{Margaret}
I know everything--and without evidence, if you please. I am a woman. It is your atmosphere. Faugh! You have exhaled it for years. I doubt not that proofs, as you would call them, could have been easily obtained. But I was not interested. I had my boy. When he came, I gave you up, Tom. You did not seem to need me any more.
{Chalmers}
And so, in retaliation, you took up with this fellow Knox.
{Margaret}
No, no. It is not true, Tom. I tell you it is not true.
{Chalmers}
You were there, last night, in his rooms, alone--how long we shall soon find out--
(_Knock is heard at left rear. Dobleman proceeds to unlock door._) And now you have stolen your father"s private papers for your lover.
{Margaret}
He is not my lover.
{Chalmers}
But you have acknowledged that you have the papers. For whom, save Knox, could you have stolen them?
(_Linda enters. She is white and strained, and looks at Margaret for some cue as to what she is to do._)
{Starkweather}
That is the woman.
(_To Linda._) Come here.
(_Linda advances reluctantly._) Where were you last night? You know what I mean.
(_She does not speak._) Answer me.
{Linda}
I don"t know what you mean, sir--unless--
{Starkweather}
Yes, that"s it. Go on.
{Linda}
But I don"t think you have any right to ask me such questions.
What if I--if I did go out with my young man--
{Starkweather}
(_To Margaret._) A very faithful young woman you"ve got.
(_Briskly, to the others._) There"s nothing to be got out of her.
Send for Tommy. Dobleman, ring the bell.
(_Dobleman starts to obey._)
{Margaret}
(_Stopping Dobleman._) No, no; not Tommy. Tell them, Linda.
(_Linda looks appealingly at her._)
(_Kindly._) Don"t mind me. Tell them the truth.
{Chalmers}
(_Breaking in._) The whole truth.
{Margaret}
Yes, Linda, the whole truth.
(_Linda, looking very woeful, nerves herself for the ordeal._)
{Starkweather}
Never mind, Dobleman.
(_To Linda._) Very well. You were at Mr. Knox"s rooms last night, with your mistress and Tommy.
{Linda}
Yes, sir.
{Starkweather}
Your mistress sent you and Tommy out of the room.
{Linda}
Yes, sir.
{Starkweather}
You waited in the machine.