Free The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey

do to discredit the girl’s story, whether there was to be a case or not—he had been so relieved over Hallam’s news that he had not yet come round in his mind to considering what—
    â€œEvening, Mr. Blair,” Bill Brough said, oozing his large person out of the narrow office door, his round calm face bland and welcoming. “Want your car?”
    â€œNo, I want to use your telephone first, if I may.”
    â€œSure. Go ahead.”
    Stanley, who was under a car, poked his fawn’s face out and asked:
    â€œKnow anything?”
    â€œNot a thing, Stan. Haven’t had a bet for months.”
    â€œI’m two pounds down on a cow called Bright Promise. That’s what comes of putting your faith in horseflesh. Next time you’ll know something—”
    â€œNext time I have a bet I’ll tell you. But it will still be horseflesh.”
    â€œAs long as it’s not a cow—” Stanley said, disappearing under the car again; and Robert moved into the hot bright little office and picked up the receiver.
    It was Marion who answered, and her voice sounded warm and glad.
    â€œYou can’t imagine what a relief your note was to us. Both my mother and I have been picking oakum for the last week. Do they still pick oakum, by the way?”
    â€œI think not. It is something more constructive nowadays, I understand.”
    â€œOccupational therapy.”
    â€œMore or less.”
    â€œI can’t think of any compulsory sewing that would improve my character.”
    â€œThey would probably find you something more congenial. It is against modern thought to compel a prisoner to do anything that he doesn’t want to.”
    â€œThat is the first time I have heard you sound tart.”
    â€œWas I tart?”
    â€œPure angostura.”
    Well, she had reached the subject of drink; perhaps now she would suggest his coming out for sherry before dinner.
    â€œWhat a charming nephew you have, by the way.”
    â€œNephew?”
    â€œThe one who brought the note.”
    â€œHe is not my nephew,” Robert said coldly. Why was it so ageing to be avuncular? “He is my first cousin once removed. But I am glad you liked him.” This would not do; he would have to take the bull by the horns. “I should like to see you sometime to discuss what we can do to straighten things out. To make things safer—” He waited.
    â€œYes, of course. Perhaps we could look in at your office one morning when we are shopping? What kind of thing could we do, do you think?”
    â€œSome kind of private inquiry, perhaps. I can’t very well discuss it over the telephone.”
    â€œNo, of course you can’t. How would it do if we came in on Friday morning? That is our weekly shopping day. Or is Friday a busy day for you?”
    â€œNo, Friday would be quite convenient,” Robert said, swallowing down his disappointment. “About noon?”
    â€œYes, that would do very well. Twelve o’clock the day after tomorrow, at your office. Goodbye, and thank you again for your support and help.”
    She rang off, firmly and cleanly, without all the usual preliminary twitterings that Robert had come to expect from women.
    â€œShall I run her out for you,” Bill Brough asked as he came out into the dim daylight of the garage.
    â€œWhat? Oh, the car. No, I shan’t need it tonight, thanks.”
    He set off on his normal evening walk down the High Street, trying hard not to feel snubbed. He had not been anxious to go to The Franchise in the first instance, and had made his reluctance pretty plain; she was quite naturally avoiding a repetitionof the circumstances. That he had identified himself with their interests was a mere business affair, to be resolved in an office, impersonally. They would not again involve him further than that.
    All, well, he thought, flinging himself down in his favourite chair by the wood fire in the sitting-room and