The Mousetrap and Other Plays Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    WARGRAVE . H’mm. Headed Ritz Hotel and typewritten.
    ( BLORE steps up to him and takes letter out of his hands. MARSTON to Left of BLORE . MACKENZIE rises; looks over WARGRAVE ’s shoulder. )
    BLORE . Coronation machine Number 5 . Quite new. No defects. Ensign paper—most common make. We shan’t get much out of this. We might try it for fingerprints, but it’s been handled too much.
    LOMBARD . Quite the little detective.
    ( WARGRAVE turns and looks at him sharply. BLORE’ S manner has completely changed, so has his voice. MACKENZIE sits up Left again. LOMBARD sits Left sofa. )
    MARSTON . ( Taking letter, moving down Right ) Got some fancy Christian names, hasn’t he? Ulick Norman Owen. Quite a mouthful.
    WARGRAVE . ( Takes letter from MARSTON ; crosses Left below sofa ) I am obliged to you, Mr. Marston. You have drawn my attention to a curious and suggestive point. ( He looks around in his court manner ) I think the time has come for all of us to pool our information. It would be well for everybody to come forward with all the information they have regarding our unknown host. We are all his guests. I think it would be profitable if each one of us were to explain exactly how that came about.
    ( There is a pause. )
    EMILY . ( Rising ) There’s something very peculiar about all this. I received a letter with a signature that was not very easy to read. It purported to be from a woman whom I had met at a certain summer resort two or three years ago. I took the name to be Ogden. I am quite certain that I have never met or become friendly with anyone of the name of Owen.
    WARGRAVE . Have you got that letter, Miss Brent?
    EMILY . Yes. I will fetch it for you. ( Goes out Left 1. )
    WARGRAVE . ( To Left of VERA ) Miss Claythorne?
    VERA . ( Rises ) I never actually met Mrs. Owen. I wanted a holiday post and I applied to a Secretarial Agency, Miss Grenfell’s in London. I was offered this post and accepted.
    WARGRAVE . And you were never interviewed by your prospective employer?
    VERA . No. This is the letter. ( Hands it to him. Sits again chair Right Centre. )
    WARGRAVE . ( Reading ) “Indian Island, Sticklehaven, Devon. I have received your name from Miss Grenfell’s Agency. I understand she knows you personally. I shall be glad to pay you the salary you ask, and shall expect you to take up your duties on August 8th. The train is the 12:10 from Paddington and you will be met at Oakbridge Station. I enclose five pounds for expenses.
    Yours truly,
    Una Nancy Owen.”
    ( MARSTON starts to go up Right ) Mr. Marston?
    MARSTON . Don’t actually know the Owens. Got a wire from a pal of mine, Badger Berkeley. Told me to roll up here. Surprised me a bit because I had an idea the old horse had gone to Norway. I haven’t got the wire. ( To Right window. )
    WARGRAVE . Thank you. Doctor Armstrong?
    ARMSTRONG . ( After a pause, rising and coming Left Centre ) In the circumstances, I think I may admit that my visit here was professional. Mr. Owen wrote me that he was worried about his wife’s health—her nerves, to be precise. He wanted a report without her being alarmed. He therefore suggested that my visit should be regarded as that of an ordinary guest.
    WARGRAVE . You had no previous acquaintance with the family?
    ARMSTRONG . No.
    WARGRAVE . But you had no hesitation in obeying the summons?
    ARMSTRONG . A colleague of mine was mentioned and a very handsome fee suggested. I was due for a holiday, anyway. ( Rises; crosses to Right to mantelpiece for cigarette. )
    WARGRAVE . ( EMILY reenters and hands letter to WARGRAVE , who unfolds it and reads. EMILY sits down Left. ) “Dear Miss Brent: I do hope you remember me. We were together at Bell Haven guest house in August some years ago and we seemed to have so much in common. I am starting a guest house of my own on an island off the coast of Devon. I think there is really an opening for a place where there is good plain English