rward to help her mistress, but is caught and
held struggling by Chalmers, who twists her arm and finally
compels her to become quiet._)

(_Margaret, struggling and resisting, is hustled across stage and
behind screen, the Maids warming up to their work. One of them
emerges from behind screen for the purpose of getting a chair,
upon which Margaret is evidently forced to sit. The screen is of
such height, that occasionally, when standing up and struggling,
Margaret's bare arms are visible above the top of it. Muttered
exclamations are heard, and the voice of Housekeeper trying to
persuade Margaret to sub-mit._)

{Margaret}

(_Abruptly, piteously._) No! No!

(_The struggle becomes more violent, and the screen is overturned,
disclosing Margaret seated on chair, partly undressed, and
clutching an envelope in her hand which they are trying to force
her to relinquish._)

{Mrs. Starkweather}

(_Crying wildly._) Anthony! They are taking her clothes off!

(_Renewed struggle of Linda with Chalmers at the sight._)

(_Starkweather, calling Rutland to his assistance, stands screen
up again, then, as an afterthought, pulls screen a little further
away from Margaret._)

{Margaret}

No! No!

(_Housekeeper appears triumphantly with envelope in her hand and
hands it to Hubbard._)

{Hubbard}

(_Immediately._) That's not it.

(_Glances at address and starts._) It's addressed to Knox.

{Starkweather}

Tear it open. Read it.

(_Hubbard tears envelope open._) (_While this is going on, struggle
behind screen is suspended._)

{Hubbard}

(_Withdrawing contents of envelope._) It is only a photograph--of
Mrs. Chalmers.

(_Reading._) "For the future--Margaret."

{Chalmers}

(_Thrusting Linda back to right front and striding up to Hubbard._)
Give it to me. (_Hubbard passes it to him, and he looks at it,
crumples it in his hand, and grinds it under foot._)

{Starkweather}

That is not what we wanted, Mrs. Middleton. Go on with the
search.

(_The search goes on behind the screen without any further
struggling._) (_A pause, during which screen is occasionally
agitated by the searchers removing Margaret's garments._)

{Housekeeper}

(_Appearing around corner of screen._) I find nothing else, sir.

{Starkweather}

Is she stripped?

{Housekeeper}

Yes, sir.

{Starkweather}

Every stitch?

{Housekeeper}

(_Disappearing behind screen instead of answering for a pause,
during which it is patent that the