"Never mind why, just remember it's important. Another thing is, to ask M. Kittredge about a chest of drawers in his room at the Hôtel des Étrangers. It is a piece of old oak, rather worm-eaten, but it has good bronzes for the drawer handles, two dogs fighting on either side of the lock plates."
Alice listened in astonishment. "I didn't suppose you knew where M. Kittredge lived."
"Nor did I until this morning," he smiled. "Since then I—well, as my friend Gibelin says, I haven't wasted my time."
"Your friend Gibelin?" repeated Alice, not understanding.
Coquenil smiled grimly. "He is an amiable person for whom I am preparing a—a little surprise."
"Oh! And what about the chest of drawers?"
"It's about one particular drawer, the small upper one on the right-hand side—better write that down."
"The small upper drawer on the right-hand side," repeated Alice.
"I find that M. Kittredge always kept this drawer locked. He seems to be a methodical person, and I want to know if he remembers opening it a few days ago and finding, it unlocked. Have you got that?"
"Yes."