ELFIE. [With a smile.] Well, that's cheap, and Lord knows you need it. What's happened?
LAURA takes the crumpled and torn telegram that WILL has left on the table and hands it to ELFIE. The latter puts the two pieces together, reads it very carefully, looks up at LAURA about middle of telegram, and lays it down.
ELFIE. Well?
LAURA. Will suspected. There was something in the paper about Mr.
Madison—the telegram came—then we had a row.
ELFIE. Serious?
LAURA. Yes. Do you remember what I told you about that letter—the one
Will made me write—I mean to John—telling him what I had done?
ELFIE. Yes, you burned it.
LAURA. I tried to lie to Will—he wouldn't have it that way. He seemed to know. He was furious.
ELFIE. Did he hit you?
LAURA. No; he made me admit that John didn't know, and then he said he'd stay here and tell himself that I'd made him lie, and then he said something about liking the other man and wanting to save him.