Detective and mystery stories; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction; Police -- England -- Fiction
‘I think so. No, wait a minute, was he? I believe, now that you
mention it, there was a lady with him. You will understand I was not
noticing particularly, as my mind was occupied with my work, but it’s
like a dream to me, I saw him talking to a lady on the promenade
deck.’
‘You could not describe her?’
‘I could not, monsieur. I cannot be even positive she was there at
all.’
Seeing there was nothing further to be learnt, they thanked the chief
steward courteously. Then, remaining on board, they interviewed every
one they could find, whom they thought might be able to give them
information. Of all they spoke to, only one, a waiter, knew Felix,
and he had not seen him on the occasion in question.
‘That’s no good, I’m afraid,’ said Burnley, as they walked to an
hotel. ‘I believe that steward did see a woman, but he would be
useless as a witness.’
‘Quite. I don’t fancy you’ll get much at Folkestone either.’
‘Most unlikely, I should say, but I can but try. I think I’ll
probably run up to Glasgow and see that man that travelled in the bus
with him. He might know something.
‘If not, I’ll see the other--the one who lives in Marseilles.’
A few minutes before twelve next day saw the detectives strolling
along the wharf beside the English boat.
‘Well,’ said Lefarge, ‘our ways part here. There is no use in my
going to Folkestone, and I’ll take the 2.12 back to Paris. We have
had a pleasant inquiry, and I’m only sorry we have not had a more
definite result.’
‘We’re not done with it yet,’ returned the Englishman. ‘I expect
we’ll get it pretty square before we stop. But I’m really sorry to
say ‘Good-bye,’ and I hope we may be working together again before
long.’
They parted with mutual assurances of goodwill, Burnley expressing
his appreciation of the kindly treatment he had received in Paris,
and Lefarge inviting him back to spend his next holidays in the gay
capital.
We may accompany Lefarge on his return journey to Paris, and follow
him as he endeavours to trace the movements of M. Boirac from the
Saturday night of the dinner-party to the following Thursday evening,
when the cask containing the body was despatched to London from the
State Railway goods station in the rue Cardinet.
He reached the Gare du Nord at 5.45 p.m., and immediately drove to
the Sûreté. M. Chauvet was in his office, and Lefarge reported his
movements since they parted.
‘I had a telephone call from Scotland Yard yesterday,’ said the
Chief. ‘It seems Boirac turned up at eleven as arranged. He
definitely identified the body as that of his wife, so that point is
settled.’
‘Has he returned yet, do you know, monsieur?’
‘I have not heard. Why do you ask?’
‘I thought if he was still away I might take the opportunity of
pumping François about his movements since the murder.’
‘A good idea. We can find out at once.’
M. Chauvet turned over the pages of his telephone directory and,
having found what he wanted, gave a call.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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