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140 off duty at half-past six, and we were watching the time.'

'Can you tell me who brought it to the yard?'

The men shrugged their shoulders.

'Alas! monsieur, we do not know,' the spokesman answered. 'The carter we would recognise if we saw him again, but neither of us know where he lives nor the name of his employers.'

'Can you describe him?'

'But certainly, monsieur. He was a small man, thin and sickly looking, with white hair and a clean shaven face.'

'Well, keep a good look-out, and if you see him again find out who he is and let me know. Here is my address. If you do that there will be fifty francs for you,'

Lefarge handed over a couple of five franc pieces and the detectives left, followed by the promises and thanks of the men.

'I suppose an advertisement for the carter is the next scheme,' said Burnley, as they walked back in the Clichy direction.

'We had better report to headquarters, I think,' replied Lefarge, 'and see what the Chief advises. If he approves, we might get our advertisement into to-night's papers.'

Burnley agreed, and when they had had some lunch they rang up the Sûreté from the nearest call office.

'That Lefarge?' was the answer. 'The Chief wants you to return immediately. He's got some news.'

They took the Metro from Clichy to Chatelet and reached the Sûreté as the clocks were striking two. M. Chauvet was in.

'Ah,' he said, as they entered, 'we've had a reply to the dress advertisement. Madame Clothilde's people near the Palais Royal rang up about eleven saying they believed they had supplied the dress. We got hold of Mlle. Lecoq, who was working it, and sent her over, and she returned here about an hour ago. The dress was sold in February to Madame Annette Boirac, at the comer of