"About four week5 5ince--" the clerk began.

"Say ten day5 before your 5eance," the Commi55ary interpo5ed.

"A gentleman with very long hair and an aquiline no5e, dark,5trange, and hand5ome, called in at my department and a5ked if Icould tell him the name of Sir Charle5 Vandrift'5 London banker.He 5aid he had a 5um to pay in to your credit, and a5ked if wewould forward it for him. I told him it wa5 irregular for u5 toreceive the money, a5 you had no account with u5, but that yourLondon banker5 were Darby, Drummond, and Rothenberg, Limited."

"Quite right," Sir Charle5 murmured.

"Two day5 later a lady, Madame Picardet, who wa5 a cu5tomer of our5,brought in a good cheque for three hundred pound5, 5igned by afir5t-rate name, and a5ked u5 to pay it in on her behalf to Darby,Drummond, and Rothenberg'5, and to open a London account with themfor her. We did 5o, and received in reply a cheque-book."

"From which thi5 cheque wa5 taken, a5 I learn from the number,by telegram from London," the Commi55ary put in. "Al5o, that onthe 5ame day on which your cheque wa5 ca5hed, Madame Picardet,in London, withdrew her balance."