The Mousetrap

AUDREY. He wouldn’t. He’s not an extravagant person—he never has been. You’re quite, quite wrong if you think it was Nevile.

BATTLE. You don’t think he would be capable of violence in a fit of temper?

AUDREY. Nevile? Oh, no!

BATTLE. (Moving and replacing the niblick on the chaise.) I don’t want to pry into your private affairs, Mrs. Strange, but will you explain why you are here? (He moves to L. of Audrey.)

AUDREY. (Surprised.) Why? I always come here at this time.

BATTLE. But not at the same time as your ex-husband.

AUDREY. He did ask me if I’d mind.

BATTLE. It was his suggestion?

AUDREY. Oh, yes.

BATTLE. Not yours?

AUDREY. No.

BATTLE. But you agreed?

AUDREY. Yes, I agreed—I didn’t feel that I could very well refuse.

BATTLE. Why not? You must have realized that it might be embarrassing?

AUDREY. Yes—I did realize that.

BATTLE. You were the injured party?

AUDREY. I beg your pardon?

BATTLE. It was you who divorced your husband?

AUDREY. Oh, I see—yes.

BATTLE. Do you feel any animosity towards him, Mrs. Strange?

AUDREY. No—none at all.

BATTLE. You have a very forgiving nature. (Audrey does not reply. He crosses and stands downR.) Are you on friendly terms with the present Mrs. Strange?

AUDREY. I don’t think she likes me very much.

BATTLE. Do you like her?

AUDREY. I really don’t know her.

BATTLE. (Moving toR. of the card table.) You are quite sure it was not your idea—this meeting?

AUDREY. Quite sure.

BATTLE. I think that’s all, Mrs. Strange, thank you.

AUDREY. (Rising, quietly.) Thank you. (She crosses to the doorL. then hesitates, turns and movesL. C. Treves rises. Nervously and quickly.) I would just like to say—you think Nevile did this—that he killed her because of the money? I’m quite sure that isn’t so. Nevile never cared much about money. I do know that. I was married to him for several years, you see. It—it—isn’t Nevile. I know my saying this isn’t of any value as evidence—but I do wish you would believe it. (Audrey turns quickly and exits L. Benson sits on the window-seat.)

BATTLE. (MovingR. C.) It’s difficult to know what to make of her, sir. I’ve never seen anyone so devoid of emotion.

TREVES. (MovingL. C.) H’m. She didn’t show any, Battle, but it’s there—some very strong emotion. I thought—but I may have been wrong . . . (Mary, assisted by Leach, enters L. Mary is wearing a dressing-gown. She sways a little. He moves to Mary.) Mary! (He leads her to the easy chair L. C. Mary sits in the easy chair L. C.)

BATTLE. Miss Aldin! You shouldn’t . . .

LEACH. She insisted on seeing you, Uncle. (He stands above the doorL.)

MARY. (Faintly.) I’m all right. I just feel—a little dizzy still. (Treves crosses to the card table and pours a glass of water.) I had to come. They told me something about your suspecting Nevile. Is that true? Do you suspect Nevile? (Treves crosses with the glass of water to R. of Mary.)

BATTLE. (moving downR. C.) Who told you so?

MARY. The cook. She brought me up some tea. She heard them talking in his room. And then—I came down—and I saw Audrey—and she said it was so. (She looks from one to the other.)

BATTLE. (Moving downR.; evasively.) We are not contemplating an arrest—at this moment.

MARY. But it can’t have been Nevile. I had to come and tell you. Whoever did it, it wasn’t Nevile. That I know.

BATTLE. (Crossing toC.) How do you know?

MARY. Because I saw her—Lady Tressilian—alive after Nevile had left the house.

BATTLE. What?

MARY. My bell rang, you see. I was terribly sleepy. I could only just get up. It was a minute or two before half past ten. As I came out of my room Nevile was in the hall below. I looked over the banisters and saw him. He went out of the front door and slammed it behind him. Then I went in to Lady Tressilian.

BATTLE. And she was alive and well?

MARY. Yes, of course. She seemed a little upset and said Nevile had shouted at her.