whether he is gone beyond redemption. There is your job. Find him, learn whatever you can about him, and then, after we know something, we will decide whether it is wiser to force an interview between them—in hopes that she will be able to influence him—or not.”
“I’ll try it,” I said. “When does Mrs. Ashcraft send him his monthly allowance?”
“On the first of each month.”
“Today is the twenty-eighth. That’ll give me three days to wind up a job I have on hand. Got a photo of him?”
“Unfortunately, no. In her anger immediately after their row, Mrs. Ashcraft destroyed everything she had that would remind her of him. But I don’t think a photograph would be of any great help at the post office. Without consulting me, Mrs. Ashcraft watched for her husband there on several occasions, and did not see him. It is more than likely that he has someone else call for his mail.”
I got up and reached for my hat.
“See you around the second of the month,” I said, as I left the office.