POLICEMAN (_with professional firmness_). It’s agin the regulations. A party in the neighbouring skylight complains. BODIE (_putting out the light_). If that will do for to-night, I’ll have the window boarded up. POLICEMAN. Anything so long as it obscures the illumination. BODIE (_irritated_). Shuts out the light. POLICEMAN (_determinedly_). Obscures the illumination. BODIE (_on reflection_). I remember now, I did have that window boarded up. POLICEMAN (_who has himself a pretty vein of sarcasm_). I don’t see the boards. BODIE. Nor do I see the boards. (_Pondering._) Can she have boned them? POLICEMAN. She? (_He is at once aware that it has become a more difficult case._) BODIE. You are right. She is scrupulously honest, and if she took the boards we may be sure that I said she could have them. But that only adds to the mystery. POLICEMAN (_obligingly_). Mystery? BODIE. Why this passion for collecting boards? Try her with a large board, officer. Extraordinary! POLICEMAN (_heavily_). I don’t know what you are talking about, sir. Are you complaining of some woman? BODIE. Now that is the question. Am I? As you are here, officer, there is something I want to say to you. But I should dislike getting her into trouble. POLICEMAN (_stoutly_). No man what is a man wants to get a woman into trouble unnecessary. BODIE (_much struck_). That’s true! That’s absolutely true, officer. POLICEMAN (_badgered_). It’s true, but there’s nothing remarkable about it. BODIE. Excuse me. POLICEMAN. See here, sir, I’m just an ordinary policeman. BODIE. I can’t let that pass. If I may say so, you have impressed me most deeply. I wonder if I might ask a favour of you. Would you mind taking off your helmet? As it happens, I have never seen a policeman without his helmet. (_The perplexed officer puts his helmet on the table._) Thank you. (_Studying the effect._) Of course I knew they took off. You sit also? (_The policeman sits._) Very interesting. POLICEMAN. About this woman, sir— BODIE. We are coming to her. Perhaps I ought to tell you my name—Mr. Bodie. (_Indicating the Venus._) This is Mrs. Bodie. No, I am not married. It is merely a name given her because she is my ideal. POLICEMAN. You gave me a turn. BODIE. Now that I think of it, I believe the name was given to her by the very woman we are talking about. POLICEMAN (_producing his note book_). To begin with, who is the woman we are talking about? BODIE (_becoming more serious_). On the surface, she is just a little drudge. These studios are looked after by a housekeeper, who employs this girl to do the work. POLICEMAN. H’m! Sleeps on the premises? BODIE. No; she is here from eight to six. POLICEMAN. Place of abode? BODIE. She won’t tell anyone that. POLICEMAN. Aha! What’s the party’s name? BODIE. Cinderella. (_The_ POLICEMAN _writes it down unmoved_. MR. BODIE _twinkles_.) Haven’t you heard that name before?