Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/53

 to see him that evening, and that Thomas was to come and meet him."

"Where and when?" asked Wedgwood.

"That he didn't say. I asked him that, though. He just said that Thomas would know about time and place. Then he rang off."

"Vague—vague!" muttered Wedgwood. He was disappointed. If only John Wraypoole had mentioned place and time! "Well?" he asked. "After that"

"Thomas came in at a quarter-past five," continued Stainsby. "I gave him the message at once. He went away there and then, leaving me to look after things—said he shouldn't be back before closing time. As a matter of fact, he didn't come back till about nine o'clock—between nine and half-past."

"Came back?—do you mean to the shop?" asked Wedgwood.

"He lives over the shop. I live with him. There's three of us. Him—me—and a housekeeper. He's a single man, Mr. Thomas Wraypoole."

"Well?—I suppose he didn't say anything about where he'd been?"

"Not a word! Him and me and the housekeeper had supper when he came in—usual thing, supper at nine-thirty. No!—he said nothing."