‘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.