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V. The Million Dollar Bond Robbery
OnproductionofRidgeway’scard,wewereledthroughthelabyrinthofcountersanddesks,skirtingpaying-inclerksandpaying-outclerksanduptoasmallofficeonthefirstfloorwherethejointgeneralmanagersreceivedus.Theyweretwogravegentlemen,whohadgrowngreyintheserviceoftheBank.Mr.Vavasourhadashortwhitebeard,Mr.Shawwascleanshaven.
“Iunderstandyouarestrictlyaprivateinquiryagent?”saidMr.Vavasour.“Quiteso,quiteso.Wehave,ofcourse,placedourselvesinthehandsofScotlandYard.InspectorMcNeilhaschargeofthecase.Averyableofficer,Ibelieve.”
“Iamsureofit,”saidPoirotpolitely.“Youwillpermitafewquestions,onyournephew’sbehalf?Aboutthislock,whoordereditfromHubbs’s?”
“Iordereditmyself,”saidMr.Shaw.“Iwouldnottrusttoanyclerkinthematter.Astothekeys,Mr.Ridgewayhadone,andtheothertwoareheldbymycolleagueandmyself.”
“Andnoclerkhashadaccesstothem?”
Mr.ShawturnedinquiringlytoMr.Vavasour.“IthinkIamcorrectinsayingthattheyhaveremainedinthesafewhereweplacedthemonthe23rd,”saidMr.Vavasour.“Mycolleaguewasunfortunatelytakenillafortnightago—infactontheverydaythatPhilipleftus.Hehasonlyjustrecovered.”
“Severebronchitisisnojoketoamanofmyage,”saidMr.Shawruefully.“ButIamafraidMr.Vavasourhassufferedfromthehardworkentailedbymyabsence,especiallywiththisunexpectedworrycomingontopofeverything.”
Poirotaskedafewmorequestions.
