s dead.

MISS EASTWOOD (_still seated_ R.C.). Yes, and if you ask me--

DONOHUE. Just a minute, please, miss. (_He turns to_ CROSBY.) It must
have been very sudden. Why, only this afternoon I-- Did he ask you to
send for me?

CROSBY (L.C.). Inspector, you don't seem to understand. Mr. Wales was
murdered in this room not fifteen minutes ago.

(_Other characters keep the same positions as when the curtain rose._)

DONOHUE (_his manner changing abruptly_). Mike! That door! (SERGEANT
DUNN _closes door_ L. _and stands in front of it._) Where have you taken
him?

CROSBY (_pointing to the chesterfield_ C.). There.

(DONOHUE _goes up_ L. _end of chesterfield to_ C. _and stands looking
down on the body. There is a long pause, and then slowly raising his
head looks with terrible deliberation at each person in the room._ MASON
_moves to_ R. _end of chesterfield._)

DONOHUE. Who did this?

CROSBY. We don't know.

DONOHUE (_very quietly_). Then I expect we'll have to find out. (_He
comes down by the_ R. _end of the chesterfield and stops when he sees_
ROSALIE. _He gives a short laugh as he sees how she is tied to the
chair._) What's this?

MRS. CROSBY (_rises_). Good Heavens, we forgot to untie her! I'm so
sorry.

ROSALIE. Thank you, madame. I am quite comfortable. I will stay as I am
if you do not mind.

MRS. CROSBY. But--

DONOHUE. I think we'll leave things as they are for the present.

(MRS. CROSBY _resumes the same seat as before._)

ROSALIE. A policeman with brains! Oh, la-la!

DONOHUE. Let's see if he can't use them then. (_Moving to _ CROSBY
_down_ L.C. _and standing on his_ R. _side._) Now, Mr. Crosby, tell me
exactly what happened.

CROSBY. I know it sounds foolish, but we were having a spiritualistic
seance. Madame la Grange is a medium.

DONOHUE. I see.

CROSBY. We were sitting in the dark, in a circle, you know, holding
hands. Suddenly Wales cried out. I called to my son to turn on the
light. He did so. Wales was leaning forward in his chair. His hands were
in those of the people he sat between, and all the rest of us were
sitting around.

DONOHUE. All of you?

CROSBY. Yes.

DONOHUE. I thought you told your son to turn on the lights.

CROSBY. If you're implying that--

DONOHUE. I'm not implying anything, and please answer my questions.

WILLIAM (_rises, and stands back of table_ R.). Inspector, I was sitting
there, and simply made a move to turn on the light. I had chosen the
seat pu