‘No one else could prove it? Were there no callers? No tradesmen’s messengers?’
‘None. One or two people rang, but I didn’t bother. I was expecting no one, and I just let them ring.’
‘An unfortunate omission. Now, tell me, where did you dine in town and spend the evenings?’
‘I’m afraid a different restaurant each night, and naturally a different theatre.’
By dint of further questions Clifford obtained a list of all the places his client had visited during the week, his intention being to go round them in turn in search of material to build up an alibi. He was very disappointed with all he had heard, and the difficulties of his task seemed to be growing. He continued this examination.
‘Now, this typewritten letter, signed Le Gautier. Did you believe it was genuine?’
‘I did. I thought the whole thing absurd and annoying, but I did not doubt it. You see, I had actually entered for the lottery with Le Gautier, and fifty thousand francs was the sum we would have made, had we been lucky. I did think at first it was a practical joke on Le Gautier’s part, but he is not that kind of man, and I at last concluded it was genuine.’
‘Did you write or wire to Le Gautier?’
‘No. I got the letter late one evening on my return home. It was too late to do anything then, but I intended to wire next morning that I would go over, and not to send the cask. But next morning’s post brought a card, also typewritten, and signed “Le Gautier,” saying the cask had actually been despatched. I forgot to mention that in my statement.’
Clifford nodded and again referred to his notes.