Summary

The action is continuous.

As Gerald enters, he says that he has a special reason for coming back. Sheila starts to tell him what happened, but her parents quiet her. Gerald then explains that as he was out walking, he encountered a police sergeant he knows. Gerald says that he described Goole to the sergeant, and that the sergeant says that there was no such man on the force.

Birling and Mrs. Birling react happily, with Mrs. Birling saying there is no way a real police officer would speak to them the way Goole did. Birling makes a telephone call to police headquarters, and quickly confirms that no-one named Goole, or who looks like Goole, has recently joined the force. He comments that this fact makes all the difference, leading Sheila to comment sarcastically that they are “all nice people now” (59). She...