e naked eye!"

The two certificates were an accurate copy of their blocks. They
were dated correctly, both bore Fox's name as driver, and both showed
consignments of liquor, identical except for the additional four kegs of
brandy on the second. There was, furthermore, no sign that this had been
added after the remainder. The slight lightening in the color towards
the bottom of the sheet, due to the use of blotting paper, was so
progressive as almost to prove the whole had been written at the same
time.

The first certificate was timed 1.15 p.m., the second 4.15 p.m., and it
was to the 4 of this second hour that Hunt's eager finger pointed. As
Willis examined it he saw that the lower strokes were fainter than the
remainder. Further, the beginning of the horizontal stroke did not quite
join the first vertical stroke.

"You see?" Hunt cried excitedly. "That figure is a forgery. It was
originally a 1, and the two lower strokes have been added to make it a
4. The case is finished!"

Willis was less enthusiastic.

"I'm not so sure of that," he returned cautiously. "I don't see light
all the way through. Just go over it again, will you?"

"Why to me it's as clear as daylight," the other asserted impatiently.
"See here. Archer decides, let us suppose, that he will send out four
kegs, or one hundred gallons, of the smuggled brandy to the Anchor Bar.
What does he do? He fills out certificates for two consignments each of
which contains an identical assortment of various liquors. The brandy
he shows on one certificate only. The blocks are true copies of the
certificates except that the brandy is not entered on either. The two
blocks he times for a quarter past one and past four respectively, but
both certificates he times for a quarter past one. He hands the two
certificates to Fox. Then he sends out on the one o'clock lorry the
amount of brandy shown on one of the certificates."

Hunt paused and looked interrogatively at his friend, then, the latter
not replying, he resumed:

"You follow now the position of affairs? In the office is Archer with
his blocks, correctly filled out as to time but neither showing the
brandy. On the one o'clock lorry is Fox, with one hundred gallons of
brandy among his load. In his pocket are the two certificates, both
timed for one o'clock, one showing the brandy and the other not."

The inspector nodded as Hunt again looked at him.

"Now suppose," the latter went on, "that the one o'clock