The list was a long one. Alleyn had continued his search at eleven o’clock that morning.

The blond young man ran through it, muttering to himself. Occasionally he cast a glance at his immaculately-dressed visitor.

‘I suppose,’ he said at last, with an avid look towards an evening paper on the corner of his desk, ‘I suppose this wouldn’t happen to have any connection with the missing gentleman from Bucks?’

‘It would,’ said Alleyn.

‘By the name of Garcia?’

‘Yes. We believe him to be ill and suffering from loss of memory. It is thought he may have wandered in this direction, poor fellow.’

‘What an extraordinary thing!’ exclaimed the young man.

‘Too odd for words,’ murmured Alleyn. ‘He’s a little bit ga-ga, we understood. Clever, but dottyish. Do you think you can help us?’

‘Well now, let me see. This list is pretty comprehensive. I don’t know if—’

He bit his finger and opened a large book. Alleyn closed his eyes.

‘What an extraordinary thing!’ exclaimed the young man. ‘I mean to say, any of the warehouses round here might have a room to let and we’d never hear of it. See what I mean?’

‘Alas, yes,’ said Alleyn.

‘Now there’s Solly and Perkins. Big place. Business not too good, they tell me. And there’s Anderson’s shirt factory, and Lacker and Lampton’s used-car depot. That’s in Gulper Row, off Cornwall Street. Just by the waterworks. Opposite the prison. Quite in your line, Inspector.’

He laughed shrilly.

‘Damn funny,’ agreed Alleyn.

‘Lacker and Lampton’s foreman was in here the other day. He’s taken a house from us. Now, he did say something about there being a lot of room round at their place. He said something about being able to store his furniture there if they went into furnished rooms. Yes. Now, I wonder. How about Lacker and Lampton’s?’

‘I’ll try it. Could you give me the foreman’s name?’

‘McCully’s the name. Ted McCully. He’s quite a pal of mine. Tell him I sent you. James is my name. Look here, I’ll come round with you, if you like.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of troubling you,’ said Alleyn firmly. ‘Thank you very much indeed. Goodbye.’