The Mousetrap and Other Plays (69 page)

SIR
WILFRID
. Why didn't she like you?

LEONARD
. Oh, jealous, I expect. I don't think she liked my helping Miss French with her business affairs.

SIR
WILFRID
. Oh, so you helped Miss French with her business affairs?

LEONARD
. Yes. She was worried about some of her investments and things, and she found it a bit difficult to fill up forms and all that sort of thing. Yes, I helped her with a lot of things like that.

SIR
WILFRID
. Now, Mr. Vole, I'm going to ask you a very serious question. And it's one to which it's vital I should have a truthful answer. You were in low water financially, you had the handling of this lady's affairs. Now did you at any time convert to your own use the securities that you handled?

(
LEONARD
is about to repudiate this hotly
.)

Now, wait a minute, Mr. Vole, before you answer. Because, you see, there are two points of view. Either we can make a feature of your probity and honesty or, if you swindled the woman in any way, then we must take the line that you had no motive for murder, since you had already a profitable source of income. You can see that there are advantages in either point of view. What I want is the truth. Take your time if you like before you reply.

LEONARD
. I assure you, Sir Wilfrid, that I played dead straight and you won't find anything to the contrary. Dead straight.

SIR
WILFRID
. Thank you, Mr. Vole. You relieve my mind very much. I pay you the compliment of believing that you are far too intelligent to lie over such a vital matter. And we now come to October the. . . (
He hesitates.
)

MAYHEW
. The fourteenth.

SIR
WILFRID
. Fourteenth. (
He rises.
) Did Miss French ask you to go and see her that night?

LEONARD
. No, she didn't, as a matter of fact. But I'd come across a new kind of gadget and I thought she'd like it. So I slipped up there that evening and got there about a quarter to eight. It was Janet MacKenzie's night out and I knew she'd be alone and might be rather lonely.

SIR
WILFRID
. It was Janet MacKenzie's night out and you knew that fact.

LEONARD
. (
Cheerfully.
) Oh yes, I knew Janet always went out on a Friday.

SIR
WILFRID
. That's not quite so good.

LEONARD
. Why not? It seems very natural that I should choose that evening to go and see her.

SIR
WILFRID
. Please go on, Mr. Vole.

LEONARD
. Well, I got there at a quarter to eight. She'd finished her supper but I had a cup of coffee with her and we played a game of Double Demon. Then at nine o'clock I said good night to her and went home.

(
SIR
WILFRID
crosses below the
OTHERS
to
L
.)

MAYHEW
. You told me the housekeeper said she came home that evening earlier than usual.

LEONARD
. Yes, the police told me she came back for something she'd forgotten and she heard—or she says she heard—somebody talking with Miss French. Well, whoever it was, it wasn't me.

SIR
WILFRID
. Can you prove that, Mr. Vole?

LEONARD
. Yes, of course I can prove it. I was at home again with my wife by then. That's what the police kept asking me. Where I was at nine-thirty. Well, I mean some days one wouldn't know where one was. As it happens I can remember quite well that I'd gone straight home to Romaine and we hadn't gone out again.

SIR
WILFRID
. (
Crossing up
C
.) You live in a flat?

LEONARD
. Yes. We've got a tiny maisonette over a shop behind Euston Station.

SIR
WILFRID
. (
Standing up
L
.
of
LEONARD
) Did anybody see you returning to the flat?

LEONARD
. I don't suppose so. Why should they?

SIR
WILFRID
. It might be an advantage if they had.

LEONARD
. But surely you don't think—I mean if she were really killed at half past nine my wife's evidence is all I need, isn't it?

(
SIR
WILFRID
and
MAYHEW
look at each other.
SIR
WILFRID
crosses and stands
L
.)

MAYHEW
. And your wife will say definitely that you were at home at that time?

LEONARD
. Of course she will.

MAYHEW
. (
Rising and moving to the fireplace
) You are very fond of your wife and your wife is very fond of you?

LEONARD
. (
His face softening
) Romaine is absolutely devoted to me. She's the most devoted wife any man could have.

MAYHEW
. I see. You are happily married.

LEONARD
. Couldn't be happier. Romaine's wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I'd like you to know her, Mr. Mayhew.

(
There is a KNOCK at the door.
)

SIR
WILFRID
. (
Calling
) Come in.

GRETA
. (
Enters. She carries an evening paper.
) The evening paper, Sir Wilfrid. (
She points to a paragraph as she hands the paper to him.
)

SIR
WILFRID
. Thank you, Greta.

GRETA
. Would you like a cup of tea, sir?

SIR
WILFRID
. No, thank you. Oh, would you like a cup, Vole?

LEONARD
. No thank you, sir.

SIR
WILFRID
. No, thank you, Greta. (
He crosses below the
OTHERS
to
R
.
of the desk
)

(
GRETA
exits.
)

MAYHEW
. I think it would be advisable for us to have a meeting with your wife.

LEONARD
. You mean have a regular round-table conference?

(
SIR
WILFRID
sits
R
.
of the desk.
)

MAYHEW
. I wonder, Mr. Vole, if you are taking this business quite seriously enough?

LEONARD
. (
Nervously.
) I am. I am, really, but it seems—well, I mean it seems so much like a bad dream. I mean that it should be happening to me. Murder. It's a thing you read about in books or newspapers, but you can't believe it's a thing that could ever happen to you, or touch you in any way. I suppose that's why I keep trying to make a joke of it, but it isn't a joke, really.

MAYHEW
. No, I'm afraid it's not a joke.

LEONARD
. But I mean it's all right, isn't it? Because I mean if they think Miss French was killed at half past nine and I was at home with Romaine . . .

MAYHEW
. How did you go home? By bus or underground?

LEONARD
. I walked. It took me about twenty-five minutes, but it was a fine night—a bit windy.

MAYHEW
. Did you see anyone you knew on the way?

LEONARD
. No, but does it matter? I mean Romaine . . .

SIR
WILFRID
. The evidence of a devoted wife unsupported by any other evidence may not be completely convincing, Mr. Vole.

LEONARD
. You mean, they'd think Romaine would tell a lie on my account?

SIR
WILFRID
. It has been known, Mr. Vole.

LEONARD
. Oh, I'm sure she would, too, only in this case I mean she won't be telling a lie. I mean it really is so. You do believe me, don't you?

SIR
WILFRID
. Yes, I believe you, Mr. Vole, but it's not me you will have to convince. You are aware, are you not, that Miss French left a will leaving you all her money?

LEONARD
. (
Absolutely flabbergasted.
) Left all her money to me? You're joking!

(
MAYHEW
resumes his seat
C
.)

SIR
WILFRID
. I'm not joking. It's in tonight's evening paper. (
He hands the paper across the desk.
)

LEONARD
. (
Reads the paragraph.
) Well, I can hardly believe it.

SIR
WILFRID
. You knew nothing about it?

LEONARD
. Absolutely nothing. She never said a word. (
He hands the paper to
MAYHEW
.)

MAYHEW
. You're quite sure of that, Mr. Vole?

LEONARD
. Absolutely sure. I'm very grateful to her—yet in a way I rather wish now that she hadn't. I mean it—it's a bit unfortunate as things are, isn't it, sir?

SIR
WILFRID
. It supplies you with a very adequate motive. That is, if you knew about it, which you say you didn't. Miss French never talked to you about making a will?

LEONARD
. She said to Janet once, “You're afraid I shall make my will again,” but that was nothing to do with me. I mean, it was just a bit of a dust-up between them. (
His manner changes.
) Do you really think they're going to arrest me?

SIR
WILFRID
. I think you must prepare yourself, Mr. Vole, for that eventuality.

LEONARD
. (
Rising
) You—you will do the best you can for me, won't you, sir?

SIR
WILFRID
. (
With friendliness.
) You may rest assured, my dear Mr. Vole, that I will do everything in my power to help you. Don't worry. Leave everything in my hands.

LEONARD
. You'll look after Romaine, won't you? I mean, she'll be in an awful state—it will be terrible for her.

SIR
WILFRID
. Don't worry, my boy. Don't worry.

LEONARD
. (
Resuming his seat; to
MAYHEW
) Then the money side, too. That worries me. I've got a few quid, but it's not much. Perhaps I oughtn't to have asked you to do anything for me.

MAYHEW
. I think we shall be able to put up adequate defence. The Court provides for these cases you know.

LEONARD
. (
Rising and moving above the desk
) I can't believe it. I can't believe that I, Leonard Vole, may be standing in a dock saying “Not guilty.” People staring at me. (
He shakes himself as though it were a bad dream then turns to
MAYHEW
.) I can't see why they don't think it was a burglar. I mean, apparently the window was forced and smashed and a lot of things were strewn around, so the papers said. (
He resumes his seat.
) I mean, it seems much more probable.

MAYHEW
. The police must have some good reason for not thinking that it was a burglary.

LEONARD
. Well, it seems to me . . .

(
CARTER
enters.
)

SIR
WILFRID
. Yes, Carter?

CARTER
. (
Crossing above the desk
) Excuse me, sir, there are two gentlemen here asking to see Mr. Vole.

SIR
WILFRID
. The police?

CARTER
. Yes, sir.

(
MAYHEW
rises.
)

SIR
WILFRID
. (
Rising and crossing to the door
) All right, John, I'll go and talk to them.

(
SIR
WILFRID
exits and
CARTER
follows him off.
)

LEONARD
. My God! Is this—it?

MAYHEW
. I'm afraid it may be, my boy. Now take it easy. Don't lose heart.

(
He pats
LEONARD
on the shoulder.
) Make no further statement—leave it all to us. (
He replaces his chair
L
.
of the fireplace.
)

LEONARD
. But how did they know I'm here?

MAYHEW
. It seems probable that they have had a man watching you.

LEONARD
. (
Still unable to believe it.
) Then they really do suspect me.

(
SIR
WILFRID
,
DETECTIVE
INSPECTOR
HEARNE
and a plain-clothes
detective
enter. The
INSPECTOR
is a tall, good-looking officer.
)

INSPECTOR
. (
As he enters; to
SIR
WILFRID
) I'm sorry to trouble you, sir.

SIR
WILFRID
. (
Standing up
L
.) This is Mr. Vole.

(
LEONARD
rises.
)

INSPECTOR
. (
Crossing to
LEONARD
) Is your name Leonard Vole?

LEONARD
. Yes.

INSPECTOR
. I am Detective Inspector Hearne. I have here a warrant for your arrest on the charge of murdering Emily French on October fourteenth last. I must warn you that anything you say may be taken down and used in evidence.