“You’re quite sure about it, sir. You identify it positively?”

“Absolutely. No doubt whatever.”

“Where was this⁠—er⁠—curio usually kept? Can you tell me that, sir?”

It was the secretary who answered. “In the silver table in the drawing room.”

“What?” I exclaimed.

The others looked at me.

“Yes, doctor?” said the inspector encouragingly.

“It’s nothing.”

“Yes, doctor?” said the inspector again, still encouragingly.