‘By this, monsieur,’ said the man, pointing to the broken stave. ‘That stave was split. I remember quite well the shape of the crack. I noticed it, and wondered if I should report it to the foreman, and then I thought it was safe enough and didn’t. But I told my mate about it. See here, Jean,’ he called to the fourth man, ‘is that the crack I showed you some days ago, or is it only like it?’ The fourth man advanced and inspected it in his turn. ‘It’s the same one,’ he said confidently. ‘I know, because I thought that split was the shape of my hand, and so it is.’ He placed his hand on the adjoining stave, and there certainly was a rude resemblance in shape. ‘I suppose neither of you men remember what you packed in it, or whom it was for?’ ‘As far as I remember,’ said the third man, ‘it was a statue of three or four women, but I don’t remember who it was for.’ ‘It wasn’t for a man called Felix, of London?’ ‘I remember the name, but I can’t say if it was for him.’ ‘Thank you. Would you tell me how it was packed? What steadied the group?’ ‘Sawdust, monsieur, simply sawdust, carefully rammed.’ ‘Can you tell me if the railway cart took it from here, or how did it go?’ ‘No, monsieur, it was taken by one of our own motor lorries from the Grenelle works.’ ‘Did you know the driver?’ ‘Yes, monsieur, it was Jules Fouchard.’ ‘I suppose, monsieur,’ Lefarge turned to the managing director, ‘we could interview this man Fouchard?’ ‘Why, certainly. M. Thomas will find out where he is.’ ‘Pardon, messieurs,’ interposed the elderly packer, ‘but he’s here now. Or at least I saw him not ten minutes ago.’ ‘Good. Then try and find him, and tell him not to go away till we have seen him.’ In a few moments the driver was found and, having asked him to wait outside, Lefarge continued his questions to the packer. ‘At what o’clock did the cask leave here?’ ‘About four. I had it packed and ready by two, but the lorry did not come for a couple of hours after that.’ ‘Did you see it loaded up?’ ‘I helped to load it up.’ ‘Now tell me,’ continued Lefarge, ‘where was the cask between the time you put the group in and the arrival of the motor?’ ‘Here, monsieur, in this shed where I packed it.’ ‘And did you leave it during that time?’ ‘No, monsieur, I was here all the time.’ ‘So that--please be very careful about this--no one could have tampered with it in any way up till the time it left the yard?’ ‘Absolutely impossible, monsieur. It is quite out of the question.’ ‘Thank you, we are exceedingly obliged to you,’ said Lefarge, slipping a couple of francs into the man’s hand as he withdrew. ‘Now, could I see the lorry driver?’ Jules Fouchard proved to be a small, energetic looking man, with sharp features and intelligent eyes. He was sure of his facts, and gave his answers clearly and without hesitation.