low table_ R.). All the proof that I need. If she was
innocent, why didn't she tell me all this when I first questioned her?
Why did she wait until she knew that I had proof--that she had been in
Spencer Lee's rooms?

WILLIAM. She was protecting my sister.

DONOHUE. Women don't hang together like that.

ROSALIE (_upper end of table_ R.). Oh, they do, they do! The poor
creatures!

DONOHUE (_down_ R.). They do not. I know them. (_He turns to_ WILLIAM.)
She wasn't protecting your sister. She was protecting herself. She went
for the letters, of course; and they had tea before she asked for them,
not afterwards.

CROSBY (R.C. _to_ L. _of_ WILLIAM). How do you know that?

DONOHUE. She couldn't take tea with a man she's just killed.

WILLIAM. Why, _damn_ you-- (_Starts_ R.)

CROSBY (_grabbing_ WILLIAM _by shoulders_). Billy!

WILLIAM (_breaks up stage a few steps, then down stage again_). I'm
sorry. I didn't mean to lose my temper. I suppose we've got to take this
thing calmly. Inspector, you honestly believe that Nelly killed this
man?

DONOHUE. Yes.

WILLIAM. Why should she?

DONOHUE. She was engaged to you--he had compromising letters she had
written to him--he was threatening her with exposure--she went to get
her letters. They had tea together--she's admitted that, after we proved
it, and then when he wouldn't give up her letters she killed him. So
much for the first murder. (_Turns away._) Now for the second: she was
sitting next to Wales; he had already threatened her with exposure; in
another minute the medium would have told her name as that of the person
who had been at Spencer Lee's rooms. She pulled her hand away from his,
struck and took his hand again. (_There is a pause._) Young man, you'll
have a hard time tearing apart that chain of evidence.

ROSALIE. Except for the fact that she did never write the man a letter
in 'er life, it is a grand case you 'ave, Inspector.

WILLIAM (_down_ C. _a step_. CROSBY _goes above_ WILLIAM C.). Of course.
Dad, we've lost our brains. She didn't go for her own letters. (WILLIAM
_turns to the_ INSPECTOR.) You were talking of juries. Do you think any
jury will believe that a young girl would kill a man to get back another
woman's letters for her? (_He starts toward door_ L.)

CROSBY. Where are you going?

WILLIAM. To get my sister.

DONOHUE. Wait. (WILLIAM _stops_.) I'll send for Mrs. Trent.

WILLIAM (_crosses_ L.C.). But I want to ask her--

DONOHUE (_inte