The Mousetrap

SIRWILFRID. Of course, of course. You have a continental way of looking at these things. But I assure you, dear Mrs. Vole, that is not the line to take. It would be most unwise to suggest in any way that Miss French had—er—any—er—feelings for Leonard Vole other than those of a—of a mother or—shall we say—an aunt.

ROMAINE. Oh, by all means let us say an aunt, if you think it best.

SIRWILFRID. One has to think of the effect on the jury of all these things, Mrs. Vole.

ROMAINE. Yes. I also wish to do that. I have been thinking of that a good deal.

SIRWILFRID. Quite so. We must work together. Now we come to the evening of October fourteenth. That is just over a week ago. You remember that evening?

ROMAINE. I remember it very well.

SIRWILFRID. Leonard Vole called on Miss French that evening. The housekeeper, Janet MacKenzie, was out. Mr. Vole played a game of Double Demon with Miss French and finally took leave of her about nine o’clock. He returned home on foot, he tells me, arriving at approximately twenty-five minutes past nine. (He looks interrogatively at her.)

(ROMAINE rises and moves to the fireplace. SIR WILFRID and MAYHEW rise.)

ROMAINE. (Without expression; thoughtfully.) Twenty-five past nine.

SIRWILFRID. At half past nine the housekeeper returned to the house to get something she had forgotten. Passing the sitting-room door she heard Miss French’s voice in conversation with a man. She assumed that the man with Miss French was Leonard Vole, and Inspector Hearne says that it is this statement of hers which has led to your husband’s arrest. Mr. Vole, however, tells me that he has an absolute alibi for that time, since he was at home with you at nine-thirty.

(There is a pause. ROMAINE does not speak although SIR WILFRID looks at her.)

That is so, is it not? He was with you at nine-thirty?

(SIR WILFRID and MAYHEW look at ROMAINE.)

ROMAINE. That is what Leonard says? That he was home with me at nine-thirty?

SIRWILFRID. (Sharply) Isn’t it true?

(There is a long silence.)

ROMAINE. (Moving to the chairL. of the desk; presently.) But of course. (She sits.)

SIRWILFRID. (Sighs with relief and resumes his seatR. of the desk.) Possibly the police have already questioned you on that point?

ROMAINE. Oh yes, they came to see me yesterday evening.

SIRWILFRID. And you said . . . ?

ROMAINE. (As though repeating something that she has learned by rote) I said Leonard came in at nine-twenty-five that night and did not go out again.

MAYHEW. (A little uneasily.) You said . . . ? Oh! (He sits on the chair L. of the fireplace.)

ROMAINE. That was right, was it not?

SIRWILFRID. What do you mean by that, Mrs. Vole?

ROMAINE. (Sweetly.) That is what Leonard wants me to say, is it not?

SIRWILFRID. It’s the truth. You said so just now.

ROMAINE. I have to understand—to be sure. If I say yes, it is so, Leonard was with me in the flat at nine-thirty—will they acquit him?

(SIR WILFRID and MAYHEW are puzzled by ROMAINE’s manner.)

Will they let him go?

MAYHEW. (Rising and crossing toL. of her) If you are both speaking the truth then they will—er—have to acquit him.

ROMAINE. But when I said—that—to the police, I do not think they believed me. (She is not distressed; instead she seems faintly satisfied.)

SIRWILFRID. What makes you think they did not believe you?

ROMAINE. (With sudden malice.) Perhaps I did not say it very well?

(SIR WILFRID and MAYHEW exchange glances. MAYHEW resumes his seat. ROMAINE’s cool, impudent glance meets SIR WILFRID’s. There is a definite antagonism between them.)

SIRWILFRID. (Changing his manner) You know, Mrs. Vole, I don’t quite understand your attitude in all this.

ROMAINE. So you don’t understand? Well, perhaps it is difficult.

SIRWILFRID. Perhaps your husband’s position is not quite clear to you?