‘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.’