went back to the river and so to the bridge and my taxi."

Hilliard paused and drew at his cigar. Merriman did not speak.
He was leaning forward, his face showing the interest he felt.

"Next morning, that was yesterday, I took another taxi and returned
to the bridge, again dressed as a fisherman. I had brought some
lunch, and I told the man to return for me at seven in the evening.
Then I found my hollow, lay down and got out my glass. I was
settled there a little before nine o'clock.

"It was very quiet in the wood. I could hear faintly the noise of
the saws at the mill and a few birds were singing, otherwise it was
perfectly still. Nothing happened for about half an hour, then the
first lorry came. I heard it for some time before I saw it. It
passed very slowly along the road from Bordeaux, then turned into
the lane and went along it at almost walking pace. With my glass I
could see it distinctly and it had a label plate same as you
described, and was No. 6. It was empty. The driver was a young
man, clean-shaven and fairhaired.

"A few minutes later a second empty lorry appeared coming from
Bordeaux. It was No. 4, and the driver was, I am sure, the man you
saw. He was like your description of him at all events. This lorry
also passed along the lane towards the works.

"There was a pause then for an hour or more. About half-past ten
the No. 4 lorry with your friend appeared coming along the lane
outward bound. It was heavily loaded with firewood and I followed
it along, going very slowly and bumping over the inequalities of