‘Yes?’
‘The steamboat people think that a mistake has been made and that the cask that you received was not the one consigned to you, and which you expected.’
‘The cask I received is my own property. It was invoiced to me and the freight was paid. What more do the shipping company want?’
‘But the cask you received was not addressed to you. It was invoiced to a Mr. Felix of West Jubb Street, Tottenham Court Road.’
‘The cask was addressed to me. I admit the friend who sent it made a mistake in the address, but it was for me all the same.’
‘But if we bring the other Mr. Felix—The West Jubb Street Mr. Felix—here, and he also claims it, you will not then, I take it, persist in your claim?’
The black-bearded man moved uneasily. He opened his mouth to reply, and then hesitated. The Inspector felt sure he had seen the little pitfall only just in time.
‘If you produce such a man,’ he said at last, ‘I am sure I can easily convince him that the cask was really sent to me and not to him.’
‘Well, we shall see about that later. Meantime, another question. What was in the cask you were expecting?’
‘Statuary.’