'Oh yes, Mr. Hugo.'
'Any new customers?'
He trembled for the reply.
'Yes, sir. Two gentlemen came as soon as we opened this morning, and took Vault 39. They paid a year's rent in advance. Two hundred pounds.'
'What did they want a whole vault for?'
'I can't say, sir. There was a lot of going to and fro with parcels and things, sir, and a lot of telephoning in the waiting-room. And one of them asked for a glass and some water. They were here a long time, sir.'
'When did they go?'
'It was about ten-thirty, sir, when one of the two gentlemen called me to bring my key and lock up the vault. The vault was properly locked, first with his key, and then with mine, and then he left. Perhaps it might be a quarter to eleven, sir.'
'But the other gentleman?'
'Oh, he must have slipped off earlier, sir. I didn't see him go.'