‘Quite recently, monsieur. As you see, Monsieur is a collector of such things, and that is, I think, the latest addition.’
‘Can you remember the exact day it arrived?’
‘It was about the time of the dinner-party, in fact, I remember now distinctly. It was that very day.’
‘How was it packed?’
‘It was in a cask, monsieur. It was left in here that Saturday morning with the top boards loosened for Monsieur to unpack. He never would trust any one to do that for him.’
‘Was he, then, in the habit of getting these casks?’
‘Yes, monsieur, a good many of the statues came in casks.’
‘I see. And when was this one unpacked?’
‘Two days later, monsieur, on Monday evening.’
‘And what happened to the cask?’