‘Felix ordered it?’ burst in Burnley, ‘but there, pardon me. I must not interrupt.’
The clerk returned at this moment and laid some papers on his principal’s desk. The latter turned them over, selected one, and handed it to Burnley.
‘Here is his letter, you see, received by us on the morning of the 30th of March, and enclosing notes for 1500 francs. The envelope bore the London postmark.’
The letter was written by hand on one side of a single sheet of paper and was as follows:
‘141 West Jubb Street,
‘Tottenham Court Road,
‘London, W.C.,
29th March, 1912.
‘Messrs Dupierre et Cie.,
‘Rue Provence,
‘Rue de la Convention,
‘Grenelle, Paris.
‘GENTLEMEN.—I am anxious to purchase the group of statuary in the left-hand corner back of your Boulevard des Capucines showroom, looking from the street. The group is of three female figures, two seated and one standing. There can be no doubt about the one I mean, as it is the only such in the left of the window.
‘Please forward immediately to the above address.
‘I do not know the exact price, but understand it is about 1500 francs. I therefore enclose notes for that sum, and if a balance remains on either side it can be adjusted by letter.
‘I may say that an unexpected call to England prevented me ordering this in person.
‘Yours, etc.
‘LÉON FELIX.’
Inspector Burnley examined the letter.
‘You will allow us to keep this in the meantime, I presume?’ he asked.
‘Certainly.’
‘You said the money was in notes. You mean, I take it, ordinary State paper money whose source could not be traced; not any kind of cheque or draft payable through a bank?’
‘Precisely.’
‘Well, sir, pardon my interruption.’
‘There is little more to add. The group was packed and despatched on the day we received the letter. Its price was, as a matter of fact, only 1400 francs, and the balance of 100 francs was therefore enclosed with it. This was considered as safe as any other way of sending it, as the cask was insured for its full value.’
‘The cask? You packed it then in a cask?’
‘Yes. We make a special kind of cask in two sizes, very heavy and strong, for sending out such pieces. It is our own idea, and we are rather proud of it. We find it simpler and safer than a crate.’
‘We have the cask in a cart outside. Perhaps, if we brought it in, you would be good enough to see if it could be identified, firstly if it is yours, and secondly, if so, if it is the particular one you sent to Felix.’
‘Well, you see, unfortunately it was sent from our showrooms in the Boulevard des Capucines. If you have time to take it there I will instruct the manager to assist you in every way in his power. Indeed, I will go with you myself. I shall not be able to rest until the matter is cleared up.’
The detectives thanked him and, while Lefarge was instructing the carter, M. Thévenet procured a taxi and they drove to the Boulevard des Capucines.
CHAPTER XII
AT THE GARE ST LAZARE
THE showrooms consisted of a small but luxuriously fitted up shop, containing many objects of excellence and value. M. Thévenet introduced the manager, M. Thomas, a young and capable looking man, who invited them into his office. He did not speak English, and Lefarge carried on the conversation.
‘These gentlemen,’ said M. Thévenet, ‘are making some inquiries about the sale of Le Mareschal’s group to Mr Felix of London last week. I want you to tell them all you can, Thomas.’
The young man bowed.
‘With pleasure, monsieur.’
In a few words Lefarge put him in possession of the main facts. ‘Perhaps,’ he continued, ‘if you would be kind enough to tell me all that you know, I could then ask questions on any point I did not understand.’
‘But certainly, monsieur. There is not much to tell.’ He looked up some memoranda. ‘On Tuesday week, the 30th 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 shall 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.
‘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 steadie
d 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.
‘M. Fouchard,’ began Lefarge, ‘this gentleman and I are trying to trace the movements of one of your casks, which I am informed left here by your lorry about four o’clock on Tuesday, the thirtieth of March last. Can you recall the occasion?’
‘Permit me to get my delivery book, monsieur.’
He disappeared for a moment, returning with a small, cloth-covered book. Rapidly turning over the pages, he found what he was looking for.
‘For M. Léon Felix, 141 West Jubb Street, Tottenham Court Road, London? Yes, monsieur. It was the only cask which left here that day. I took it to the Gare St Lazare, and handed it to the railway officials. Here is their signature for it.’
He passed the book over and Lefarge read the name.
‘Thank you. Who is this Jean Duval? I shall probably want to see him and would like to know where to find him.’
‘He is a clerk in the departure passenger cloak-room.’
‘You left here with the cask, I understand, about four o’clock?’
‘About that, monsieur.’
‘And what time did you arrive at the Gare St Lazare?’
‘Just a few minutes later. I went direct.’
‘You didn’t stop on the way?’
‘No, monsieur.’
‘Well now, monsieur, please don’t answer till you have considered carefully. Was there any way in which the cask could have been tampered with between the time it was loaded up here and your handing it over to Jean Duval at the Gare St Lazare?’
‘None, monsieur. No one could have got on the lorry without my knowledge, much less have done anything to the cask.’
‘And I take it from that, it would have been equally impossible to remove it entirely and substitute another?’
‘It would have been absolutely out of the question, monsieur.’
After thanking and dismissing the driver, they returned to the manager’s room.
‘The position, then, seems to be this,’ said Lefarge, as they sat down. ‘The cask left your yard containing a group of statuary, and it arrived in London containing the dead body of a woman. The change must therefore have been effected along the route, and the evidence of the steamer people seems to narrow it down to between here and Rouen.’
‘Why Rouen?’ asked both gentlemen in a breath.
‘Well, I should have said, perhaps, between here and the time of loading on to the steamer at Rouen wharf.’
‘But I am afraid you are making a mistake there,’ said M. Thomas, ‘the cask went by Havre. All our stuff does.’
‘Pardon me, M. Thomas, for seeming to contradict you,’ said Burnley, in his somewhat halting French, ‘but I am as certain of it as of my presence here now, however the cask may have been sent, it certainly arrived in the London Docks by the Insular and Continental Steam Navigation Company’s boat from Rouen.’
‘But that is most mysterious,’ rejoined Thomas. He struck a bell and a clerk appeared.
‘Bring me the railway papers about the sending of that cask to Felix, London, on the thirtieth ultimo.’
‘Here you are,’ he said to Burnley, when the clerk returned. ‘Look at that. That is the receipt from the St Lazare people for the freight on the cask between this and the address in London, per passenger train via Havre and Southampton.’
‘Well,’ said Burnley, ‘this gets me altogether. Tell me,’ he added after a pause, ‘when Felix telephoned you from London asking when and by what route you were sending the cask, what did you reply?’
‘I told him it was crossing on Tuesday night, the 30th March, by Havre and Southampton.’
‘We’d better go to St Lazare,’ said Lefarge. ‘Perhaps M. Thomas will kindly lend us that receipt?’
‘Certainly, but you must please sign for it, as I shall want it for my audit.’
They parted with expressions of thanks on the part of the detectives, who promised to keep the others advised of the progress of the inquiry.
A taxi brought them to St Lazare where, at the office of the superintendent of the line, Lefarge’s card had the usual magical effect.
‘Please be seated, gentlemen,’ said the superintendent, ‘and let me know what I can do for you.’
Lefarge showed him the receipt.
‘The matter is somewhat puzzling,’ he said. ‘That cask, as you see, was invoiced out via Havre and Southampton on the 30th ultimo, and yet it turned up in London on Monday, the 5th instant, by the Insular and Continental Steam Navigation Company’s boat Bullfinch from Rouen. The contents of the cask when it left Messrs Dupierre’s showroom was a group of statuary, but when it arrived at St Katharine’s Docks—well, I may tell you, monsieur, in confidence—it contained the body of a woman—murdered.’
The superintendent gave an exclamation of surprise.
‘You see, therefore, monsieur, the necessity of our tracing the cask as privately as possible.’
‘I certainly do. If you will wait a few minutes, gentlemen, I can get you part at least of the information you want.’
The few minutes had expanded into nearly an hour before the superintendent returned.
‘Sorry to have kept you so long,’ he apologised. ‘I find that your cask was delivered at our outward passenger cloak-room at about 4.15 p.m. on the 30th ultimo. It remained there until about 7 p.m., and during all this time it was under the personal supervision of one of the clerks named Duval, a most conscientious and reliable man. He states it stood in full view of his desk, and it would have been quite impossible for any one to have tampered with it. He particularly remembers it from its peculiar shape and its weight, as well as because it was an unusual object to send by passenger train. At about 7 p.m. it was taken charge of by two porters and placed in the van of the 7.47 p.m. English boat train. The guard of the train was present when they put it into the van, and he should have been there till the train left. The guard is unfortunately off duty at present, but I have sent for him and will get his statement. Once t
he train left, the cask would simply be bound to go to Havre. If it had not done so with that insurance on it, we should have heard about it. However, I will communicate with our agent at Havre, and I should be able to get definite information in the morning.’
‘But, my dear sir,’ cried Burnley helplessly, ‘I know of my own knowledge that it came, by long sea from Rouen. I don’t for one moment doubt your word, but there must be a mistake somewhere.’
‘Ah,’ returned the superintendent, smiling, ‘now I come to something that will interest you. The cask we have just spoken of was sent out on the evening of the 30th ult. But I find another cask was despatched three days later, on the 1st instant. It also was addressed to M. Felix at the same London address and sent in by Messrs Dupierre. It was labelled via Rouen and the I. and C. Company’s boat. It went by goods train that night, and I will get our Rouen agent to try and trace it, though, as he would have had no reason to remark it, I doubt if he will be able to do so.’
Burnley swore. ‘I beg your pardon, sir, but this gets deeper and deeper. Two casks!’ He groaned.
‘At least,’ said the superintendent, ‘it has cleared up your difficulty about how a cask that left by one route arrived by another.’
‘It has done that, monsieur, and we are really extremely obliged for all your kindness and trouble.’
‘If there is anything else I can do I shall be very pleased.’
‘Thank you again. The only other point is to trace the cart that brought the second cask.’
‘Ah,’ the superintendent shook his head, ‘I can’t do that for you, you know.’
‘Of course not. But perhaps you could get hold of, or put us in a position to get hold of your men who received the cask? We might get some information from them.’
‘I shall do what I can. Now, gentlemen, if you will call any time in the morning, I shall let you have any further information I receive.’
The detectives, having thanked him again, bowed themselves out and, strolling up and down the vast concourse, discussed their plans.
‘I should like to wire to London now, and also to write by tonight’s post,’ said Burnley. ‘They’ll want to get on to tracing that second cask from Waterloo as soon as possible.’
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