noon on Thursday
Happily not only George Lovegrove , but his estimable wife was at hand . The latter hastened to prosecute inquiries , beginning with a visit to the Anglican vicar of the parish , the Rev. Giles Nevington . He reported Mrs. Porcher an evening communicant at the greater festivals , and a not ungenerous donor to parochial charities ; adding that a former curate had resided under her roof with perfect impunity . Mrs. Lovegrove terminated her researches by an interview with the fishmonger , who assured her that `` Cedar Lodge always took the best cuts , '' sternly refused fish or poultry which had suffered cold storage , and paid its housebooks without fail before noon on Thursday . She ascertained , further , from a source socially intermediate between clergyman and tradesman , that Mrs. Porcher 's husband , some time veterinary surgeon of a crack regiment , had died in the odour of alcohol rather than in that of sanctity , leaving his widow -- in addition to his numerous and heavy debts -- but a fraction of the comfortable fortune to procure the enjoyment of which he had so considerately married her . The solid Georgian mansion was her freehold ; and it was to secure sufficient means for continued residence in it that the poor lady started a boarding-house , or in the politer language of the present day , had decided to receive paying guests . Encouraged by the satisfactory nature of the above information , Mr. Iglesias -- shortly after his mother 's death , now nearly eight years ago -- had become a member of Mrs. Porcher 's household .