“At my usual place. It's a quiet little restaurant called the Vine. They know me there. I'm sure they'll be able to bear me out.”
“And after lunch?”
“I went back to the office, of course. As a matter of fact, I left earlier than I generally do. Well, before tea.”
“Where did you go?”
“To Golders Green. I wanted to see Mrs Smith.”
“Ah, yes,” Hannasyde said suavely. “You naturally wished to discuss the matter with her.”
“Well, no. No, actually I didn't speak of it. I meant to, but—but I still hoped there might be some way of getting round it, and—you see, we never spoke of my—my home-life. And I didn't want to upset Gladys. I haven't told her anything about what's happened. Just that we have had a death in the family.”
“Oh!” said Hannasyde. “At what hour did you leave Mrs Smith?”
“I don't really know. I was home in time for dinner. I mean, I went straight home from Golders Green.”
“And after dinner?”