Rupert (looking at chest from chair). Isn’t there a lock on that, though?
[Pause.
Brandon. Yes. There is.
Leila (suddenly and brightly). Oh, my dear! You’ve forgotten! (Handing the ball of string to Raglan.) He’s got his murdered man in here!
Raglan. Oh, so he has! We’d forgotten that, hadn’t we?
Leila. Well, you may have. I hadn’t. I say, can I have another spot?
Brandon. I’m sorry, Leila. (Goes over to sideboard.) And you too, Kenneth?
Raglan. Well—I think I would—really. . . .
Leila (tugging at string). Yes, that’s what he’s been committing (tug)—Murder—(tug)—(To Raglan) Finger, please. No—here. That’s right. And we’ve caught him (tug) red (tug) handed.
Brandon (from sideboard. Jokingly and easily.) Ah, Leila. You don’t know how near the mark you are.
Leila. Oh—don’t I? I know exactly what’s inside this chest.
Brandon. What?
Leila. There’s an old, old man. You picked him up selling papers in the street, and you did him to death for the gold fillings in his teeth. You’ve a lust for gold, my dear.
Brandon. Oh—I see you’ve been following me.
Leila (looking at lock and fumbling with it). No. It is locked, isn’t it? And why a padlock? What have you got in it?
Brandon. But you know, Leila. You have already explained to us what is in it.
Leila. No. (At parcel again.) I honestly think you ought to let us have a look. Have you got the key?
Brandon. Yes. I’ve got the key. It’s in my waistcoat pocket.
Leila. Well—hand it over and let’s have a look inside.
[ 57 ]
