The Mousetrap

He was a very brilliant man, and his research work was the real passion of his life. He got into the habit of coming into my studio and talking to me about it. Actually it was a good deal above my head, but I got some books on the subject and read it up, so that I could understand better. And my questions, even if they weren’t very technical, helped him to formulate his own ideas. (She speaks naturally, as to a friend.) And then—suddenly—I got between John and what he was thinking about. I began to affect him as a woman. He didn’t want to fall in love with me—he’d been in love when he was a young man, and it had left him afraid of going through it again. No, he just wanted an affair, like other affairs he had. I think he thought that if he had an affair with me, he’d get me out of his system and not be distracted from his work any more.

INSPECTOR. And was that satisfactory to you?

HENRIETTA. No, no, of course not. But it had to do. I loved John Cristow, and I was content that he should have what he wanted.

INSPECTOR. I see. It was like that.

HENRIETTA. I’ve been forgetting that you’re a policeman.

INSPECTOR. Policemen are quite like other men. We hear a good deal that isn’t strictly relevant—perhaps it’s because we’re impersonal—like priests.

HENRIETTA. Yes, yes, I suppose you must learn a good deal about the human heart. (She rises and flicks her cigarette ash into the ashtray on the coffee table. The following sentence does not ring quite true.) So now you understand why John said “Henrietta” just before he died.

(The SERGEANT enters Left.)

INSPECTOR. It’s a small point, Miss Angkatell—(He rises and stands Right of the sofa) but why did you take the revolver away from Mrs. Cristow?

HENRIETTA. I told you. I thought she was going to faint.

INSPECTOR. It was one of the revolvers used earlier for target practice. The only clear prints on it are Mrs. Cristow’s and—naturally—yours. (He pauses.) It would have been better if nobody had touched it.

HENRIETTA. One doesn’t realize these things at the time. Is that all, Inspector?

INSPECTOR. Yes, thank you, Miss Angkatell, that’s all for the present.

(The SERGEANT opens the door. HENRIETTA crosses and exits Left. The SERGEANT closes the door behind her.)

SERGEANT. Get anything useful out of her?

INSPECTOR. She was Cristow’s mistress. She told me that accounts for his saying “Henrietta” before he died.

SERGEANT. (Crossing to Left of the sofa) That seems fair enough.

INSPECTOR. If it’s true.

SERGEANT. What other reason could he have for saying her name?

INSPECTOR. It could have been—an accusation.

SERGEANT. You mean she might have done him in?

INSPECTOR. (Crossing to the fireplace) It’s possible.

SERGEANT. My money’s on the wife. If Mrs. Cristow had found out about her husband and this Henrietta, it gives us what we want—a motive.

INSPECTOR. Henrietta Angkatell says she didn’t know.

SERGEANT. You can’t be sure of that. Somebody tipped Mrs. Cristow off as like as not.

INSPECTOR. (Moving to the alcove and looking off at the statue) She couldn’t have hidden her feelings for long. She’s not that kind of woman.

SERGEANT. What about the others? They’re in the clear, I suppose?

INSPECTOR. There doesn’t seem any reason why any of them should have wanted John Cristow dead. (He turns and crosses above the sofa to the writing table.) But there’s a good deal we don’t know yet. They’re all watchful and cagey about what they say.

SERGEANT. I can’t see how Sir Henry or Lady Angkatell could have any reason for wanting Cristow out of the way.

INSPECTOR. Nor the little girl—Miss Harvey. But remember that statement of Edward Angkatell’s: “Did John Cristow say anything before he died? Nothing at all.” A flat denial, that of what we know to be true. Both Sir Henry and Miss Harvey say that John Cristow said “Henrietta” in quite a loud voice.

SERGEANT. You think Edward Angkatell’s sweet on this Henrietta woman?

INSPECTOR. That is my idea.

SERGEANT. And was doing his best not to get her mixed up in it.

INSPECTOR. Exactly.

SERGEANT. Yes—it certainly looks like it.

INSPECTOR. (Easing below the sofa) And granting that, Penny, it gives us another suspect.

SERGEANT. Edward Angkatell?