The Letter Page #2

But he didn't move.

He just stood there looking at me,

and his eyes were all funny.

"I'm not going," he said.

Then I began to lose my temper.

"Poor fool, don't you know

I've never loved anyone but Robert?

And even if I didn't love him,

you'd be the last man I should care for."

"Robert's away," he said.

Well, that was the last straw.

I wasn't in the least bit frightened,

just angry.

"If you don't leave immediately," I said...

" ...I shall call the boys

and have you thrown out."

I walked past him toward the veranda

to call the boys.

He took hold of my arm

and swung me back.

I tried to scream, but he flung his arms

about me and kissed me.

I struggled to tear myself away from him.

He seemed like a madman. He kept talking

and talking and saying he loved me and--

It's horrible. Can't go on.

I'm sorry, Leslie,

but we'll have to know the rest.

He lifted me in his arms

and started carrying me.

Somehow he stumbled on those steps.

We fell, and I got away from him.

Suddenly I remembered Robert's revolver

in the drawer of that chest.

He got up and ran after me,

but I reached it before he could catch me.

I seized the gun as he came toward me.

I heard a report and saw him lurch

toward the door.

It was all instinctive.

I didn't even know I'd fired.

Then I followed him out to the veranda.

He staggered across the porch,

grabbed the railing...

...but it slipped through his hand,

and he fell down.

Don't remember anything more,

just the reports, one after another...

...till there was a funny little click,

and the revolver was empty.

It was only then I knew what I'd done.

My poor darling.

-Mrs. Crosbie--

-How did the revolver happen to be there?

When I leave Leslie alone...

...I always feel safer

if she has a weapon handy.

I saw that it was loaded before I left,

and thank heaven I did.

Mrs. Crosbie, may I say that I think

you behaved magnificently?

I'm terribly sorry that we had to put you

through the ordeal of telling us all this.

You're all very kind.

It's quite obvious the man only got

what he deserved.

If you'll come with me,

I'd like to look around.

Yes, of course.

Be back in a few minutes.

My poor child.

Robert, what have I done?

You did what every woman

would have done in your place.

Only nine-tenths of them

wouldn't have had the courage.

And yet I'd give almost anything

in the world to bring him back to life.

It's so horrible to think

that I killed him.

What shall we call this?

Late supper or early breakfast?

I don't care what we call it.

I'm famished.

You'll have to be very indulgent

towards my cooking.

-Thank you.

-I can't vouch for it.

I can and will.

As a matter of fact, in England

I tried my hand more often.

But out here, one gets so lazy.

The boys take such good care of us.

Funny, the head boy running off tonight.

Yes, it is odd.

He couldn't have done better than this.

Delicious.

-Excellent, Leslie.

-Thank you, gentlemen.

I think we should start for Singapore

when we're finished.

Right away?

-It's still dark.

-It'll be 8:
00 by the time we get there.

We'll ring the attorney general

and find out when we can see him.

I think that's the first thing to do,

don't you?

Yes, I think that's the best thing to do.

Would I have to be arrested?

You see, as a matter of fact--

You're by way

of being under arrest now.

It's purely a matter of form.

Mr. Joyce's idea is you should go to

the attorney general and give yourself up.

Shall I be imprisoned?

Well, that depends on the attorney general.

It's possible that after you've told him

your story, he'll be able to accept bail.

He's a decent fellow.

I'm sure he'll do everything he can.

What do you mean,

"be able to accept bail"?

Well, my dear,

it depends on what the charge is.

What do you mean by that?

I think it not unlikely that he could say

that only one charge is possible.

And in that case, I'm afraid

an application for bail would be useless.

What charge?

Murder.

Oh, Robert, Robert.

It's all right.

Nobody's going to do anything to you.

Nothing's going to happen.

We have been happy, haven't we?

You've been the best wife

a man could have.

If only there was something I could do.

You can love me. That's all I need.

I've always loved you.

Yes, but now.

Leslie, darling, if I could love you any more,

I would now.

All right, darling, I'll get ready.

I don't know when anything's

impressed me so much...

...as the way she told that terrible story.

You could see that she was just holding

onto herself like grim death.

I say, what a swine that man was.

Did you know Hammond?

-I knew him a little.

-Was he a heavy drinker?

I don't know that he was.

He could take his whack,

but I never saw him actually drunk.

I've heard of him,

but I never happened to meet him.

He was quite a favorite

with the ladies, wasn't he?

He was a good-looking chap. You know

the sort, very breezy, devil-may-care.

Generous with his money.

Did you like him?

He was the sort of chap

you couldn't help liking.

Could you have imagined him

doing a thing like this?

Well, how can you tell

what a man will do when he's drunk?

That's true. Well, they ought

to be ready pretty soon.

By George, that's beautiful.

You know, that's just the sort of thing

you'd expect her to do.

That was a quick change, Leslie.

I wish you'd teach Dorothy how to do it.

I wager she's faster than you,

at that.

Is there room for me

or shall I follow?

Come with us. There's plenty of room.

-Oh, Leslie?

-Yes?

-There's one question I'd like to ask.

-Yes, what is it?

When I was looking at Hammond's body....

I'm sorry, my dear, but this is a question

that's bound to come up.

Yes, Howard, what is it?

It seemed that some of the shots

must have been fired...

...after he was lying on the ground.

I know it must sound terribly cold-blooded...

...but I was so terrified.

Everything was confused and blurred.

I didn't know what I was doing.

Of course. I shouldn't have brought

it up tonight.

Put it out of your mind.

Will you please come in?

Thank you.

-Hello, Bob.

-Howard.

Have a chair, old man.

If I can be of any assistance,

I shall remain within call.

Not at the moment, Ong. Thanks.

Ong's been of great help on the case.

Finds out everything.

Perfect confidential clerk.

Trouble is, after he's left my business...

...he'll set up his own office

in opposition.

-How is everything?

-Everything's fine.

Now, sit down, Bob.

In fact, she's much better than you.

It's funny that you've taken it

so much harder.

Leslie hasn't turned a hair.

She's worth ten of me.

I don't mind confessing, I'm all in.

It's our first separation for more than

a day or two since we were married.

But your plantation.

What about that?

I've tried to work. The plantation

can go to blazes for all I care.

I hate the house

and every tree on the place.

Why don't you come

and stay in town with us?

Dorothy's for it, and so am I.

Thanks, I think I will.

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