‘Yes, we had quite a lot of good-natured chaff about it.’
‘And can you remember who were present?’
Mr. Felix hesitated.
‘I’m not sure that I can,’ he said at last. ‘The group was quite a casual one and I only joined it for a few moments. Le Gautier was there, of course, and a man called Daubigny, and Henri Boisson, and I think, Jaques Rôget, but of him I’m not sure. There were a number of others also.’
Felix answered the questions readily and the Inspector noted his replies. He felt inclined to believe the lottery business was genuine. At all events inquiries in Paris would speedily establish the point. But even if it was all true, that did not prove that Le Gautier had written the letter. A number of people had heard the conversation, and any one could have written it, even Felix himself. Ah, that was an idea! Could Felix be the writer? Was there any way of finding that out? The Inspector considered and then spoke again.
‘Have you the envelope this letter came in?’
‘Eh?’ said Felix, ‘the envelope? Why, no, I’m sure I haven’t. I never keep them.’
‘Or the card?’
Felix turned over the papers on his desk and rummaged in the drawers.
‘No,’ he answered, ‘I can’t find it. I must have destroyed it, too.’