Hugo.'
'Any new customers?'
He trembled for the reply.
'Yes, sir. Two gentlemen came as soon as we opened this morning, and
took Vault 39. They paid a year's rent in advance. Two hundred pounds.'
'What did they want a whole vault for?'
'I can't say, sir. There was a lot of going to and fro with parcels and
things, sir, and a lot of telephoning in the waiting-room. And one of
them asked for a glass and some water. They were here a long time, sir.'
'When did they go?'
'It was about ten-thirty, sir, when one of the two gentlemen called me
to bring my key and lock up the vault. The vault was properly locked,
first with his key, and then with mine, and then he left. Perhaps it
might be a quarter to eleven, sir.'
'But the other gentleman?'
'Oh, he must have slipped off earlier, sir. I didn't see him go.'
'What did he look like?'
'Oldish man, Mr. Hugo. Gray.'
The manager was somewhat mystified by this cross-examination.
'And the name?'
'The name? Let me see. Callear. Yes, Callear, sir.'
'What?'
'C-a-l-l-e-a-r.'
'What was the address?'
'Hotel Cecil. He said he would send a permanent address in a day or
two.'
In half an hour Hugo had ascertained that no person named Callear was
staying at the Hotel Cecil.
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