Farther in still I went, descending into the deepest of the dark galleries below, then climbing up to the upper storeys. I was alone. I called but never an answer came. I was alone. There was no one else in the vast, winding labyrinth of a house. Night fell and, reluctant to leave, I sat down in the shadows on one of the chairs formerly my own. From time to time I shouted, ‘Hallo! Hallo! Anybody there?’

I must have been there for more than an hour when I heard footsteps; soft, slow footsteps coming from I knew not where. I nearly ran away but, bracing myself, I called out once more and noticed a gleam of light coming from the next room.

‘Who’s there?’ called a voice.

‘A customer,’ I replied.

‘Don’t you think it’s a bit late to just wander into somebody’s shop like this?’

‘I’ve been waiting over an hour to see you,’ I went on.

‘You could have come back tomorrow.’

‘I shall have left Rouen tomorrow.’

I dared not go forward and he showed no sign of coming to me. I could still see the gleam of light shining on a tapestry which showed two angels flying over a battlefield. That was mine also.

‘Well? Are you coming or not?’ I said.

‘I’m waiting for you,’ he replied.

I rose and went in his direction.

Standing in the middle of a large room was a very small man, phenomenally fat, and extremely ugly. He had a meagre, ill-trimmed, yellowing beard and not a hair on his head. Not one! As he held up a candle in his outstretched hand to look me over, his skull seemed to me like a little moon in this enormous room filled with old furniture. In his puffy face there were deep furrows into which the eyes disappeared. I haggled over three of my own chairs and, giving my room number at the hotel, paid a vast sum of money for them. They were to be delivered the following morning at nine o’clock. I then left the room and with much ceremony he saw me to the door.

I made straight for the house of the central commissioner of police whom I told about the theft of my furniture and my recent rediscovery of it. He wired forthwith, requesting information from the office of the public prosecutor who originally investigated the theft, and asked me to wait till the reply came. An hour later, to my great satisfaction, he was in possession of the necessary information.

‘I intend to arrest this man,’ he said. ‘His suspicions may have been aroused and he may try to spirit away your property. Would you like to go and have your dinner, then come back to me in two hours’ time? I shall have him here by then and will question him further in your presence.’

‘Most willingly, Monsieur. I’m very grateful indeed to you.’