Загадочные события во Франчесе / The Franchise Affair

Do they still pick oakum, by the way?”

“I think not. It is something more constructive nowadays, I understand.”

“Occupational therapy.”

“More or less.”

“I can’t think of any compulsory sewing that would improve my character.”

“They 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.”

“That is the first time I have heard you sound tart.”

“Was I tart?”

“Pure angostura.

Well, she had reached the subject of drink; perhaps now she would suggest his coming out for sherry before dinner.

“What a charming nephew you have, by the way.”

“Nephew?”

“The one who brought the note.”

“He 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.

“Yes, 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?”

“Some kind of private inquiry, perhaps. I can’t very well discuss it over the telephone.”

“No, 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?”

“No, Friday would be quite convenient,” Robert said, swallowing down his disappointment.

“Yes, 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.

“Shall I run her out for you,” Bill Brough asked as he came out into the dim daylight of the garage.

“What? 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 repetition of the circumstances. That he had identified himself with their interests was a mere business affair, to be resolved in an office, impersonally.