Joe Mannix: What can I do for you?
Maria Fortune: Well, there are some questions I'd like to ask you first, Mr. Mannix, if you don't mind?
Joe Mannix: No, not at all.
Maria Fortune: This may seem rather callous to you, but Tom being dead less than 12 hours, but I have to know. Had you ever met him before last night?
Joe Mannix: No.
Maria Fortune: I heard you tell his father that the meeting was Tom's idea.
Joe Mannix: It was.
Maria Fortune: And that Tom was killed before you knew why he had to see you. Was that the truth?
Joe Mannix: Why would I lie about it?
Maria Fortune: To spare my feelings?
Peggy Fair: Excuse me. Joe.
[hands Joe his coffee]
Joe Mannix: Thank you, Peggy.
Maria Fortune: Are you sure that Tom hadn't hired a detective to spy on an unfaithful wife?
Joe Mannix: Do you believe that's why he wanted to see me?
Maria Fortune: Yes.
Joe Mannix: Why?
Maria Fortune: Because he was obsessed with the idea that I was having an affair.
Joe Mannix: Was it an idea, Mrs. Fortune, or was it a fact?
Maria Fortune: It wasn't true. I think it was part of a plot to kill him, to separate him from the family, from his bodyguard. To isolate him in a lonely place... so they could shoot him.
Joe Mannix: Who are "they"?
Maria Fortune: I should've said "he." The man I was supposed to be having an affair with.
Joe Mannix: Does, uh, "he" have a name?
Maria Fortune: Duke Benedict.
[Joe, in surprise, briefly stops drinking his coffee and looks at Maria]
Maria Fortune: I heard he was drunk at a party and he just happened to let it slip to one of Tom's friends.
Joe Mannix: And your husband bought that?
Maria Fortune: He was insanely jealous.
Joe Mannix: And what would you like me to do now?
Maria Fortune: Tell the police, tell them that Duke Benedict lied about us, drove Tom out of his mind and that he walked into a trap that was set for him.
Joe Mannix: I don't know how well that'll hold up.
Maria Fortune: Well, if it doesn't, you'll see I'm right. Duke Benedict is going to take over this town if he can. There'll be killing. Tell the police that.
Joe Mannix: Mrs. Fortune, why don't you tell the police that?
Maria Fortune: If the family found out, they'd...
Joe Mannix: All right, Mrs. Fortune. I'll do what I can.
Maria Fortune: I don't care what it costs, Mr. Mannix.
Joe Mannix: Forget it, Mrs. Fortune. The law requires me to pass this kind of information along to the police.
Maria Fortune: Thank you.
[walks out the door]