or who would be credited with taking an
important part in anything that might be in progress.

But for his job these very peculiarities were among his chief assets.
When he hung about in an aimless, loafing way, as he very often did, he
was overlooked by those whose actions he was so discreetly watching, and
where mere loafing would look suspicious, he had the inestimable gift of
being able to waste time in an afraid and preoccupied manner.

That night Willis crossed to Paris, and next day he told his story to
the polite chief of the French Excise. M. Max was almost as interested
as his English confrere, and readily promised to have the French end
of the affair investigated. That same evening the inspector left for
London, going on in the morning to Hull.

He found Hunt a shrewd and capable man of the world, as well as a
pleasant and INTERESTING companion.

They had engaged a private sitting-room at their hotel, and after dinner
they retired thither to discuss their plan of campaign.

"I wish," said Willis, when they had talked for some moments, "that you
would tell me something about how this liquor distribution business
is worked. It's outside my job, and I'm not clear on the details. If I
understood I could perhaps help you better."

Hunt nodded and drew slowly at his pipe.

"The principle of the thing," he answered, "is simple enough, though in
detail it becomes a bit complicated. The first thing we have to remember
is that in this case we're dealing, not with distillers, but with
rectifiers. Though in loose popular phraseology both businesses are
classed under the term 'distilling,' in reality there is a considerable
difference between them. Distillers actually produce the spirit in their
buildings, rectifiers do not. Rectifiers import the spirit produced by
distillers, and refine or prepare it for various specified purposes. The
check required by the Excise authorities is therefore different in each
case. With rectifiers it is only necessary to measure the stuff that
goes into and comes out of the works. Making due allowance for variation
during treatment, these two figures will balance if all is right."

Willis nodded, and Hunt resumed.

"Now, the essence of all fraud is that more stuff goes out of the works
than is shown on the returns. That is, of course, another way of saying
that stuff is sold upon which duty has not been paid. In the case of a
rectifying house, where there is no illicit still, more