The Thirteenth Chair | Page 5

you keep meeting Jimmy 'e may marry you.
(MISS EASTWOOD moves up stage a step.)
CROSBY (upper end of table R.). Would you mind telling me how you

know this young lady was going to meet Jimmy at the Ritz to-morrow
afternoon?
ROSALIE. She did leave 'is letter in 'er bag in the 'all, and while I wait
I 'ave read it.
MISS EASTWOOD (C.). How did you know it was my bag?
ROSALIE. The stuff of the bag matches the stuff of your dress.
MRS. CROSBY (seated below table R.). Then it is all trickery?
ROSALIE. It is, madame, and it is not. I tell you, madame, most of the
time it is tricks, with even the best of us. But there 'ave been times in
my life when it was not tricks. There 'ave been things I could not
understand myself, messages from them that 'ave passed on, madame.
There is a power--a wonderful power--that come to us. But you never
can tell when it is coming. And if you waited for it you would starve to
death. So when it is not there we use tricks.
MRS. CROSBY (seated at lower end 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