The Mousetrap and Other Plays (6 page)

WARGRAVE
. You are William Henry Blore?

BLORE
. That's right.

LOMBARD
. (
To Right of
BLORE
.) I will add something to that. Not only are you here under a false name, Mr. Blore, but in addition I've noticed this evening that you're a first-class liar. You claim to have come from Natal, South Africa. I know South Africa and Natal well, and I'm prepared to swear that you've never set foot there in your life.

(
ALL
turn towards
BLORE
.
ARMSTRONG
goes up to Right window.
)

BLORE
. You gentlemen have got me wrong. I'm an ex-CID man.

LOMBARD
. Oh, a copper!

BLORE
. I've got my credentials and I can prove it. I run a detective agency in Plymouth. I was put on to this job.

WARGRAVE
. By whom?

BLORE
. Why, Mr. Owen. Sent a very nice money order for expenses, and said I was to join the house party, posing as a guest. He also sent a list of all your names and said I was to keep an eye on you all.

WARGRAVE
. Any reason given?

BLORE
. Said Mrs. Owen had got some valuable jewels. (
Pause
) Mrs. Owen, my foot! I don't believe there's any such person. (
Goes down Right to cabinet.
)

WARGRAVE
. (
Sits Left sofa.
) Your conclusions are, I think, justified. (
Looks down at letters.
) Ulick Norman Owen. Una Nancy Owen. Each time, that is to say, U.N. Owen. Or, by a slight stretch of fancy, Unknown.

VERA
. But it's fantastic! Mad!

WARGRAVE
. (
Rises. Quietly
) Oh, yes, I've no doubt in my own mind that we have been invited here by a madman—probably a dangerous homicidal lunatic.

(
There is an appalled silence.
)

ROGERS
. Oh, my gawd!

WARGRAVE
. (
To back of Left sofa
) Whoever it is who has enticed us here, that person has taken the trouble to find out a great deal about us. (
Pause
) A very great deal. And out of his knowledge concerning us, he has made certain definite accusations.

WARGRAVE
. (
Raises a hand for silence. Sits Left sofa.
) I wish to say this. Our unknown friend accuses me of the murder of one Edward Seton. I remember Seton perfectly well. He came up before me for trial in June 1930. He was charged with the murder of an elderly woman. He was very ably defended and made a good impression on the jury in the witness box. Nevertheless, on the evidence he was certainly guilty. I summed up accordingly and the jury brought in a verdict of Guilty. In passing sentence of death, I fully concurred with this verdict. The appeal was lodged on the grounds of misdirection. The appeal was dismissed and the man was duly executed. (
Pause
) I wish to say before you all that my conscience is perfectly clear on the matter. I did my duty and nothing more. I passed sentence on a rightly convicted murderer.

(
There is a pause.
)

ARMSTRONG
. (
To above
WARGRAVE
) Did you know Seton at all? I mean, personally.

WARGRAVE
. (
Looks at him. He hesitates a moment.
) I knew nothing of Seton previous to the trial.

LOMBARD
. (
Low to
VERA
) The old boy's lying. I'll swear he's lying.

(
ARMSTRONG
to down Right.
)

MACKENZIE
. (
Rises
) Fellow's a madman. Absolute madman. Got a bee in his bonnet. Got hold of the wrong end of the stick all round. (
To
WARGRAVE
) Best really to leave this sort of thing unanswered. However, feel I ought to say—no truth—no truth whatever in what he said about—er—young Arthur Richmond. Richmond was one of my officers. I sent him on reconnaisance in
1917
. He was killed. Also like to say—resent very much—slur on my wife. Been dead a long time. Best woman in the world. Absolutely—Caesar's wife. (
He sits down again.
)

MARSTON
. (
Right Centre
) I've just been thinking—John and Lucy Combes. Must have been a couple of kids I ran over near Cambridge. Beastly bad luck.

WARGRAVE
. (
Acidly
) For them or for you?

MARSTON
. Well, I was thinking—for me—but, of course, you're right, sir. It was damned bad luck for them too. Of course, it was pure accident. They rushed out of some cottage or other. I had my licence suspended for a year. Beastly nuisance.

ARMSTRONG
. This speeding's all wrong—all wrong. Young men like you are a danger to the community.

MARSTON
. (
Wanders to Right window; picks up his glass, which is half-full.
) Well, I couldn't help it. Just an accident.

ROGERS
. Might I say a word, sir?

LOMBARD
. Go ahead, Rogers.

ROGERS
. There was a mention, sir, of me and Mrs. Rogers, and of Miss Jennifer Brady. There isn't a word of truth in it. We were with Miss Brady when she died. She was always in poor health, sir, always from the time we came to her. There was a storm, sir, the night she died. The telephone was out of order. We couldn't get the doctor to her. I went for him, sir, on foot. But he got there too late. We'd done everything possible for her, sir. Devoted to her, we were. Anyone will tell you the same. There was never a word said against us. Never a word.

BLORE
. (
In a bullying manner
) Came into a nice little something at her death, I suppose. Didn't you?

ROGERS
. (
Crosses down Right to
BLORE
.
Stiffly
) Miss Brady left us a legacy in recognition of our faithful service. And why not, I'd like to know?

LOMBARD
. (
Right Centre. With meaning
) What about yourself, Mr. Blore?

BLORE
. What about me?

LOMBARD
. Your name was on the list

BLORE
. I know, I know. Landor, you mean? That was the London & Commercial Bank robbery.

WARGRAVE
. (
Crosses Right below sofa to mantelpiece. Lights pipe.
) I remember the name, though it didn't come before me. Landor was convicted on your evidence. You were the police officer in charge of the case.

BLORE
. (
Up to him
) I was, my Lud.

WARGRAVE
. Landor got penal servitude for life and died in Dartmoor a year later. He was a delicate man.

BLORE
. He was a crook. It was him put the nightwatchman out. The case was clear from the start.

WARGRAVE
. (
Slowly
) You were complimented, I think, on your able handling of the case.

BLORE
. I got my promotion. (
Pause
) I was only doing my duty.

LOMBARD
. (
Sits Right sofa
) Convenient word—duty. (
There is a general suspicious movement.
VERA
rises, moves as if to cross Left, sees
EMILY
,
turns. She sits again chair Right Centre.
WARGRAVE
moves up to windowseat.
ARMSTRONG
to Centre window.
) What about you, Doctor?

ARMSTRONG
. (
Shakes his head good-humouredly
) I'm at a loss to understand the matter. The name meant nothing to me—what was it? Close? Close? I really don't remember having a patient of that name—or its being connected with a death in any way. The thing's a complete mystery to me. Of course, it's a long time ago. (
Pause
) It might possibly be one of my operation cases in hospital. They come too late, so many of these people. Then, when the patient dies, it's always the surgeon's fault.

LOMBARD
. And then it's better to take up nerve cases and give up surgery. Some, of course, give up drink.

ARMSTRONG
. I protest. You've no right to insinuate such things. I never touch alcohol.

LOMBARD
. My dear fellow, I never suggested you did. Anyway, Mr. Unknown is the only one who knows all the facts.

(
WARGRAVE
to Left of
VERA
.
BLORE
to Right of her.
)

WARGRAVE
. Miss Claythorne?

VERA
. (
Starts. She has been sitting, staring in front of her. She speaks unemotionally and without feeling of any kind
) I was nursery governess to Peter Hamilton. We were in Cornwall for the summer. He was forbidden to swim out far. One day, when my attention was distracted, he started off—as soon as I saw what happened I swam after him. I couldn't get there in time—

WARGRAVE
. Was there an inquest?

VERA
. (
In the same dull voice
) Yes, I was exonerated by the Coroner. His mother didn't blame me, either.

WARGRAVE
. Thank you. (
Crosses Left
) Miss Brent?

EMILY
. I have nothing to say.

WARGRAVE
. Nothing?

EMILY
. Nothing.

WARGRAVE
. You reserve your defence?

EMILY
. (
Sharply
) There is no question of defence. I have always acted according to the dictates of my conscience. (
Rises; moves up Left.
)

(
BLORE
to fireplace.
)

LOMBARD
. What a law-abiding lot we seem to be! Myself excepted—

WARGRAVE
. We are waiting for your story, Captain Lombard.

LOMBARD
. I haven't got a story.

WARGRAVE
. (
Sharply
) What do you mean?

LOMBARD
. (
Grinning and apparently enjoying himself
) I'm sorry to disappoint all of you. It's just that I plead guilty. It's perfectly true. I left those natives alone in the bush. Matter of self-preservation.

(
His words cause a sensation.
VERA
looks at him unbelievingly.
)

MACKENZIE
. (
Rises. Sternly
) You abandoned your men?

(
EMILY
moves to windowseat up Right.
)

LOMBARD
. (
Coolly
) Not quite the act of a pukka sahib, I'm afraid. But after all, self-preservation's a man's first duty. And natives don't mind dying, you know. They don't feel about it as Europeans do—(
To Right; sits fireplace fender.
)

(
There is a pause. 
LOMBARD
looks around at
EVERYONE
with amusement.
WARGRAVE
clears throat disapprovingly.
)

WARGRAVE
. Our enquiry rests there. (
ROGERS
crosses to Left 1 door
) Now, Rogers, who else is there on this island besides ourselves and you and your wife?

ROGERS
. Nobody, sir. Nobody at all.

WARGRAVE
. You're sure of that?

ROGERS
. Quite sure, sir.

WARGRAVE
. Thank you. (
ROGERS
moves as if to go
) Don't go, Rogers. (
To
EVERYBODY
) I am not yet clear as to the purpose of our unknown host in getting us to assemble here. But in my opinion he's not sane in the accepted sense of the word. He may be dangerous. In my opinion, it would be well for us to leave this place as soon as possible. I suggest that we leave tonight.

(
General agreement.
MACKENZIE
sits up Left.
)

ROGERS
. I beg your pardon, sir, but there's no boat on the island.