“Good-morning, Mr. Wagstaff. I should like to speak to you about my cousin, Mr. Waffles.”
Mr. Wagstaff twitched his trousers up to prevent them from rucking as he crossed his legs. “If there’s anything I can do to help you, Mr. Barrington——”
“I understand he’s given you notice.”
Mr. Wagstaff sat up suddenly. “Understand what? He told you that?”
“No, he did not tell me. His wife did.”
“Ah, his wife! He left her to make the explanations. Just what one might expect.”
“Then he didn’t give you notice?”
“Course not.” Mr. Wagstaff spoke testily, as though for an employee to give him notice was an event beyond the bounds of possibility.
“Then he left without notifying you?”
“Well, hardly.”