The Mousetrap

LISAturns away. TheDOCTORalmost snorts and turns aside.

OGDEN. But definitely not suicide.

KARL. Definitely not suicide.

OGDEN. Well, you’re quite right as to that, sir. (With emphasis) It was not suicide.

KARLandLISAturn toOGDEN.

LISA. (quietly) How do you know?

OGDEN. By evidence that was not given at the inquest. Evidence as to the fingerprints found on the bottle containing the fatal drug—and on the glass, also.

KARL. You mean . . . But they were my wife’s fingerprints, weren’t they?

OGDEN. Oh, yes, sir. They were your wife’s fingerprints. (Softly) But she didn’t make them. (He moves the chair L of the table RC and sets it L of the sofa)

TheDOCTORandKARLexchange looks.

KARL. What do you mean?

OGDEN. It’s the sort of thing that an amateur criminal thinks is so easy. To pick up a person’s hand and close it round a gun or a bottle or whatever it may be. (He sits on the chair he has placed C) But actually it’s not so easy to do.

KARLsits in the armchair.

The position of those fingerprints is such that they couldn’t have been made by a living-woman grasping a bottle. That means that somebody else took your wife’s hand and folded the fingers round the bottle and the glass so as to give the impression that your wife committed suicide. A rather childish piece of reasoning and done by someone rather cocksure of their own ability. Also, there ought to have been plenty of other prints on the bottle, but there weren’t—it had been wiped clean before your wife’s were applied. You see what that means?

KARL. I see what it means.

OGDEN. There would be no reason to do such a thing if it was an accident. That only leaves one possibility.

KARL. Yes.

OGDEN. I wonder if you do see, sir. It means—an ugly word—murder.

KARL. Murder.

OGDEN. Doesn’t that seem very incredible to you, sir?

KARL. (more to himself thanOGDEN) You cannot know how incredible. My wife was a very sweet and gentle woman. It will always seem to me both terrible and unbelievable that anyone should have—killed her.

OGDEN. You, yourself . . .

KARL. (sharply) Are you accusing me?

OGDEN. (rising) Of course not, sir. If I’d any suspicions concerning you, I should give you the proper warning. No, Professor Hendryk, we’ve checked your story and your time is fully accounted for. (He resumes his seat) You left here in the company of Dr. Stoner and he states that there was no medicine bottle or glass on your wife’s table at that time. Between the time you left and the time Miss Koletzky says she arrived here and found your wife dead, every moment of your time is accounted for. You were lecturing to a group of students at the university. No, there is no suggestion of your having been the person to put the fingerprints on the glass.

TheDOCTORmoves downL.

What I am asking you, sir, is whether you have any idea yourself as to who could have done so?

There is quite a long pause.KARLstares fixedly ahead of him.

KARL. (presently) I—(He pauses) cannot help you.

OGDENrises and as he replaces the chair beside the table, he exchanges glances with theSERGEANT, who moves to the door downR.

OGDEN. (movingC) You will appreciate, of course, that this alters things. I wonder if I might have a look round the flat. Round Mrs. Hendryk’s bedroom in particular. I can get a search warrant if necessary, but . . .

KARL. Of course. Look anywhere you please. (He rises)

LISArises.

My wife’s bedroom—(He indicates the door down R) is through there.

OGDEN. Thank you.

KARL. Miss Koletzky has been sorting through her things.

LISAcrosses to the doorRand opens it.OGDENand theSERGEANTexit downR. LISAturns and looks atKARL, then exits downR, closing the door behind her.

DOCTOR. (moving upLof the armchair) I’ve known you long enough, Karl, to tell you plainly that you’re being a fool.

KARL. (moving upRof the armchair) I can’t be the one to put them on her track. They’ll get her soon enough without my help.

DOCTOR. I’m not so sure of that. And it’s all high-falutin’ nonsense. (He sits in the armchair)

KARL. She didn’t know what she was doing.

DOCTOR. She knew perfectly.