The Thirteenth Chair | Page 5

of table at R.). I think I understand.
ROSALIE. Do you, madame? I thought you would.
(She moves to and puts her hand-bag on the table R. MRS. TRENT, seated below door down L., is joined by WALES. MASON is standing in front of the fireplace.)
MISS EASTWOOD (coming to R.C.). Don't you think all this is dishonest!
ROSALIE (in front of table R., turning to her). What is dishonest in it?
MISS EASTWOOD. Tricking a lot of poor ignorant people.
ROSALIE. It is all in the way you look at it. A widow woman came to me this mornin' with a breaking 'eart for the man that was gone. I went into a trance and Laughing Eyes, my spirit control, came with a message from 'im. She said 'e was in heaven with the angels, and there was no cold nor 'unger; and the streets were paved with gold, and there was music and 'appiness everywhere. She told 'er he was thinking of 'er every day and every hour and watching and waiting for the day she would come to 'im. Now wasn't that worth fifty cents of any woman's money? And the man may be in 'ell for all I know!
TRENT (L.C. by arm-chair). What I can't understand is why you are telling us all this.
(MISS EASTWOOD moves to the chesterfield C.)
MRS. TRENT (seated over L. by door). If we know you are fooling--
ROSALIE (going to TRENT). Did not Mr. Wales tell you?
WALES (L.C.). I've told them nothing.
(MASON drops down R. of chesterfield, STANDISH down L. CROSBY is R. end of chesterfield C.)
ROSALIE (C.). Well, tell them now, if you please, sir. (Moves to and sits upper end of table and takes off her gloves.)
WALES (down L.). As I told you some time ago, Madame la Grange has done a lot of things that we can't explain---when I asked her to come here to-night, she said she would under certain conditions.
MASON (between chesterfield and table). You mean test conditions?
WALES. Not exactly. What she said was that no money should pass between us, and that whatever she did, she would be honest.
MASON (very eagerly, and moving towards ROSALIE). You mean that you won't play any tricks?
ROSALIE. If I do, I will tell you.
MISS EASTWOOD (seated on chesterfield C.). Of course we understand all about spirit rappings.
ROSALIE. You do, eh?
STANDISH (down L.). Well, rather.
(CROSBY sits R. end of chesterfield.)
ROSALIE. Well, well, what do you think of that?
MISS EASTWOOD. You have to be near a table or something like that and--
ROSALIE. Maybe a chair or a desk would do?
MISS EASTWOOD. And then in the dark--
ROSALIE. But of course in the dark. And you get one rap for yes and two raps for no. (There is a short pause. ROSALIE rises, comes down C. and says:) Are those spirits near?
(All laugh.)
STANDISH. Oh, no, don't.
(One rap is heard from the back of the fireplace.)
(Little laugh.)
MISS EASTWOOD. But--(Rising and coming down L.C. a step.)
MASON. Oh, please keep still--
(They gather a little closer around ROSALIE.)
ROSALIE. Is it Laughing Eyes?
(One rap is heard--still louder.)
And you cannot talk to me in the light?
(One rap.)
Are you 'appy?
(MRS. TRENT rises.)
(Two raps again.)
Is there someone here you do not like?
(One rap.)
A gentleman?
(Two raps.)
Dear, dear, a lady?
(One rap.)
(She points to MISS EASTWOOD.)
Is it that one?
(One rap.)
Laughing Eyes she do not like you.
(General laugh.)
MASON (R.C.). That's the most wonderful thing I ever heard.
STANDISH (down L.). Oh, I don't think--
MASON. It couldn't be a trick. She just stood there. I watched her hands every minute.
(TRENT goes to arm-chair L.C.)
ROSALIE. You did watch the wrong end of me. I 'ave a wooden sole in my shoe. (She lifts her skirt and shows that she has taken one foot from her slipper.) You do it with your foot. Like this. (Laughingly.) It is a trick.
(MISS EASTWOOD goes to WALES L.C. MRS. TRENT moves up to armchair L.C. STANDISH up to L. end of chesterfield, and then by the back of chesterfield to R.C., CROSBY C. MRS. CROSBY is seated at table R.)
MASON (R.C.). Then if we get any messages--
ROSALIE. If you get any messages? Well, sir, I am telling you the truth now. Most of the time it is a fake. With me as with the others. But to-night there will be no fake. I am a stranger to all of you except to Mr. Wales. I do not know who live in this 'ouse. I do not know the name of any one of you. Mr. Wales told me he wanted me to come 'ere, he said he would send for me. (Moves to R. end of chesterfield.) But 'e did not tell me one word about any of you;
WALES (down L.). That is quite true.
TRENT (by arm-chair L.C.). You haven't given her a hint of any sort?
WALES (L.). On my word of honour.
MASON (above table R.). Madame la Grange.
ROSALIE.