"No, it didn't. Sometimes he'd go out very early—sometimes late—some days he never went out at all. And sometimes he'd be out at night—and away for days together. I never asked him anything, of course."
"Whatever it was, he retired from it eventually?"
"Yes—just before we came here."
"Do you know why Mr. Kitely came here?"
"Well," said Miss Pett, "he'd always said he wanted a nice little place in the country, and preferably in the North. He came up this way for a holiday some months since, and when he got back he said he'd found just the house and neighbourhood to suit him, so, of course, we removed here."
"And you have been here—how long?"
"Just over three months."
Brereton let a moment or two elapse before he asked his next question, which was accompanied by another searching inspection of the witness.
"Do you know anything about Mr. Kitely's relations?"
"No!" answered Miss Pett. "And for a simple reason. He always said he had none."