House by the River Page #5

three weeks ago?

What you mean is, about the time

that Emily Gaunt disappeared?

I must ask you not to mind

what I mean, Mr Byrne.

Would you say it was... four perhaps?

I couldn't be sure.

Then, would you say it was near the

time that Emily Gaunt disappeared?

I couldn't be sure!

The collection of firewood

unlike a marriage or a birthday,

is not a festive moment in my life.

I don't remember.

But you do remember the testimony that

the sack was stolen from your brother?

Will you kindly give an oral answer to

the questions asked at this inquest?

I do.

Does it not strike you

as being rather odd...

that a thief would bother

to take an object of such...

little value?

I wouldn't know.

Or, that a girl...

If we conced for a moment

that Emily Gaunt took it...

Do you think she would have taken

such a sack with her to some...

mysterious rendevous?

I am not here to answer riddles.

No, I shouldn't think you were.

Mr Byrne, I will be more direct then.

Did you know the deceased

Emily Gaunt...

intimately?

Mr Byrne, I asked you...

- She was employed by my brother!

I knew Emily Gaunt by sight.

Is it usual for you to zealously defend

persons whom you know by sight

to the extent that you

snap off the head of a woman who has

served you faithfully for five years?

I would defend anyone who was

being maliciously slandered.

Very admirable indeed.

Especially when they were being slandered

who's bitterness -That is all, Mr Byrne.

For one who is not here to answer

riddles I must say you've done very well.

Mr Coroner, Mr John Byrne was the last

of the witnesses for this inquest.

I have a few things I'd like to

say, if anyone will let me.

If they pertain to this inquest,

by all means, Mrs Ambrose.

Well, I can't sit here

any longer listening

to all these insinuations against a boy

who couldn't possibly harm a fly.

It's ridiculous. Preposterous!

It's downright silly, that's what it is.

- Mrs Ambrose...

Will you kindly control your temper...

and give us a more coherent reason for

your impatience with this inquest?

No, Harry. I'm not trying to take

advantage of our friendship.

But I've known these Byrne

boys since they were lads.

And John's only fault is that he works

too hard and never thinks evil of anyone.

And as for this silly old maid,

it's as plain as the nose on your

face she's in love with him

and imagined heaven

knows what about him!

And when an old maid's in love heaven

protect the object of her affections

if that love goes unrequited.

All the devils and all the!

And if there's anyone else who wants

to know anything about himself,

just let me know.

Was there anything else you

wished to know, Harry?

That will be all, Mrs Ambrose.

And so, in all probability

Emily Gaunt

dressed in her mistresses finery,

went off to some secret tryst.

Therefore, the conclusion

of this inquest is...

that the girl was murdered...

by person...

or persons unknown.

Inquest dismissed!

Here he comes now.

Oh, Mr Byrne.

Mr Byrne!

Yes?

No, not you. Mr Stephen Byrne.

Me? -Yes, they'd like to see

you inside a moment.

Certainly.

You go on, I won't be long.

Sorry to trouble you again, Mr Byrne,

but you probably realize the case

is far from being closed.

So?

Are you certain you have nothing

more you'd like to say to us?

Nothing.

I can understand your feeling, Mr Byrne.

After all the man is your brother.

But if there's any further light

you can throw on this...

There's nothing more I can say.

Excpet that I'm fully convinced

that my brother is innocent.

Is that all?

That was all.

It was foolish to call him back.

Yes.

Stephen.

- What is it? You know I'm working.

Stephen, why are you so irritable?

What is it?

I'm rather worried. -Well, can't you

wait and tell me about it later?

All right, I'll be in my room.

It's about Lt Sarten.

I'm sorry I snapped at you.

I was trying to finish a chapter.

What did you want to tell me?

Well...

It's in these last weeks...

since the inquest

I seem to run into that

detective all the time.

And just a little while ago

at the market too.

And he always looks at me as though...

As though, he thinks I know something

I haven't told about Emily.

Has he...

Has he asked you any questions?

No, but last night after

you had gone out

I decided to go over to Mrs Ambrose's

and I saw someone across the street.

It looked like him.

And I... I almost ahd the feeling that

That he'd been watching the house.

How long was he there?

- I don't know.

When I got back he was gone.

Well, if he has any snooping to do...

I should think he'd do it in John's

direction. -What do you mean, Stephen?

You were at the inquest.

You know what I mean.

- No, I don't

Well, if you ask me, he acted so stupidly

that he forced everyone to believe that he

had something to do with it. -Stephen!

On top of everything else, he hasn't

acted normal since the inquest.

He shuns everybody.

He won't even talk to me.

And let's face it, John's a cripple.

He knows he has no chance

with a girl of our class.

It's not hard to believe that he

carried on with a servant girl.

Stop it! Aside from everything

he's done for you

he's your brother.

There's a limit to this business

of being brothers, Marjorie.

Stephen, you're insane.

You're very fond of him, aren't you?

You know that.

Are you in love with him?

How long has this been going on?

Don't think I haven't been aware of it.

You have a filthy mind.

This isn't going to be

very flattering, my dear.

I haven't the slightest pang of jealousy.

- No, I shouldn't think you would.

A husband who comes home drunk night

after night and reeking of cheap perfume,

isn't exactly in a

position to be jealous.

Sometimes cheap perfume

can be very exciting.

You are a swine, Stephen.

Marjorie.

Hello, J...

John.

Hello, Marjorie.

I met your office boy on his way over here.

I told him I'd bring these up for him.

Thank you.

I've been here so many times, John.

To the office too, but you were never in.

I know.

Why have you refused to see me,

or to answer my calls?

Haven't you found a housekeeper yet?

There seems to be an extreme shortage

of domestic help at present.

Why, that's not true.

Only yesterday Mrs Beach was telling me

- It's true in the case of Mr John Byrne.

Even the children know

that I killed Emily Gaunt.

I know, John.

I've learned a lot about

people myself lately.

They can be very vicious.

And they think that because you've lived

with them for years they're fond of you.

But it's not true.

I'm going away, Marjorie.

Oh no, John!

Oh, don't run away from them.

I'm not running away from them.

Is it that you think

it'll be better for...

for all of us if you go away?

I've got to be sensible.

Ever since the inquest my mail consists

chiefly of anonymous letters.

Not too flattering suggestions.

Most of my clients are closing

out their accounts.

John, maybe it wasn't wise refusing to

see people and not going any place.

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