Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: 

Trotter: Yes. You've been extraordinarily foolish, you know. You've run a very good chance of being killed by holding out on me. As a result, you've been in serious danger more than once. 
Mollie: I don't know what you mean. 
Trotter: (moving slowly above the sofa table to the Right of the sofa, still quite natural and friendly) Come now, Mrs. Ralston. We, policemen, aren't quite so dumb as you think. All along I've realized that you had first-hand knowledge of the Langridge Farm affair. You know Mrs. Boyle was the magistrate concerned. In fact, you knew all about it. Why didn't you speak up and say so?
Mollie:  (Very much affected) I don't understand. I wanted to forget-forget. (She sits at the Left end of the sofa.) 

(i) What was the 'Longridge Farm' affair? 

(ii) Trotter revealed to Mollie some facts that he had uncovered about her past. What were they? 

(iii) What did Mollie want to forget? How was she linked with the ‘Longridge Farm affair’? 

(iv) How did Trotter manage a pass himself off as a policeman? How had he reached Monkswell Manor? 

(v) What did Trotter reveal to Mollie about this true identity? How was Mollie saved at the end of the play?

Answer 1

(i) Three Corrigian children – Two boys and a girl-were brought before the court in need of care and protection. A home was found for their shelter with Mr. and Mrs. Stanning at Longridge Farm. Here the children were ill-treated and one of them died. Mr. and Mrs. Stanning was sent to jail for negligence. Mr. Stanning died in prison. When Mrs. Stanning was released from the prison she was murdered in Culver Street where she was living as Maureen Lyon. Trotter was investigating into this Longridge affair.

(ii) Trotter had discovered about Mrs. Ralston that before marriage, her name was Miss Waring. She was a teacher in the school where Jimmy was studying. He had also found out that Jimmy had managed to get a letter posted to her. In this letter, he had begged help from his teacher Miss Waring. But her teacher did not answer that letter.

(iii) Mollie wanted to forget the horrible incident of Jimmy’s death. In fact, when Jimmy’s letter reached her, she was down with pneumonia. So the letter was put aside along with other letters. It was weeks afterward when she found and read the letter. By that time Jimmy had died. She could not do anything for him. She felt penitent. This haunted her for a long time. This is what she wanted to forget. Mollie was linked with the Longridge Farm affair because she was the teacher whom Jimmy had requested for help.

(iv) Trotter very cleverly takes out his notebook and pretends to be an officer on duty to interview all those persons who were staying at Monkswell Manor. He tells Mollie that his visit is regarding police protection to be given to them which they need at the moment. He had reached Monkswell Manor with the help of his skis.

(v) Trotter revealed to Mollie that he was not a policeman. He was George, Jimmy’s elder. brother. He also told her that he had cut the telephone wires before he entered the Monkswell Manor. Mollie was said by the intervention of Major Metcalf and Miss Casewell who appear on the scene and arrest George.