Scenes Nine And Ten

Scene Nine
Now the sheeted furniture is just that; the scene is in an unused, provate smoking room in the Imperial Family Hotel, Temple Street, Birmingham.

Woodie and Arthur recount their trip to Great Wyrley, and how they purchased various pieces of information. They reflect on three suspects.

Dr Butter enters and Arthur questions him in detail about the horse hairs on George’s jacket, which Dr Butter maintains were from the mutilated animal. Once he has left, Arthur and Woodie make a list of ‘things to do.’ Jean enters and speaks to the audience about her relationship with Arthur, reflecting on the nature of lying.

Scene Ten
The hall at Undershaw, Arthur’s Surrey home.

Woodie enters with luggage, followed by Arthur, who is already ripping open envelopes, tearing our letters, checking their contents and discarding letters which do not currently interest him.

In one letter it appears that the handwriting expert has been discredited, and in another Arthur has an invitation to Captain Anson’s for dinner. The case seems to finally be opening up as Act One ends.