"Was it customary here at the chateau, to bring up the wine before it was wanted?"
"No, sir; before each meal, I myself went down to the cellar for it."
"Then no full bottles were ever kept in the dining-room?"
"Never."
"But some of the wine might sometimes remain in draught?"
"No; the count permitted me to carry the dessert wine to the servants' table."
"And where were the empty bottles put?"
"I put them in this corner cupboard, and when they amounted to a certain number, I carried them down cellar."
"When did you last do so?"
"Oh"—Francois reflected—"at least five or six days ago."