"Don't you read things over before you sign and have your signature witnessed? Why didn't it strike you then?"
"You aren't cross-examining me!" Mr. Braden asserted.
"Not at all. I am just trying to understand a situation which is rather extraordinary. Then, as I understand it, you had a new conveyance prepared, and delivered it to French, and that's all you know about it?"
"That's all," Mr. Braden confirmed.
"Why didn't you destroy the other one?"
"I suppose I overlooked it. The papers got among others."
"And into your private safe."
"Yes. And they were stolen from it."
"But then you say they're worthless. You say that the two sets of papers were drawn on the same day? The second wasn't prepared subsequently and dated back?"
Mr. Braden hesitated, trying to read the purpose behind the question. He was again beginning to distrust Riley, who undoubtedly resembled an Airedale.