Rely on me; you shall have word tomorrow morning." That evening, on reaching Paris, I saw Monsieur Cassette, dealer in walking-sticks and umbrellas, and wrote to my friend: "A man unmistakably answering to the description of Monsieur Robert Darzac--same height, slightly stooping, putty-coloured overcoat, bowler hat--purchased a cane similar to the one in which we are interested, on the evening of the crime, about eight o'clock.

Monsieur Cassette had not sold another such cane during the last two years.

Fred's cane is new.
It is quite clear that it's the same cane.

Fred did not buy it, since he was in London.

Like you, I think that he found it somewhere near Monsieur Robert Darzac.