It was not returned. The other thing the public works minister could have done was to bring forward evidence that the cheque was written in the proper numbering sequence in his daughter-in-law's cheque book.
L'autre chose qu'aurait pu faire le ministre des Travaux publics, c'est produire des preuves selon lesquelles le chèque portait le bon numéro dans le chéquier de sa bru.