to the floor.
The others all rise, chairs are knocked over in the confusion which
follows._)

CROSBY. Stand back, please. (_The others move back a little._ CROSBY
_leans over_ WALES.) Why, he--why--it's impossible.

MRS. CROSBY. Roscoe, look at your hand.

(CROSBY _looks at his hand, takes out his handkerchief and wipes it
hurriedly, then crosses suddenly to the door_ L. ROSALIE _has come out
of her trance and sits staring at_ WALES _as he lies on the floor in
front of her. The two figures are thrown out from the shadows of the
room by the light on the table at the back of_ MADAME LA GRANGE. _The
rest of the room is in semi-darkness._ TRENT _kneels by_ WALES' _body._)

CROSBY. Pollock! Pollock!

POLLOCK (_outside_). Yes, sir.

(TRENT _turns_ WALES' _body over on back._)

CROSBY. Get on the 'phone at once and call up Police Headquarters. Get
Inspector Donohue if you can. Tell him to come to the house at once.

POLLOCK. Very good, sir.

(CROSBY _turns away from the door, and faces the others who have
followed him over._)

WILLIAM. Father, what do you suppose it is? Are you sure that--

MRS. TRENT. It can't be. He was talking and--

MRS. CROSBY. Roscoe, are you sure? Hadn't we better send for a doctor?

(TRENT _is leaning over_ WALES' _body on the floor._)

TRENT. It's no use. He's dead.

CROSBY. Murdered!

TRENT (_rises_). What?

CROSBY. Mr. Wales was stabbed in the back, just as Spencer Lee was
stabbed in the back.

STANDISH. Just as he was asking--just when he was trying to find out
who--

(_There is a knock on the door down_ L.)

CROSBY. What is it?

POLLOCK (_outside of door_). Inspector Donohue was at the Fifty-first
Street Station, sir. He's on his way here. (_There is a pause_). Shall
I unlock the door, sir?

CROSBY. _No_--not until the Inspector tells you.

CURTAIN.

ACT II

_Ten minutes later._

_Discovered:_--CROSBY _standing by the door_ L. ROSALIE _still tied in
chair. Dummy supposed to represent_ WALES' _body, covered by a piece of
drapery, has been placed on chesterfield facing fireplace up_ C.

MRS. TRENT _seated below console table_ L. _end of chesterfield._

MISS EASTWOOD _seated at_ R. _end of console table_ R. _of chesterfield,
rattling book leaves._

STANDISH _standing over_ R. _below table._

MISS STANDISH _is sitting_ L.C.

HELEN--WILLIAM--_standing above table_ R.

MRS. CROSBY _seated_ L. _next to_ ROSALIE. MISS ERSKINE _seated next to_
MRS. CROSB