to Paris.
âI was fortunate in finding the manager of the Hotel de lâUnivers quite ready to tell me all he knew. He said that until about six months ago Arthur Graves had been in the habit of staying in his hotel four times a year. He was good enough to turn up the hotel register and show me his name. On the last occasion when Graves stayed there unpleasantness arose over a cheque which he had given in return for cash and the bank had dishonoured. Graves was voluble in his explanations and a French friend who had been in the habit of meeting Graves at the hotel came forward to cover the cheque which had been dishonoured, owing, he said, to a foolish mistake on the part of the bank cashier. The manager gave me the name of this French friend and his address, which he had given in consequence of questions about the dishonoured cheque. The address proved to be that of a small jeweller who executed repairs to watches and jewellery. I made the excuse of asking whether he had a second-hand watch for sale which he could guarantee as a good timekeeper. At first he shook his head, but on learning that I was an Englishman, as he had already gathered from my accent, he brought forward an expensive watch which he said he would sell far below its actual value. When I heard the price I told him that it was far beyond my means and I quitted the shop.
âHaving learned so much from the manager of the Hotel de lâUnivers, I did not think it worth while to pursue enquiries at other hotels, but I called on M. Verneuil, whose name you had given me, at the police office attached to the Grand Palais. He proved to be absent, but he was expected back in his office at 5 P.M. I did not wish to call upon M. Henri until I had seen Inspector Verneuil, but I went to the Rue Royale to look at the premises. The establishment appeared to be very busy; several cars containing ladies drew up while I was walking up and down.
âI then went to the private residence of M. Goron, to whom I had your letter of introduction. I was fortunate enough to find him at home. One seeing your letter he gave me a very warm welcome. I explained the main object of my visit to Paris and he told me that it would be well for me to see M. Verneuil, because he had been making certain enquiries and he knew that M. Henri was especially concerned in keeping the whole matter as secret as possible, for fear that police enquiries might militate against his interests.
âM. Goron was greatly interested when I told him about the murders of Miss Gask and Fredman. He said that he was convinced in his own mind that Miss Gask had been a professional thief; he had come across traces of her in investigating cases of foreign buyers who paid high prices for stolen advance models. He had no doubt in his own mind that she was mixed up with a gang of very clever and unscrupulous people and he suggested as the motive for her murder either revenge for taking more than her share of the spoil or fear that she would betray the gang to the police if she was arrested.
âM. Goron reiterated his desire to help us in every possible way but explained that at the moment he was very much occupied with the murder case in the Boulevard des Invalides in which a senator had been the victim.
âAt five oâclock I entered the police station attached to the Grand Palais and was told by the constable at the door that M. Verneuil had arrived and was upstairs. He received me cordially and listened attentively to what I told him. As he spoke no English I allowed him to know that I could speak French. When I mentioned the watchmaker, Bigaud, he became alert.
ââWe have a dossier on that man,â he said. âHe is known to us as a receiver of stolen goods, especially objects of value from foreign countriesâEngland, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.â
âI told him that Arthur Graves, who saw Bigaud on his frequent visits to Paris, was under suspicion by us though we
âI was fortunate in finding the manager of the Hotel de lâUnivers quite ready to tell me all he knew. He said that until about six months ago Arthur Graves had been in the habit of staying in his hotel four times a year. He was good enough to turn up the hotel register and show me his name. On the last occasion when Graves stayed there unpleasantness arose over a cheque which he had given in return for cash and the bank had dishonoured. Graves was voluble in his explanations and a French friend who had been in the habit of meeting Graves at the hotel came forward to cover the cheque which had been dishonoured, owing, he said, to a foolish mistake on the part of the bank cashier. The manager gave me the name of this French friend and his address, which he had given in consequence of questions about the dishonoured cheque. The address proved to be that of a small jeweller who executed repairs to watches and jewellery. I made the excuse of asking whether he had a second-hand watch for sale which he could guarantee as a good timekeeper. At first he shook his head, but on learning that I was an Englishman, as he had already gathered from my accent, he brought forward an expensive watch which he said he would sell far below its actual value. When I heard the price I told him that it was far beyond my means and I quitted the shop.
âHaving learned so much from the manager of the Hotel de lâUnivers, I did not think it worth while to pursue enquiries at other hotels, but I called on M. Verneuil, whose name you had given me, at the police office attached to the Grand Palais. He proved to be absent, but he was expected back in his office at 5 P.M. I did not wish to call upon M. Henri until I had seen Inspector Verneuil, but I went to the Rue Royale to look at the premises. The establishment appeared to be very busy; several cars containing ladies drew up while I was walking up and down.
âI then went to the private residence of M. Goron, to whom I had your letter of introduction. I was fortunate enough to find him at home. One seeing your letter he gave me a very warm welcome. I explained the main object of my visit to Paris and he told me that it would be well for me to see M. Verneuil, because he had been making certain enquiries and he knew that M. Henri was especially concerned in keeping the whole matter as secret as possible, for fear that police enquiries might militate against his interests.
âM. Goron was greatly interested when I told him about the murders of Miss Gask and Fredman. He said that he was convinced in his own mind that Miss Gask had been a professional thief; he had come across traces of her in investigating cases of foreign buyers who paid high prices for stolen advance models. He had no doubt in his own mind that she was mixed up with a gang of very clever and unscrupulous people and he suggested as the motive for her murder either revenge for taking more than her share of the spoil or fear that she would betray the gang to the police if she was arrested.
âM. Goron reiterated his desire to help us in every possible way but explained that at the moment he was very much occupied with the murder case in the Boulevard des Invalides in which a senator had been the victim.
âAt five oâclock I entered the police station attached to the Grand Palais and was told by the constable at the door that M. Verneuil had arrived and was upstairs. He received me cordially and listened attentively to what I told him. As he spoke no English I allowed him to know that I could speak French. When I mentioned the watchmaker, Bigaud, he became alert.
ââWe have a dossier on that man,â he said. âHe is known to us as a receiver of stolen goods, especially objects of value from foreign countriesâEngland, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.â
âI told him that Arthur Graves, who saw Bigaud on his frequent visits to Paris, was under suspicion by us though we
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