MISS FARREN.  Mrs. Western, you’re hurting my arm....

MRS. WESTERN.  Come now—­confess!  I won’t be hard on you if you confess—­

     [She wrenches off the bracelet, and releases the girl, who
     staggers back, nursing her wrist.

HARVEY. [Almost beside himself, stamping his foot.] Alice, Alice, will you hear—­

MISS FARREN.  Oh, you have hurt me!  And you’ve no right—­to say such things....

HARVEY.  No, you haven’t, you haven’t!

MRS. WESTERN.  Besides, a bracelet like that! [She holds it up.  To MISS
FARREN.] You won’t confess?  Very well, then.  I’ll send for a policeman.

HARVEY. [Doggedly.] The bracelet is hers.

MRS. WESTERN. [Jeeringly.] Turquoise and emeralds!  Hers!  A coincidence, perhaps.  Very likely.  I’ll give her in charge at once.

HARVEY.  The bracelet is hers, I tell you.

MRS. WESTERN. [Turning furiously on him.] You dare to say that?

HARVEY. [Steadily.] Yes.  Because I myself—­gave it to her.

[There is a moment’s almost stupefied silence; HARVEY and ALICE are face to face. MISS FARREN to the left of her, MRS. BANKET is still at the back, the JUDGE by the fire. MRS. WESTERN breaks the silence.

MRS. WESTERN. [Sternly.] You—­gave—­it—­her?

HARVEY. [Steadily.] Yes.

MRS. WESTERN.  You ask me to believe that you gave a bracelet to—­this person—­my children’s governess?

HARVEY.  I did.

MRS. WESTERN.  An exact copy of the one you gave me?

HARVEY.  I’ve told you—­it’s not an exact copy—­there’s a difference in the setting.

MRS. BANKET.  Nonsense, nonsense, it can’t be—­he’s just saying this—­

JUDGE.  Fanny, don’t interfere.

HARVEY.  I’m saying what’s true.

MRS. WESTERN.  I refuse to believe it.  It’s incredible.  You’ve not sunk so low as that.  It’s a lie.

HARVEY. [Indignantly.] Alice!

MRS. WESTERN.  Yes, a lie.  A trumped-up story.  The girl has taken it—­

MISS FARREN.  I have not!

MRS. WESTERN.  You can tell that to the magistrate—­[She turns to HARVEY] and you too, if you like. [She moves to the bell.

JUDGE. [Putting out a hand to stop her.] Alice—­

MRS. WESTERN.  Leave me alone, Tom.  I know what I’m doing.  I’ll send for a policeman.

HARVEY. [Imploringly.] Alice, Alice—­

MRS. WESTERN. [Pausing, with her hand on the bell.] I’ll let the girl off, if you’ll tell me the truth.

HARVEY.  I have told you the truth.

MRS. WESTERN.  You persist in this silly falsehood?

HARVEY.  It isn’t—­I tell you it isn’t!

MRS. WESTERN.  Very well, then.

[She presses the bell.  At that moment the door bursts open, and MARTIN comes in triumphantly, with the bracelet on a salver. SMITHERS and WILLIAM are behind him, but do not pass beyond the threshold.

MARTIN. [Eagerly.] Ma’am, ma’am, we’ve found the—­