r-blades and no knife ever found. Nothing
stolen, nothing disturbed. The police have found out that a young woman
called to see him that afternoon, two or three hours before his body was
discovered. That's all that we know.

TRENT (_with a laugh--still seated in circle_). And now you're going to
try spiritualism?

WALES. Why not? (_There is a pause._) Do any of you object?

TRENT. Certainly not. I'm rather for it.

MASON (_rises, still on_ L. _of table_ R.). You are doing this
seriously? This is not a joke?

WALES. Quite seriously. (_There is a pause._) Well, why won't somebody
laugh?

CROSBY. My dear fellow, why should anyone laugh? This queer old woman
may have powers of which we know nothing at all. Personally, I haven't
much belief in that sort of thing, but I'm not going to laugh at it.
(_Rise._) Neither am I going to have any trickery, or if there is any
I'm going to expose it.

WALES (_over_ L.). That's perfectly fair.

CROSBY. You've been at her seances, or whatever they call them, before?

WALES. Yes.

CROSBY. In the dark?

WALES. Invariably.

CROSBY. I may want light. (_He turns to his son._) Billy, if I call for
lights you give them to me. Don't wait for anything. Understand?

WILLIAM. Perfectly, dad.

(WILLIAM _goes up to small table_ R. _of chesterfield. Brings table with
lamp on it down to his chair and the chair next to it in the circle_.)

CROSBY (_still in circle._) That's all right then.

(_The door_ L. _opens_. MRS. CROSBY _enters, followed by_ MADAME LA
GRANGE _and the other ladies_. WALES _moves to_ R.C. _outside circle_,
STANDISH _to upper end of table_ R., TRENT _to_ L. _side of circle_.)

MRS. CROSBY. I think it wasn't fair of us.

ROSALIE. Oh, madame, I did not mind.

(MRS. CROSBY _crosses back of chesterfield to up_ R.C.)

MISS EASTWOOD (_down_ L.). I can assure you there isn't anything up her
sleeve.

ROSALIE. Well, what did you expect? Burglar's tools?

(MISS EASTWOOD _goes up to_ L. _end of chesterfield_. MRS. TRENT _closes
door down_ L. _She and_ HELEN _move up_ L. _with_ Miss STANDISH.)

WALES (_over_ R.). Madame la Grange, we've fastened the windows.

(TRENT, STANDISH, ERSKINE _by console table_ L. _of chesterfield_.)

ROSALIE. That is right. You cannot be too careful, eh?

CROSBY. And now, if you don't mind, I'm going to lock the doors and keep
the keys in my pocket.

ROSALIE. Anything you do wish, sir. It is all the same to me.

(_Goes inside circle a