The Mousetrap

LEACH. Some on the sleeve, too.

BATTLE. Red ones, these. Mr. Strange seems to have had his arm around one wife and the other one’s head on his shoulder.

LEACH. Quite a Mormon. Looks bad for him, don’t it?

BATTLE. We’ll have to have the blood on this tested later to see if it’s the same group as Lady Tressilian’s.

LEACH. I’ll try and arrange it, Uncle.

TREVES. (Rising and moving downR.; very perturbed.) I can’t believe, I really can’t believe that Nevile, whom I’ve known all his life, is capable of such a terrible act. There must be a mistake.

BATTLE. (Moving and putting the jacket on the chaise.) I hope so, I’m sure, sir. (To Leach.) We’ll have Mr. Royde in next. (Leach nods and exits L.)

TREVES. I’m quite sure there must be some innocent explanation, Battle, for that stained dinner jacket. Quite apart from lack of motive, Nevile is . . .

BATTLE. Fifty thousand pounds is a pretty good motive, sir, to my mind.

TREVES. But Nevile is well off. He’s not in need of money.

BATTLE. There may be something we know nothing about, sir. (Benson entersL. and crosses toL. of Battle. He carries a small round box.)

BENSON. Pollock found the pills, sir. (He hands the box to Battle.) Here you are.

BATTLE. (Looking into the box.) These are the things. I’ll get the doctor to tell us whether they contain the same stuff that was given to Miss Aldin. (He moves up R. Royde enters L.)

ROYDE. (MovingL. C.) You want to see me?

BATTLE. (Moving downR. C.) Yes, Mr. Royde. (He indicates the chairL. of the card table.) Will you sit down, sir?

ROYDE. Rather stand.

BATTLE. Just as you like. (Benson takes out his notebook and pencil. Treves sits in the easy chair downR.). I’d like you to answer one or two questions, if you’ve no objection.

ROYDE. No objection at all. Nothing to hide.

BATTLE. (Moving below the card table.) I understand that you have only just returned from Malaya, Mr. Royde.

ROYDE. That’s right. First time I’ve been home for seven years.

BATTLE. You’ve known Lady Tressilian for a long time?

ROYDE. Ever since I was a boy.

BATTLE. Can you suggest a reason why anyone should want to kill her?

ROYDE. No.

BATTLE. (Moving upR. of the card table.) How long have you known Mr. Nevile Strange?

ROYDE. Practically all my life.

BATTLE. (Moving upR. C.) Do you know him sufficiently well to be aware if he was worried over money?

ROYDE. No, but I shouldn’t think so. Always seems to have plenty.

BATTLE. If there was any trouble like that, he wouldn’t be likely to confide in you?

ROYDE. Very unlikely.

BATTLE. (Moving downL. of the card table.) What time did you go to bed last night, Mr. Royde?

ROYDE. Round about half past nine, I should think.

BATTLE. That seems to be very early.

ROYDE. Always go to bed early. Like to get up early.

BATTLE. I see. Your room is practically opposite Lady Tressilian’s, isn’t it?

ROYDE. Practically.

BATTLE. Did you go to sleep immediately you went to bed?

ROYDE. No. Finished a detective story I was reading. Not very good—it seems to me they always . . .

BATTLE. Yes, yes. Were you still awake at half past ten?

ROYDE. Yes.

BATTLE. (SittingL. of the card table.) Did you—this is very important, Mr. Royde—did you hear any unusual sounds round about that time? (Royde does not reply.) I’ll repeat that question. Did you . . . ?

ROYDE. There’s no need. I heard you.

BATTLE. (After a pause.) Well, Mr. Royde?

ROYDE. Heard a noise in the attic over my head, rats, I expect. Anyway, that was later.

BATTLE. I don’t mean that.

ROYDE. (Looking at Treves, reluctantly.) There was a bit of a rumpus.

BATTLE. What sort of rumpus?

ROYDE. Well—an argument.

BATTLE. An argument? Who was the argument between?

ROYDE. Lady Tressilian and Strange.

BATTLE. Lady Tressilian and Mr. Strange were quarreling?

ROYDE. Well, yes. I suppose you’d call it that.

BATTLE. (Rising and moving toR. of Royde.) It’s not what I would call it, Mr. Royde. Do you call it that?

ROYDE. Yes.

BATTLE. Thank you. What was this quarrel about?

ROYDE. Didn’t listen. Not my business.

BATTLE. But you are quite sure they were quarreling?

ROYDE. Sounded like it. Their voices were raised pretty high.