DONOHUE.  I didn’t kill him. (There is a long pause, then he turns with a sweeping gesture.) Which one of you did? (Slight movement from others.  There is another long pause.  No one speaks.  He moves very quietly down R.C. to below table R.) Now, I’m not going to employ the usual police methods.  There is to be no threatening or badgering.  But you all can see that there can be no escape for the guilty person.  I realize that this is a terrible situation for all of you, but the only way to relieve it is for the murderer of Mr. Wales to confess. (Another pause.) It will save a long, and I assure you, a very trying police investigation.  Let me say also that there will be no recriminations, no unpleasant scenes.  I realize that this seems a very weak plea for a confession.  But I am counting on the intelligence of the people now in this room. (He takes out his watch and holds it face upward in his hand.) I have unlimited time, but not a great deal of patience.  Well? (There is another long pause.  He finally replaces his watch with a little gesture of finality.) Very well then. (He turns suddenly to MISS EASTWOOD, who is still seated up R.C.) What is your name?

MISS EASTWOOD.  Mary Eastwood.

DONOHUE.  A moment ago, Miss Eastwood, you started to tell me something.  You said, “If you ask me—­” Now I am asking you.  What was it you wanted to tell me?

MISS EASTWOOD (seated R. of console table R.).  I don’t want to especially.  But I think I ought to tell you this.  No one else seems to have thought of it.  When the seance started we were all sitting in a circle holding each others’ hands.  As I understand it—­

DONOHUE.  We can take it for granted that I know how that is done.  Go on, please.

MISS EASTWOOD.  The medium got out of the circle without our knowing it, and then showed us how she did the trick.

DONOHUE.  I see.

MISS EASTWOOD.  Why couldn’t she have done it again?  Of course, that’s what someone did, isn’t it?  And if she could get out of the circle without our knowing it, she could get back in again, couldn’t she?

(HELEN rises. MISS EASTWOOD continues with an air of triumph.)

That’s what I wanted to tell you.

ROSALIE.  If any one of you, or all of you, can get me out of this chair without untying me or cutting me loose, I will say that I ’ave done that murder.

(HELEN sits above table R.)

DONOHUE.  Thank you, Miss Eastwood.  It’s only fair to tell you that there isn’t a trick or an effect that these people do that the police do not understand perfectly.

ROSALIE.  Is that so?

(DONOHUE goes over and examines the way in which ROSALIE is tied to the chair.)

DONOHUE.  Why was she tied up?

CROSBY (down L.C.).  At her own request.  As Miss Eastwood says, she showed us how she broke out of the circle and then suggested that we tie her into that chair to make sure she didn’t do it again.