The Mousetrap

ROMAINE. I have already said that I want to understand fully just how black the case against—my husband is. I say to the police, Leonard was at home with me at nine-thirty—and they do not believe me. But perhaps there is someone who saw him leave Miss French’s house, or who saw him in the street on his way home? (She looks sharply and rather slyly from one to the other.)

(SIR WILFRID looks enquiringly at MAYHEW.)

MAYHEW. (Rising and movingC.; reluctantly) Your husband cannot think of, or remember, anything helpful of that kind.

ROMAINE. So it will be only his word—and mine. (With intensity.) And mine. (She rises abruptly.) Thank you, that is what I wanted to know. (She crosses to L.)

MAYHEW. But, Mrs. Vole, please don’t go. There is a lot more to be discussed.

ROMAINE. Not by me.

SIRWILFRID. Why not, Mrs. Vole?

ROMAINE. I shall have to swear, shall I not, to speak the truth and all the truth and nothing but the truth? (She seems amused.)

SIRWILFRID. That is the oath you take.

ROMAINE. (Crossing and standing above the chairL. of the desk; now openly mocking) And suppose that then, when you ask me—(She imitates a man’s voice.) “When did Leonard Vole come that night?” I should say . . .

SIRWILFRID. Well?

ROMAINE. There are so many things I could say.

SIRWILFRID. Mrs. Vole, do you love your husband?

ROMAINE. (Shifting her mocking glance toMAYHEW) Leonard says I do.

MAYHEW. Leonard Vole believes so.

ROMAINE. But Leonard is not very clever.

SIRWILFRID. You are aware, Mrs. Vole, that you cannot by law be called to give testimony damaging to your husband?

ROMAINE. How very convenient.

SIRWILFRID. And your husband can . . .

ROMAINE. (Interrupting) He is not my husband.

SIRWILFRID. What?

ROMAINE. Leonard Vole is not my husband. He went through a form of marriage with me in Berlin. He got me out of the Russian zone and brought me to this country. I did not tell him, but I had a husband living at the time.

SIRWILFRID. He got you out of the Russian sector and safely to this country? You should be very grateful to him. (Sharply.) Are you?

ROMAINE. One can get tired of gratitude.

SIRWILFRID. Has Leonard Vole ever injured you in any way?

ROMAINE. (Scornfully) Leonard? Injured me? He worships the ground I walk on.

SIRWILFRID. And you?

(Again there is a duel of eyes between them, then she laughs and turns away.)

ROMAINE. You want to know too much. (She crosses to the door.)

MAYHEW. I think we must be quite clear about this. Your statements have been somewhat ambiguous. What exactly happened on the evening of October fourteenth?

ROMAINE. (In a monotonous voice) Leonard came in at twenty-five minutes past nine and did not go out again. I have given him an alibi, have I not?

SIRWILFRID. (Rising) You have. (He crosses to her.) Mrs. Vole. . . (He catches her eye and pauses.)

ROMAINE. Yes?

SIRWILFRID. You’re a very remarkable woman, Mrs. Vole.

ROMAINE. And you are satisfied, I hope? (ROMAINEexits.)

SIRWILFRID. I’m damned if I’m satisfied.

MAYHEW. Nor I.

SIRWILFRID. She’s up to something, that woman—but what? I don’t like it, John.

MAYHEW. She certainly hasn’t had hysterics all over the place.

SIRWILFRID. Cool as a cucumber.

MAYHEW. (Sitting on the chairL. of the desk) What’s going to happen if we put her into the witness box?

SIRWILFRID. (Crossing toC.) God knows!

MAYHEW. The prosecution would break her down in no time, especially if it were Myers.

SIRWILFRID. If it’s not the Attorney-General, it probably will be.

MAYHEW. Then what’s your line of attack?

SIRWILFRID. The usual. Keep interrupting—as many objections as possible.

MAYHEW. What beats me is that young Vole is convinced of her devotion.

SIRWILFRID. Don’t put your trust in that. Any woman can fool a man if she wants to and if he’s in love with her.

MAYHEW. He’s in love with her all right. And trusts her completely.

SIRWILFRID. More fool he. Never trust a woman.

CURTAIN

ACT TWO

SCENE: The Central Criminal Court, London—better known as the Old Bailey. Six weeks later. Morning.