The Mousetrap

CARBERY. Digitoxin is a heart poison.

SARAH. What are you driving at, Colonel Carbery?

CARBERY. I’m just anxious to know how that phial of digitoxin got from Doctor Gerard’s case into Mr. Boynton’s pocket.

RAYMOND. I know nothing about it.

CARBERY. You deny taking it from Doctor Gerard’s case?

RAYMOND. Certainly I do. I’ve never seen it before. (He tips the phial.) Anyway, it’s nearly empty.

GERARD. It was quite full—yesterday afternoon. (He takes the phial from RAYMOND and moves Centre.)

RAYMOND. (Turning a startled face onGERARD) You mean . . .?

CARBERY. (Quickly) Doctor King. Do you own a hypodermic syringe?

SARAH. Yes.

CARBERY. Where is it?

SARAH. In my tent. Shall I get it?

CARBERY. If you please.

(SARAH crosses and exits Right.)

RAYMOND. What you’re suggesting is impossible—quite impossible.

CARBERY. I’m not aware that I’ve suggested anything.

RAYMOND. What sort of a fool do you take me for? The inference is perfectly plain. You think my mother was—(He swallows) poisoned?

CARBERY. I haven’t said so.

RAYMOND. Then what do you mean?

CARBERY. I just want to know why Doctor Gerard’s phial was in your pocket.

RAYMOND. It wasn’t.

CARBERY. One of my fellows found it there.

RAYMOND. I tell you I never touched the . . . (He stops, suddenly assailed by a sudden memory.)

CARBERY. Sure about that?

(SARAH enters Right and crosses to CARBERY. She carries her hypodermic case.)

SARAH. Here you are. (She hands the case toCARBERY.)

CARBERY. Thank you, Doctor King. (He opens the case, looks atRAYMOND, then atSARAH.)

SARAH. What . . . ?

(CARBERY holds the case out.)

(She sees the case is empty.) Empty?

CARBERY. Empty.

SARAH. But—how extraordinary. I’m sure I never . . . (She stops, beginning to be frightened.)

GERARD. That is the hypodermic case you offered to me yesterday afternoon. You are sure it was in the case then?

SARAH. Yes.

CARBERY. (Crossing toGERARD) Any idea when it was taken out, Gerard?

GERARD. (Upset) I do not believe . . . (He breaks off.)

CARBERY. Now what don’t you believe?

GERARD. (Moving Right Centre) C’est impossible. C’est impossible.

SARAH. Jinny?

CARBERY. Jinny? Is that your sister, Mr. Boynton?

(RAYMOND does not answer.)

Perhaps you would ask her to come here.

GERARD. (Sharply) No.

CARBERY. (Turning a mildly surprised eye at him) She may be able to clear up the matter. If you’d just fetch her, Mr. Boynton.

(RAYMOND crosses and exits Right. CARBERY crosses above the table to Left of it.)

GERARD. You do not understand. You do not understand the very first principles. Listen, my dear sir, this girl will not be able to clear anything up.

CARBERY. But she handled this case—yesterday afternoon. (He puts the case on the table.) That’s right, isn’t it? That’s what’s worrying you?

GERARD. Jinny couldn’t possibly have used that hypodermic. It would be entirely out of character. I—ah, mon Dieu, how am I to make you understand?

CARBERY. (Sitting Left of the table) Just go on telling me.

GERARD. (Crossing and standing up Right of the table) Ginevra Boynton is at the moment in a highly abnormal mental condition. Doctor King will bear me out.

SARAH. (Moving Right) Doctor Gerard is one of the greatest living authorities on this subject.

CARBERY. (Amiably) I know. I know all about him.

(SARAH moves to the deckchair down Right and sits.)

GERARD. If Ginevra Boynton took that syringe from Doctor King’s case, she certainly did not take it for the reason you are suggesting.

CARBERY. (Plaintively) But I’m not suggesting anything. It’s you people who are doing all the suggesting.