The Mousetrap

COPE. (Crossing up Right) Certainly. I’ll go and make enquiries now.

(COPE exits Right. MRS. BOYNTON is left alone. Presently she begins to laugh, a silent laugh that shakes her like a jelly. Her face is malevolent and full of glee as—the Curtain falls.)

CURTAIN

ACT TWO

Scene I

SCENE: The Traveller’s Camp at Petra. Early afternoon, a week later. Fantastic scarlet rocks rise all round so that the stage has the appearance of an amphitheatre. On an upper level up Right there is a path, masked by rocks, giving access to a cave. An exit Right Centre leads to the sleeping tents. A slope of rock Left leads to the path out of the camp. Down Left is the entrance of a big marquee dining tent. A camp table and three chairs are set Left Centre, there is a camp armchair with a tea chest behind it down Left and a deckchair stands down Right. On the rock up Right, in front of the cave, are two camp stools.

When the Curtain rises,RAYMONDis seated in the deckchair down Right, lost in thought.MRS. BOYNTONis sitting on a stool outside the cave on the rock up Right, her stick by her side, reading. She looks like a monstrous idol in a niche. TheDRAGOMANis standing Centre, looking benevolent.LADYWESTHOLME, MISSPRYCE and GERARD enter from the marquee Left. LADY WESTHOLME picks up a “Baedeker” from the table Left Centre and crosses to Right Centre. MISS PRYCE stands Left Centre. GERARD moves down Left.

DRAGOMAN. You had nice luncheon? You rested after big expedition this morning?

MISSPRYCE. Yes, thank you. It was most interesting.

DRAGOMAN. I tell you all about Babatesh architecture. I tell you ancient history. Very interesting place, Petra. I show place high up there. Place of sacrifice.

LADYWESTHOLME. There is no need to hear it all over again. You were wrong on several points. I have just been checking up in Baedeker.

DRAGOMAN. No, no, lady. You not believe everything you read. You believe Aissa. Aissa educated Christian mission, learn speak truth. Everything I tell you truth and just like Holy Bible.

(SARAH enters from the marquee, sees RAYMOND, turns abruptly back and goes inside again.)

LADYWESTHOLME. You were educated at a mission?

DRAGOMAN. Yes, lady, American Mission.

LADYWESTHOLME. Oh, American!

DRAGOMAN. I learn poetry—very beautiful. (Rapidly, and with an indescribable intonation) “Hail-to-the-blysprut Birtoneverwort.”

GERARD. I beg your pardon?

DRAGOMAN. (Repeating) “Hailtotheblysprut Birtoneverwort.” (He beams.)

MISSPRYCE. (After a pause) I think it’s Shelley’s “Skylark.”

DRAGOMAN. (Beaming) That’s right, lady. Percy Bish Shelley. I know Willyam Wordwort, too. “I wonder lonely asaclout . . .”

GERARD. Assez, assez.

DRAGOMAN. I full of culture and higher education.

GERARD. Civilization has much to answer for.

LADYWESTHOLME. The thing, Mahommed, is not only to learn by heart, but to assimilate what you learn.

DRAGOMAN. You not call me Mahommed, lady. That Moslem name. You not like “Aissa,” you call me Abraham. Like Father Abraham, I got clean bosom, very snowy. (He opens his tunic.) Wear clean clothes every day.

GERARD. (ToLADYWESTHOLME) Which was more than Abraham did, I expect.

DRAGOMAN. (Moving close toMISSPRYCEand displaying his chest) All clean like Abraham’s bosom.

MISSPRYCE. (Embarrassed) Oh, yes, yes, very nice, I’m sure.