MAYOR. Had you seen your brother?
RALPH. I had seen him shortly before this unhappy business.
The MAYOR nods and makes a gesture, so that MAUD and RALPH sit down; then, leaning over, he confers in a low voice with CHANTREY. The rest all sit or stand exactly as if each was the only person in the room, except the JOURNALIST, who is writing busily and rather obviously making a sketch of BUILDER.
MAYOR. Miss Athene Builder.
ATHENE stands up.
This young man, Mr Herringhame, I take it, is a friend of the family's?
A moment of some tension.
ATHENE. N—no, Mr Mayor, not of my father or mother.
CHANTREY. An acquaintance of yours?
ATHENE. Yes.