The Mousetrap and Other Plays Read Online Free PDF Page B

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.
BLORE . It’s all very well to make accusations.
    MACKENZIE . A pack of damn lies! Slander!
    VERA . It’s iniquitous! Wicked!
    ROGERS . A lie—a wicked lie—we never did, neither of us—
    MARSTON . Don’t know what the damned fool was getting at—

( EVERYBODY more or less speaks at once )
    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