Hunt nodded.

"I thought of that," he said, "and it can be met quite easily. I bet the
manager telephones Archer on receipt of the stuff. I am going into
that now. I shall have a note kept at the Central of conversations to
Ferriby. If Archer doesn't get a message by a certain time, I bet he
assumes the plan has miscarried for that day and fills in the brandy on
the first block."

During the next two days Hunt was able to establish the truth of his
surmise. At the same time Willis decided that his co-operation in the
work at Hull was no longer needed. For Hunt there was still plenty to
be done. He had to get direct evidence against each severally of the
managers of the five tied houses in question, as well as to ascertain
how and to whom they were passing on the "stuff," for that they were
receiving more brandy than could be sold over their own counters was
unquestionable. But he agreed with Willis that these five men were more
than likely in ignorance of the main conspiracy, each having only a
private understanding with Archer. But whether or not this was so,
Willis did not believe he could get any evidence that they were
implicated in the murder of Coburn.

The French end of the affair, he thought, the supply of the brandy in
the first instance, was more promising from this point of view, and
the next morning he took an early train to London as a preliminary to
starting work in France.

CHAPTER 18. THE BORDEAUX LORRIES

Two days later Inspector Willis sat once again in the office of M. Max,
the head of the French Excise Department in Paris. The Frenchman greeted
him politely, but without enthusiasm.

"Ah, monsieur," he said, "you have not received my letter? No? I wrote
to your department yesterday."

"It hadn't come, sir, when I left," Willis returned. "But perhaps if it
is something I should know, you could tell me the contents?"

"But certainly, monsieur. It is easily done. A thousand regrets, but I
fear my department will not be of much service to you."

"No, sir?" Willis looked his question.

"I fear not. But I shall explain," M. Max gesticulated as he talked.
"After your last visit here I send two of my men to Bordeaux. They make
examination, but at first they see nothing suspicious. When the Girondin
comes in they determine to test your idea of the brandy loading. They go
in a boat to the wharf at night. They pull in between the rows of piles.
They find the spaces between the tree trunks w