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Suppose Leatham arranges for a cargo for some indefinite date ahead, then on the day after the Girondin leaves France he goes to Ferriby and says some other consignment has failed him, and could they let him have the next cargo? That would meet the case, wouldn't it?" "By Jove, Merriman, but you're developing the detective instinct and no mistake! I think the scheme's worth trying anyway.
"That's a point, certainly; yes," Leatham interposed. "I suppose they would have to be used again and again? Each trip's props couldn't be destroyed after arrival, and new ones made for the next cargo?" Hilliard shook his head reluctantly. "No," he declared. "Impossible. Those things would cost a lot of money. You see, no cheap scheme, say of shipping bottles into hollowed props, would do.
Leatham heard the story with an interest which could hardly fail to gratify its narrator. When it was finished he expressed his feelings by giving vent to a long and complicated oath. Then he asked how they thought he could help. Merriman explained. The mineowner rather gasped at first, then he laughed and slapped his thigh. "By the Lord Harry!" he cried, "I'll do it!
So we may take it that whatever else they're up to, they're not carrying brandy in faked pit-props. Nor, so far as I can see, in anything else either." The three men smoked in silence for some time and then Hilliard spoke. "I suppose, Leatham, you can't think of any other theory, or suggest anything else that we should do."
Then he described their visit to Hull, their observations at the Ferriby wharf, the experiment carried out with the help of Leatham, and, finally, what Merriman had told him of his second visit to Bordeaux.
The only SUGGESTION in the field was that of Leatham, to inform Scotland Yard, and that was at last approved by Hilliard as a counsel of despair. "There's nothing else for it that I can see," he observed gloomily. "We've done our best on our own and failed, and we may let someone else have a shot now. My leave's nearly up anyway."
"We may be about the hollow props," Merriman returned, "and we may be about the brandy smuggling. But there's no mistake at all about something being wrong. That's certain from what Hilliard overheard." Leatham nodded. "I know all that," he said, "and when we've carried out this present scheme we shall know something more. Now let's see. When does that blessed boat next leave France?"
When about midnight they turned in, Leatham was quite as keen about the affair as his guests, and quite as anxious that their joint experiment should be crowned with success. The two friends spent a couple of lazy days amusing themselves in Harrogate, until towards evening on the Friday Merriman was called to the telephone. "That'll be Leatham," he exclaimed.
"I can't suggest what you should do," returned Leatham, rising to his feet and beginning to pace the room. "But I know what I should do in your place. I'd go down to Scotland Yard, tell them what I know, and then wash my hands of the whole affair." Hilliard sighed. "I'm afraid we shall have no option," he said slowly, "but I needn't say we should much rather learn something more definite first."
How can you get in touch with your friend?" "I'll phone him now that we shall be over tomorrow to see him." Leatham was just leaving his office when Merriman's call reached him. "Delighted to see you and meet your friend," he answered. "But couldn't you both come over now and stay the night? You would be a perfect godsend to me, for Hilda's in London and I have the house to myself."