"I have it from his own hand, monsieur."
"It was neither stolen, then, nor extorted from him by violence?—I do not say by you, but by some other person from whom you received it. Perhaps you have it only at second hand?"
"It was given me by the duke himself, I tell you,—voluntarily, in exchange for a paper which I handed him."
"Did you agree with Monsieur d'Épernon to use this signature of his for any particular purpose, and for no other?"
"I made no agreement whatsoever with Monsieur d'Épernon."
"The person in whose hands it is may use it, then, with perfect safety?"
"He may."
"If that is so, why do you not make use of it yourself?"
"Because if I keep it I can use it for but one purpose, while by giving it to you, I can purchase two things with it."
"What are these two things?"