Sir P. By arsenic, administered in his medicine.
Bea. But you put it there yourself. You told him, you were giving him arsenic.
Sir P. I was not. (Beatrice gazes at him as if fascinated) I did not prescribe arsenic.
Bea. Might not the chemist—by mistake——
Sir P. I’ve seen him, and he assures me there was no mistake. Besides, though there was arsenic in the glass, there was none in the bottle. While you were all having your dinner, I took the liberty of analysing that. Mr. Selwyn is now in such a condition that the next dose may be fatal. The first thing to be done is, to protect his life. I have not left him since morning; but at the precise moment when the criminal, whoever it is, will probably administer the poison, I shall not be there to prevent it, because that moment will be when he takes the final dose of physic which I have ordered him, just before going to bed.
Bea. And knowing this, you have ordered it?
Sir P. With the object of detecting the culprit. Here I want your assistance. We must lay our plans carefully; for whoever is doing this, she is a very clever woman.
Bea. (rises) Woman! Then, you suspect—(bell ready)
Sir P. (business) Miss Derwent. (Beatrice starts) What was that? (no noise heard)
Bea. (astonished) Miss Derwent!