DAN (reading laboriously): "… The murderer committed the crime in the forest most—in the forest, most likely strippin' beforehand—-"
_DORA comes in from the kitchen, and stands at the door, arrested by his reading. She is dressed, in Sunday best.
(reading_) "… and cleansin' himself afterwards in the forest lake——"
MRS. BRAMSON: Tch! tch!
DAN (reading): "… He buried the body shallow in the open pit, cunnin'ly chancin' it bein' filled, which it was next day, the eleventh——" (Nodding at OLIVIA) That was the day 'fore I come here….
MRS. BRAMSON: So it was …
DAN (reading): "The body was nude. Attempts had been made to … turn to foot of next column…." (Doing so) "Attempts had been made to … era—eradicate fingerprints with a knife…."
(Far away, the tolling of village bells. Reading)
"… The head was severed by a skilled person, possibly a butcher. The murderer—" (He stops suddenly, raises his head, smiles, takes the cigarette stub, puts it behind his ear, and listens.)
OLIVIA: What's the matter?