—­I suppose?

Dancy. [With a twitching face] No.

Twisden.  We can’t tell what the result of this collapse will be.  The police have the theft in hand.  They may issue a warrant.  The money could be refunded, and the costs paid—­somehow that can all be managed.  But it may not help.  In any case, what end is served by your staying in the country?  You can’t save your honour—­that’s gone.  You can’t save your wife’s peace of mind.  If she sticks to you—­do you think she will?

Dancy.  Not if she’s wise.

Twisden.  Better go!  There’s a war in Morocco.

Dancy. [With a bitter smile] Good old Morocco!

Twisden.  Will you go, then, at once, and leave me to break it to your wife?

Dancy.  I don’t know yet.

Twisden.  You must decide quickly, to catch a boat train.  Many a man has made good.  You’re a fine soldier.

Dancy.  There are alternatives.

Twisden.  Now, go straight from this office.  You’ve a passport, I suppose; you won’t need a visa for France, and from there you can find means to slip over.  Have you got money on you? [Dancy nods].  We will see what we can do to stop or delay proceedings.

Dancy.  It’s all damned kind of you. [With difficulty] But I must think of my wife.  Give me a few minutes.

Twisden.  Yes, yes; go in there and think it out.

     He goes to the door, Right, and opens it.  Dancy passes him and goes
     out.  Twisden rings a bell and stands waiting.

Clerk. [Entering] Yes, sir?

Twisden.  Tell them to call a taxi.

Clerk. [Who has a startled look] Yes, sir.  Mr Graviter has come in, air, with General Canynge.  Are you disengaged?

Twisden.  Yes.

     The clerk goes out, and almost immediately Graviter and Canynge
     enter.  Good-morning, General. [To Graviter]

Well?

Graviter.  Sir Frederic got up at once and said that since the publication of the numbers of those notes, information had reached him which forced him to withdraw from the case.  Great sensation, of course.  I left Bromley in charge.  There’ll be a formal verdict for the defendant, with costs.  Have you told Dancy?

Twisden.  Yes.  He’s in there deciding what he’ll do.

Canynge. [Grave and vexed] This is a dreadful thing, Twisden.  I’ve been afraid of it all along.  A soldier!  A gallant fellow, too.  What on earth got into him?