‘All the time he was here?’
‘No, the morning ’e left. ’E got ’is tea the night before a bit early—about ’alf five or thereabouts—and then went out, and ’e didn’t come back till seven o’clock the next morning; walks in at seven o’clock all shaking and grey about the face and calls for brandy. Swallowed two large brandies nearly neat, ’e did. They pulled ’im together some, and then ’e pays ’is bill and ’ooks it.’
‘Hooked it?’
‘Yes, we never saw ’im no more after that.’
‘And do you remember what day that was?’
‘No, but I can get it for you at the office.’
The porter vanished for a moment to a room at the back.
‘ ’E left on Thursday morning, the 8th.’
‘Did you notice anything about his boots that morning?’
‘Yes. They were covered with mud—just covered. You couldn’t but notice them. And the ends of ’is trousers too. ’E looked as if ’e ’ad been up to the knees in muddy water.’