ou noticed nothing unusual in this woman's manner?

CROSBY. I'd never seen her before.

DONOHUE. I mean, she did nothing to attract your attention; the fact
that Helen Trent was in the room made no impression on her?

CROSBY. Seemingly not.

DONOHUE. Then Helen O'Neill came in. (_Goes up to_ HELEN C., _then
crosses down to_ ROSALIE L. _Sharply to her_.) Rosalie la Grange, what's
that girl to you?

ROSALIE. Nothing at all.

DONOHUE (C.). Nothing at all! Then why did you try to deceive me as to
where she sat. Why did you place her so that I would not know she was
sitting next to Mr. Wales when he was stabbed?

ROSALIE. It was just my mistake. I did not do it on purpose.

DONOHUE. I'm afraid that won't do. It's perfectly apparent that the name
you were to speak was--Helen, What's the use of lying to me! You've
tried your best to shield this girl. I want to know why.

ROSALIE. There's no reason. I never saw the young lady before in all my
life.

DONOHUE. What's that girl to you?

ROSALIE. Nothing, nothing at all--

DONOHUE (_starts to_ ROSALIE). _Damn you_, you old harridan, you come
across--

HELEN (_springing forward from up_ R.C. _down to_ L.C. _and pushing_
DONOHUE _up stage_). Let my mother alone, let my mother alone.

(_She goes to_ ROSALIE, _puts her arms around her. Pause._ ROSALIE
_weeps_.)

DONOHUE (_very quietly_). I thought perhaps I'd get it that way.

HELEN (_getting_ L. _side of_ ROSALIE). There, there, dear, it's all
right, it's all right.

DONOHUE (_with a grim smile, coming down_ C.). Of course it's all right!
We've got the finger-prints and--

WILLIAM (_interrupting him--coming down to_ C.). If you think for one
minute I'm going to let you--

CROSBY. My boy, wait! (_grabbing him and pinning down his arms to his
sides_ C.). Think what--

WILLIAM. Think nothing. (_He shakes himself free and goes to_ DONOHUE
L.C.) That's the girl I love, and I'll be _damned_ if I let you take her
finger-prints.

DONOHUE. Young man, don't be a fool. I'm sorry, but it's too clear.

ROSALIE (_breaking away from her daughter and moving to_ DONOHUE
C.). Clear--how is it too clear? Inspector, you are never going to
accuse my little girl of a thing like that?

DONOHUE (C.). She was next to him; she had only to free one hand and
strike, and then take his hand again!

ROSALIE. There was something else she had to do before she could ever do
that. She had to have murder in her heart.

DONOHUE. Well?