while interviewing fennan's wife elsa in her home, smiley answers the telephone, expecting the call to be for him. it is a requested 8:30 am call from the telephone exchange. inspector mendel, a police officer on the verge of retirement who is investigating the fennan case, finds out that the call had been requested by fennan the night before. when elsa later tells smiley that she requested the call from the exchange, smiley becomes suspicious of her. however, maston unequivocally orders smiley to refrain from any further investigation into fennan's death. back in his office, smiley receives a letter posted by fennan the night before, requesting an urgent meeting that day. believing that fennan was murdered to prevent the meeting, smiley resigns from the circus and attaches his resignation to fennan's letter, which he forwards to maston.