The Mousetrap

SIRWILFRID. (Off.) Well, you shouldn’t have let her go. Send Greta after her.

CARTER. (Off.) Very good, Sir Wilfrid.

(SIR WILFRID enters and crosses to L. of MAYHEW.)

MAYHEW. She’s gone?

SIRWILFRID. Yes, I’ve sent Greta after her, but there’s not a hope in this fog. Damn! We must have this man’s surname and address.

MAYHEW. We won’t get it. She thought things out too carefully. Wouldn’t give us her name, and slipped out like an eel as soon as she saw us busy with the letters. She daren’t risk having to appear in the witness box. Look what the man did to her last time.

SIRWILFRID. (Without conviction) She’d have protection.

MAYHEW. Would she? For how long? He’d get her in the end, or his pals would. She’s already risked something coming here. She doesn’t want to bring the man into it. It’s Romaine Heilger she’s after.

SIRWILFRID. And what a beauty our Romaine is. But we’ve got something to go on at last. Now as to procedure . . .

CURTAIN

Scene II

SCENE: The Old Bailey. The next morning.

When the Curtain rises, the Court is awaiting the entry of theJUDGE. Leonard and theWARDERare seated in the dock. TwoBARRISTERSare seated at theL. end of the back row ofBARRISTERS’ seats. SIR WILFRID and his ASSISTANT are in their places. MAYHEW is standing L. of the table talking to SIR WILFRID. The CLERK OF THE COURT, the JUDGE’S CLERK and the STENOGRAPHER are in their places. The three visible MEMBERS OF THE JURY are seated. The POLICEMAN is at the doors up L. The USHER is standing at the top of the steps up R.C. MYERS, his ASSISTANT and two BARRISTERS enter up C. MYERS crosses to SIR WILFRID and starts talking angrily. The ASSISTANT and the BARRISTERS take their seats. There are three KNOCKS on the JUDGE’S door. The USHER comes down the steps to R.C.

USHER. Stand up.

(ALL stand. The JUDGE and ALDERMAN enter by the JUDGE’S door and take their seats.)

All persons who have anything further to do before my lady the Queen’s justices of Oyer and Terminer and general gaol delivery for the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court draw near and give your attendance. God Save the Queen.

(The JUDGE bows to the Court and ALL take their seats. The USHER sits on the stool down R.)

SIRWILFRID. (Rising) My lord, since this was adjourned, certain evidence of a rather startling character has come into my hands. This evidence is such that I am taking it upon myself to ask your lordship’s permission to have the last witness for the prosecution, Romaine Heilger, recalled.

(The CLERK rises and whispers to the JUDGE.)

JUDGE. When exactly, Sir Wilfrid, did this evidence come to your knowledge?

(The CLERK sits.)

SIRWILFRID. It was brought to me after the Court was adjourned last night.

MYERS. (Rising) My lord, I must object to my learned friend’s request. The case for the prosecution is closed and . . .

(SIR WILFRID sits.)

JUDGE. Mr. Myers, I had not intended to rule on this question without first observing the customary formality of inviting your observations on the matter. Yes, Sir Wilfrid?

(MYERS sits.)

SIRWILFRID. (Rising) My lord, in a case where evidence vital to the prisoner comes into possession of his legal advisers at any time before the jury have returned their verdict, I contend that such evidence is not only admissible, but desirable. Happily there is clear authority to support my proposition, to be found in the case of the King against Stillman, reported in nineteen twenty-six Appeal Cases at page four-six-three. (He opens a law volume in front of him.)

JUDGE. You needn’t trouble to cite the authority, Sir Wilfrid. I am quite familiar with it. I should like to hear the prosecution. Now, Mr. Myers.

(SIR WILFRID sits.)