Hannasyde waited until Taylor had arranged the curtains to his satisfaction, and then asked: “How long have you been in Mr Vereker's employment?”
“I have been here for three years, sir,” replied Taylor, in a voice that informed the Superintendent that that was a record.
“Then you are probably acquainted with Mr Vereker's habits. Was it his custom to spend the week-ends at his country cottage?”
“He occasionally did so, sir.”
“And when he did was it usual for him to drive himself down, or did he take his chauffeur?”
“Sometimes the one and sometimes the other, sir.”
“Upon Saturday, when he left town, was the chauffeur with him?”
“I believe not, sir. There had been a little unpleasantness.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Between Mr Vereker and Jackson, the chauffeur, sir. Mr Vereker gave Jackson his notice on Saturday morning, Jackson having brought the car round five minutes late again. There was a highly unpleasant scene upon the front-steps. I regret to say that Jackson so far forgot himself as to answer Mr Vereker back. It was quite a brawl, not what one would expect in a gentleman's house at all. Jackson talked extremely wildly, Mr Vereker hardly less so. Both being hot tempered, if I may say so.”