There is another
pause._ FARRANT, _getting up to pace about, breaks it._
FARRANT. Look here, Wedgecroft, one thing is worrying me. Had Trebell any
foreknowledge of what she did and the risk she was running and could he have
stopped it?
WEDGECROFT. [_Almost ill-temperedly._] How could he have stopped it?
FARRANT. Because ... well, I'm not a casuist ... but I know by instinct when
I'm up against the wrong thing to do; and if he can't be cleared on that
point I won't lift a finger to save him.
HORSHAM. [_With nice judgment._] In using the term Any Foreknowledge,
Farrant, you may be more severe on him than you wish to be.
FARRANT, _unappreciative, continues._
FARRANT. Otherwise ... well, we must admit, Cantelupe, that if it hadn't
been for the particular consequence of this it wouldn't be anything to be so
mightily shocked about.
CANTELUPE. I disagree.
FARRANT. My dear fellow, it's our business to make laws and we know the
difference of saying in one of 'em you may or you must. Who ever proposed to
insist on pillorying every case of spasmodic adultery? One would never have
done! Some of these attachments do more harm ... to the third party, I mean
... some less. But it's only when a menage becomes socially impossible that
a sensible man will interfere. [_He adds quite unnecessarily._] I'm speaking
quite impersonally, of course.
CANTELUPE.
Pages:
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91