y
wife.

{Hubbard}

All right. She--Mrs. Chalmers visited Knox in his rooms last
night.

{Mrs. Starkweather}

(_Bursting out._) Oh! Oh! My Madge! It is a lie! A lie! (_Kicks
violently with her legs._) (_Connie soothes her._)

{Chalmers}

You've got to prove that, Hubbard. If you have made any mistake
it will go hard with you.

{Hubbard}

(_Indicating Margaret._) Look at her. Ask her.

(_Chalmers looks at Margaret with growing suspicion._)

{Margaret}

Linda was with me. And Tommy. I had to see Mr. Knox on a very
important matter. I went there in the machine. I took Linda and
Tommy right into Mr. Knox's room.

{Chalmers}

(_Relieved._) Ah, that puts a different complexion on it.

{Hubbard}

That is not all. Mrs. Chalmers sent the maid and the boy down to
the machine and remained.

{Margaret}

(_Quickly._) But only for a moment

{Hubbard}

Much longer--much, much longer. I know how long I was kicking my
heels and waiting.

{Margaret}

(_Desperately._) I say it was but for a moment--a short moment.

{Starkweather}

(_Abruptly, to Hubbard._) Where were you?

{Hubbard}

In Knox's bedroom. The fool had forgotten all about me. He was
too delighted with his--er--new visitor.

{Starkweather}

You said you saw.

{Hubbard}

The bedroom door was ajar. I opened it.

{Starkweather}

What did you see?

{Margaret}

(_Appealing to Hubbard._) Have you no mercy? I say it was only a
moment.

(_Hubbard shrugs his shoulders._)

{Starkweather}

We'll settle the length of that moment Tommy is here, and so is
the maid. Connie, Margaret's maid is here, isn't she? (_Connie
does not answer._) Answer me!

{Connie}

Yes.

{Starkweather}

{Dobleman}.

Ring for a maid and tell her to fetch Tommy and Mrs. Chalmer's
maid.

(_Dobleman goes to desk and pushes button once._)

{Margaret}

No! Not Tommy!

{Starkweather}

(_Looking shrewdly at Margaret, to Dobleman._) Mrs. Chalmer's maid
will do.

(_A knock is heard at left rear. Dobleman opens door and talks to
maid. Closes door._)

{Starkweather}

Lock it.

(_Dobleman locks door._)

{Chalmers}

(_Coming over to Margaret._) So you, the immaculate one, have been
playing fast and loose.

{Margaret}

You have no right to talk to me that way, Tom--

{Chalmers}

I am your husband.

{Margaret}

You have long since ceased being that.

{Chalmers}

What do you mean?

{Margaret}

I mean just what you have in mind abo