CLEMENTINE—There was no tonic in it, Colonel. It was—
COLONEL—I see. An empty bottle. Which you imagine might, at some time in the past, have held—
CLEMENTINE—It wasn’t empty at all. There was dirt inside of it. (PAUSE) — Dirt, and a few pine-needles.
COLONEL—Pine needles, you say. In a hair-tonic bottle.
CLEMENTINE—You see? He was coming from the woods—; I’m sure of it.
COLONEL—You assume that he was coming from the woods. You haven’t—
CLEMENTINE—Do you want to hear about the sack, Colonel?
COLONEL—The sack. Of course. But you seem to think it might have been a heap of linen.
CLEMENTINE—I said no such thing. You note that down, Virgil! (PAUSE)— There was something in that bundle. The size of a tom-cat. (PAUSE)— A bit smaller than that, possibly. (PAUSE) — A baby.
COLONEL (LAUGHS) — Is Parson stealing babies now, Miss Gilchrist?
CLEMENTINE—You tell me something, Colonel. When you’ve finished questioning the rest of us till the blood runs out our ears, will you condescend to interview yourself?
COLONEL—Certainly, miss. Perhaps I’ll do that now.
CLEMENTINE—No. Not now. I haven’t finished yet.
COLONEL—By all means! Disburden yourself entirely.
CLEMENTINE (PAUSE) — I took a walk with Goodman Harvey yesterday.
COLONEL (LAUGHS) — Is no-one safe?
CLEMENTINE—You’d do well to listen to me, Colonel. (PAUSE) — I was surprised when Harvey asked, of course, as he’d never once shown an interest. A walk through the orchard, he said. It was after supper. Something in his manner made me curious. (PAUSE) — We walked to the far fence. He didn’t once look me in the eye, or anywhere else. At the gate I said—: Mr. Harvey, why did you invite me out? Then he turned and looked me over. Mith Clem, you know I am a Mormon by faith, he said. I nodded. He gave a little laugh. That’th why he thelected me, he said. Meaning the R—. (MAKES SIGN OF CROSS)
COLONEL (FROWNS) — The Redeemer, you mean?
CLEMENTINE—Who else?
COLONEL—Note “R—” as the Redeemer, Virgil.
CLEMENTINE—Shall I go on? (PAUSE) — What’s why, Mr. Harvey? I asked. And Harvey said—: Because he knew the thtrength—
COLONEL—Miss Gilchrist! The fact that Harvey spoke with a lisp does not obligate you to do so. We are not upon the stage.
CLEMENTINE—As you like. (PAUSE) — That’s why he selected me, Harvey said. He knew the strength of my belief, Miss Clem, and the childishness of it. (PAUSE) — Then Harvey said—: I have a letter to write tonight. A very lengthy letter. You may read it when it’s done. (PAUSE) — I laughed at him, of course. Why should I be reading your letters, Mr. Harvey? I said. I thought he might be flirting after all. (PAUSE) — Tell him not to look at me that way, Colonel.
COLONEL—What?
CLEMENTINE (POINTING) — Him.
COLONEL—Virgil, could you—? (PAUSE) — Go on, Miss Gilchrist.
CLEMENTINE—Harvey stared at me that same way. You’ll be reading my letter soon enough, Miss Clem, he said. You’ll find it edifying. Then, so quiet that I could barely hear—: Virgil Ball will find it so. Then he took me by my arm. It was the first time that he’d touched me. He took a cautious hold of me, the way a bachelor will, and led me gently back up to my room.
COLONEL (PAUSE) — What then?
CLEMENTINE (LAUGHS) — That’s all, Colonel. If you’re eager for more you’ll have to trust to your old man’s fancy, I’m afraid.
COLONEL (SIGHS) — I assure you, miss — (FROWNS)
CLEMENTINE—What is it?
COLONEL—Who’s that shuffling about outside? Is it Dodds?
CLEMENTINE (NODS) — He was waiting his turn when I came in. Looked a bit skittish. Poor old ham-bones.
COLONEL (STANDS) — Send him in, Miss Gilchrist. You may go.
CLEMENTINE—May I?
(EXIT CLEMENTINE.)
COLONEL—Well, Virgil? What do you make of that? (PAUSE)
COLONEL—True. It would seem to clear Parson, or at least to put him well away from the house. I heard him go out just after eleven, by the parlor clock, and Harvey paid me a call not long after, begging a few sheets of blotting-paper—; so Harvey was alive and hale at twelve o’clock. If, then, Parson was out on one of his night-time jaunts, and Clem met him returning to the house at six — (PAUSE) — But only if she can be trusted. She is a doxie, after all. I shouldn’t wonder, for example, if Clementine and Parson—
(PAUSE)
COLONEL—Of course, Virgil! None whatsoever. I humbly beg your pardon.
COLONEL—So, Dodds. Breakfast is put away then, is it?
DODDS—Yes, Marse D’Ancourt. Stew’s fixin. PAUSE. — Been leavin off yin bed-work—; I know that. Stairs in yin back too narrow to get up with a basket. If you and Marse Virgil would allow—
COLONEL—Go up the front stairs if you have to. Just so the beds get aired and made.
DODDS (PAUSE) — Thank you, Colonel. It’s a case of—
COLONEL—Did you have something to tell us?
DODDS—Tell you, sih?
COLONEL—Something you’ve been keeping secret from us, perhaps.
DODDS (PAUSE) — I mean, I — (PAUSE) — Secrets?
COLONEL (SHOUTS) — Why the devil does everyone gawk at Virgil when I ask them something? Virgil is present as my secretary, you rag-picker! Look at me!
DODDS—Ah! Well I regret about that, Colonel, I’m sure. (PAUSE)— Maybe you has a question for me, sih? So I know what to tell?
COLONEL—I’ve just asked it, Dodds. Collect yourself a moment. (PAUSE) — It can’t have escaped you that Mr. Harvey was taken in the night.
DODDS—It hasn’t, sih, no. A sad loss it is, if you don’t mind.
COLONEL—I don’t mind at all. Do you know how he died?
DODDS (PAUSE) — I heard as he was murthured.
COLONEL—Did you murder him?
DODDS—Sih?
COLONEL—The question doesn’t seem to put you out.
DODDS—It don’t, sih, no. I catch hell for all and sundry.
COLONEL (SMILES) — Who was it told you of his killing?
DODDS—Marse Delamare told it to me.
COLONEL—Ah! Mr. Delamare. I see. (PAUSE) — You have an understanding, then, the two of you?
DODDS (FROWNS) — Sih?
COLONEL—I mean you talk to one another. (PAUSE) — Share your thoughts about the goings-on. Your views.
DODDS (PAUSE) — That’s so, Colonel. I suppose we do.
COLONEL—You’re friends with Mr. Delamare, in a word.