near ze hatchway. Can I buy him from you?"

"I'll make you a present of the big case, and be glad to get rid of it, as
it takes up valuable space," replied Mr. Reynard, pleasantly. "Come, I'll
help you to get it downstairs to your floor by means of the fall."

He opened the hatchway while La Croix was profusely thanking him, put a
sling around the box and lowered it.

La Croix pulled the box into his front room through a door in the partition
which surrounded the hatchway.

This done and Reynard out of the way, the smuggler turned to his wife,
pointed at the box and asked her, with a grim smile:

"You know what zat ees for, my dear?"

"No. I have no idea. What?"

"To pack ze detectives in."

"What for?"

"So I can ship zem away."

"Won't it kill them?"

"I don't know," he replied, indifferently, shrugging his shoulders.

"Well," she remarked, after a moment's reflection, "it will give us time to