# A Clue at Last explained — The Cask > Chapter companion for The Cask by Freeman Wills Crofts. ## What happens La Touche, while posting his report, is struck by the idea that the new typewriter in Boirac's office may have replaced an old one used to type the Le Gautier letter. He follows the typist, Mlle. Lambert, and under the alias M. Guillaume Faneuil, interviews her. She reveals that the old No. 7 Remington was taken away on April 2nd, and she was dismissed on April 5th, the day the cask arrived at St. Katherine's Docks. La Touche now has a strong lead linking Boirac to the crime. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Appearance La Touche uses a false identity and a fabricated story about typewriter fraud to extract information from Mlle. Lambert. ### Crime and Investigation The chapter focuses on La Touche's detective work, following a lead about the typewriter to uncover evidence against Boirac. ### Identity and Mistaken Identity La Touche adopts the alias M. Guillaume Faneuil to conceal his true identity during the investigation. ## Character check-ins ### Mr. Georges La Touche Investigates the typewriter clue, follows Mlle. Lambert, and interviews her under the alias M. Guillaume Faneuil. ### M. Boirac Suspected of replacing the typewriter and dismissing the typist to conceal evidence. ### Mlle. Lambert Former typist at Boirac's office; provides key information about the old typewriter and her dismissal. ### Clifford Mentioned as La Touche's employer, who would be disappointed if the case against Boirac fails. ### M. Lefarge Referenced as having previously searched for the typewriter used for the Le Gautier letter. ## Key lines > That typewriter the pretty girl in Boirac’s office had been using was a new machine. La Touche realizes the typewriter used by the typist in Boirac's office is brand new. _This observation sparks the key clue of the chapter._ > Boirac dismisses a typist on the very day the cask reaches St. Katherine’s Docks. La Touche notes that Boirac fired the typist on the same day the cask arrived at the docks. _Highlights the suspicious timing linking the dismissal to the crime._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xxvi-a-clue-at-last - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cask_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cask_se/chapters