POLLOCK (outside).  I don’t know, I’m sure.  I was told to lock the door.  I don’t know what’s been going on inside.  Then I was told to call you.  This is the right key for that door.

(The noise of the key being put into the lock can be heard, then the click as it is turned in the lock, then the door is opened, and INSPECTOR DONOHUE in plain clothes comes well on stage L. He is seen to be a clean-cut, intelligent-looking man of fifty.  It later develops that he is reserved and extremely quiet in manner.  He speaks like a gentleman and acts like one. SERGEANT DUNN enters also and drops below door L.)

DONOHUE.  Where’s Mr. Wales?

CROSBY (L.C.).  How did you know that Wales—­

DONOHUE (L. of CROSBY, interrupting him).  I don’t know anything.  I was thinking of something else.  I was told that I was wanted here in a hurry.

CROSBY.  Queer your asking for Wales.  Mr. Wales is dead; that’s why I sent for you.

DONOHUE.  Wales is what?

CROSBY.  Wales is 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.