‘But certainly, monsieur. There is not much to tell.’ He looked up some memoranda. ‘On Tuesday week, the 30th of March, we had a phone from the head office saying that M. Le Mareschal’s last group, which we had on exhibition in our window, was sold. We were to send it at once to M. Léon Felix, at the London address you know. Also we were to enclose 100 francs, refund of an overpayment of the cost. This was done. The group and the money were duly packed and despatched. Everything was perfectly in order and in accordance with our usual custom. The only remarkable feature in the whole transaction was the absence of a receipt from Felix. I do not think I can recall another instance in which we were not advised of our goods safe arrival, and in this case it was doubly to be expected, owing to the enclosure of money. I might perhaps mention also that on that same Tuesday we had a telephone call from M. Felix, through from London, asking when and by what route we were sending the cask, to which I replied in person.’ The young man paused, and Lefarge asked how the group was packed. ‘In a number A cask, our usual practice.’ ‘We have a cask coming along. It will be here presently. Could you identify it?’ ‘Possibly I or the foreman might.’ ‘Well, M. Thévenet, I do not think we can get any further till it arrives. There would just be time for _dejeuner_. We hope you and M. Thomas will give us the pleasure of your company.’ This was agreed to, and they lunched at one of the comfortable restaurants on the Boulevard. When they returned to the shop the cart was waiting. ‘We had better have him round to the yard,’ said M. Thomas. ‘If you will go through I will show him the way.’ The yard was a small open area surrounded by sheds. Into one of these the cart was backed and the cask unpacked. M. Thomas examined it. ‘That’s certainly one of our casks,’ he said. ‘They are our own design and, so far as I am aware, are used by no one else.’ ‘But, M. Thomas,’ said Lefarge, ‘can you identify it in any special manner? We do not, of course, doubt what you have said, but if it could be established that this particular cask had passed through your yard it would be important. Otherwise, if you judge only by likeness to type, we cannot be sure that some one has not copied your design to try and start a false scent.’ ‘I see what you mean, but I fear I cannot certify what you want. But I’ll call the foreman and packers. Possibly some of them can help you.’ He went into another of the sheds, returning immediately with four men. ‘Look at that cask, men,’ he said. ‘Have any of you ever seen it before?’ The men advanced and inspected the cask minutely, looking at it from all sides. Two of them retreated, shaking their heads, but the third, an elderly man with white hair, spoke up. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I packed this cask not a fortnight ago.’ ‘How are you so certain of that?’ asked Lefarge.