J. S. Fletcher

“ He went straight into the Priory grounds—same as Mrs. Byfield had done, a minute or two sooner."
"On her heels, in fact?" suggested Brixey, with a glance at Crabbe.
"On her heels, as you might say, sir," assented Mrs. Crosse. "She’d gone in there, as I’ve often seen her doing of a morning, and he wouldn’t be a couple of minutes after her."
Brixey signed to the inspector and rose. But on his way to the door he looked significantly at the landlady.
"You’re the sort of woman that can keep things to yourself," he said. "Keep this to yourself—you understand?" ”

“ I don't remember seeing the gentleman you mention at all. Perhaps he wasn’t in the part I was in. I only went there to give a message to the caretaker. The grounds are very extensive," she concluded, glancing meaningly at Crabbe. "Perhaps this gentleman doesn’t know them."
"I shall know them better to-morrow," remarked Brixey. He said no more, and presently he and Crabbe were back in North Street, and walking towards the centre of the town. ”

“ This gentleman's the nephew of the gentleman that's missing. He's come down from London to find him. Now, what can you tell?"
The landlady, who had silently motioned her callers to seat themselves, shook her head.
"Why, not much, Mr. Crabbe," she answered. "But, of course, it might lead to something. I've no doubt that the gentleman who came in here is the one that your man told me was missing. A stranger to me, anyway, and I know most Selchester folks."
"Describe him," suggested Brixey.
"A tall, well-made gentleman, sixty or thereabouts, I should say ”