"I don't think so. I told you he would think me only a tyro. And, beside him, that is all I am. Do you know where he wrote that letter, Lester? Right in the _Record_ office. That is a sheet of our copy paper. He sat down there, right under my nose, wrote that letter, dropped it into my box, and walked out. And all that sometime this evening, when the office was crowded." "But it's absurd for him to write a letter like that, if he really means it. You have only to warn the police...." "You'll notice he says it is in confidence." "And you're going to keep it so?" "Certainly I am; I consider that he has paid me a high compliment. I have shown it to no one but you--also in confidence." "It is not the sort of confidence the law recognises," I pointed out. "To keep a confidence like that is practically to abet a felony." "And yet you will keep it," said Godfrey cheerfully. "You see, I am going to do everything I can to prevent that felony. And we will see if Crochard is really invincible!" "I'll keep it," I agreed, "because I think the letter is just a blind. And, by the way," I added, "I have a letter from Armand & Son confirming the fact that their books show that the Boule cabinet was bought by Philip Vantine. Under the circumstances, I shall have to claim it and hand it over to the Metropolitan." "I hope you won't disturb it until after Wednesday," said Godfrey, quickly. "I won't have any interest in it after that." "You really think Crochard will try for it Wednesday?" "I really do." I shrugged my shoulders. What was the use of arguing with a man like that? "Till after Wednesday, then," I agreed; and Godfrey, having verified his letter and secured from me the two promises he was after, bade me good-night. CHAPTER XXIII WE MEET M. PIGOT I was just getting ready to leave the office the next afternoon when Godfrey called me up. "How are you feeling to-day, Lester?" he asked. "Not as fit as I might," I said. "Have you arranged to start on that vacation Thursday?" "I don't think that's a good joke, Godfrey." "It isn't a joke at all. I want you to arrange it. But meanwhile, how would you like a whiff of salt air this evening?" "First rate. How will I get it?" "The _Savoie_ will get to quarantine about six o'clock. I'm going down on our boat to meet her. I want to have a talk with Inspector Pigot--the French detective. Will you come along?" "Will I!" I said. "Where shall I meet you?" "At the foot of Liberty Street, at five o'clock." "I'll be there," I promised. And I was. The boat was cast loose as soon as we got aboard, backed out into the busy river, her whistle shrieking shrilly, then swung about and headed down stream. It was a fast boat--the _Record_, which prided itself on outdistancing its contemporaries in other directions, would of course try to do so in this--and when she got fairly into her stride, with her engines throbbing rhythmically, the shore on either hand slipped past us rapidly.