The Mousetrap

The front door is heard opening and closing.KARLHENDRYKenters upCfromR. He is a virile and good-looking man of forty-five. He is carrying a brief-case and a small bunch of spring flowers. He switches on the wall-brackets, the table-lampRand the table-lampRCby the switchesL. of the door. He smiles atLISAwho rises as he movesC, and his face lights up with pleasure to seeLESTER.

KARL. Hello, Lisa.

LISA. Hello, Karl.

KARL. Look—spring. (He hands her the flowers)

LISA. How lovely. (She moves round below the sofa, puts the flowers on the tableRC, then continues round the table and takesKARL’s coat and hat.)

LISAexits ofCtoLwith the hat and coat.

KARL. So you have come for more books? Good. Let me see what you are taking.

They look over the books together.

Yes, Loshen is good—very sound. And the Verthmer. Salzen—I warn you—he is very unsound.

LESTER. Then, perhaps, sir, I’d better not . . .

KARL. No. No, take it. Read it. I warn you out of my own experience, but you must make your own judgements.

LESTER. Thank you, sir. I’ll remember what you say. (He crosses above KARL to the table RC and picks up a book) I brought the Loftus back. It is just as you said—he really makes one think. (He replaces the book on the table)

KARLcrosses above the armchair to the desk, takes some books from his brief-case and puts them on the desk.

KARL. Why not stay and have some supper with us? (He switches on the desk lamp)

LESTER. (putting books in his satchel) Thank you so much, sir, but I’ve got a date.

KARL. I see. Well, good-bye till Monday, then. Take care of the books.

LISAenters upCfromLand crosses toRof the tableRC.

LESTER. (flushing guiltily) Oh, I will, sir. I’m awfully sorry—more sorry than I can tell you—about losing that other one.

KARL. (sitting at the desk) Think no more about it. I have lost books myself in my time. It happens to all of us.

LESTER. (moving to the doors upC) You’ve been awfully good about it. Awfully good. Some people wouldn’t have lent me any more books.

KARL. Tcha! That would have been foolish. Go on, my boy.

LESTERexits rather unwillingly by the hall toR.

(To LISA) How is Anya?

LISA. She has been very depressed and fretful this afternoon, but she settled down for a little sleep. I hope she is asleep, now.

KARL. I won’t wake her if she is asleep. My poor darling, she needs all the sleep she can get.

LISA. I’ll get some water for the flowers.

LISAtakes a vase from the shelfRand comes back into the room. He glances quickly round, makes sure he is alone with Karl and moves toRof the armchair.

LESTER. (with a rush) I’ve got to tell you, sir, I must. I—I didn’t lose that book.

LISAenters from upCandLwith the flowers in the vase, crosses very quietly toLof the table andRCand puts the vase on it.

I—I sold it.

KARL. (not turning and not really surprised but kindly nodding his head) I see. You sold it.

LESTER. I never meant to tell you. I don’t know why I have. But I just felt you’d got to know. I don’t know what you’ll think of me.

KARL. (turning round; thoughtfully) You sold it. For how much?

LESTER. (slightly pleased with himself) I got two pounds for it. Two pounds.

KARL. You wanted the money?

LESTER. Yes, I did. I wanted it badly.

KARL. (rising) What did you want the money for?