Free The Hog's Back Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts

so.”
    â€œYou noticed no difference?”
    â€œNone.”
    French nodded. “Now,” he went on, “I’m sorry to have to refer to another unpleasant subject, but unfortunately it’s my duty. You know that Dr. Earle met a lady in Town on Thursday last?”
    Julia’s face grew harder. “Well, and why shouldn’t he?” she asked aggressively.
    â€œDid he tell you he had done so?”
    â€œWhy should he? He’s not a child. Neither of us are children. Why should we tell each other every little trifle?”
    â€œDid he tell you he had played golf that day?” Julia hesitated. “I really didn’t ask him,” she said at last.
    â€œPossibly not, madam,” French said gravely, “but did he tell you?”
    â€œI don’t see what that has to do with his disappearance or that it’s any business of yours.”
    â€œIn that case, madam, I’ll explain it to you.” French’s manner was firm but kindly. “It has been suggested, with what truth I do not know, that Dr. Earle was tired of his life here and that he wished to give it up and start another establishment elsewhere. I must test this suggestion. I must know whether he told you he had been playing golf at the time at which he really was meeting the lady, as this may throw a light on his motives.”
    Julia was very unwilling to speak, but at last she resentfully admitted that she knew nothing whatever about the lady, and that Earle had stated directly on that Thursday morning that he was going to play golf, and in the evening that he had done so.
    French intended his questions to be a little more subtle than they actually appeared. Not only was he anxious for the direct answers, but he wanted to see their effect on Julia. If she were party to her husband’s murder, she might naturally be expected to make the most of any circumstance which would suggest his voluntary disappearance.
    But Julia made no such attempt. She took the line that if her husband wished to meet a lady in London, he had a perfect right to do so without consulting her, but that in any case it was no business of French’s.
    â€œWas there, or had there been recently, any disagreement or unpleasantness between your husband and yourself?” went on French.
    â€œNothing of the kind!” Julia answered sharply. “If you think Dr. Earle left home because he wasn’t happy here you may put the idea out of your mind. You’ll only be wasting your own and everyone else’s time.”
    â€œThat’s really what I wanted to be sure of,” French returned soothingly. “Very well, that’s one point dealt with. Now another: what about money? Was there any financial trouble which might have been weighing on Dr. Earle’s mind?”
    â€œI don’t think so; not that I know of at all events. But I can’t answer you there because Dr. Earle looked after his business himself. Why don’t you go to his bank? They’ll tell you.”
    â€œI’m going to ask you, madam, for an authorisation to the manager to give me this information.”
    â€œYes, I don’t mind letting you have that.”
    â€œThank you. Now I should like to know what letters or other messages Dr. Earle received during the last day or two before his disappearance. Can you help me there?”
    â€œI don’t think so. I didn’t notice his receiving any unusual letters, nor did he tell me of such. You can look in his desk.”
    â€œI have done so, madam, without success.”
    â€œThen I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
    â€œYou don’t know if he received a telegram or telephone message?”
    â€œNot to my knowledge.”
    â€œThen callers, madam. Can you let me have a list of everyone who came to the house, say on Friday, Saturday and Sunday?”
    â€œTo see him?”
    â€œTo see anyone, if you please.”
    â€œNo one came to see him. I