GERALD. Disgrace? what disgrace?
SIR JAMES. Well, of course, he hasn't been found guilty yet.
GERALD. What's that got to do with it? What does it matter what a
lot of rotten jurymen think of him? _We_ know that he has done
nothing disgraceful.
LADY FARRINGDON. I'm sure Pamela wouldn't think anything like that
of your brother, dear.
GERALD. Of course she wouldn't. She's been a perfect angel to Bob
these last few weeks. What does it matter if he does go to prison?
SIR JAMES. I suppose you think I shall enjoy telling my neighbours,
when they ask me what my elder boy is doing, that he's--ah--in
prison.
GERALD. Of course you won't enjoy it, and I don't suppose Bob will
enjoy it either, but that's no reason why we should make it worse
for him by pretending that he's a disgrace to the family. (Half to
himself) If anything we've done has helped to send him to prison
then it's we who should be ashamed.
SIR JAMES. I don't profess to know anything about business, but I
flatter myself that I understand my fellow men. If I had been in
Bob's place, I should have pretty soon seen what that fellow Marcus
was up to. I don't want to be unfair to Bob; I don't think that any
son of mine would do a dishonourable action; but the Law is the
Law, and if the Law sends Bob to prison I can't help feeling the
disgrace of it.
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