Colonel —— nodded.
It was not an easy task to set me; nevertheless, I had some hope of success. It so happened that I had formerly had transactions of a confidential nature with General Garnier, one of the foremost, if not the foremost, figure among the persecutors of Dreyfus. I had the right to approach this General as a friend, and I had reasons for believing that he might be willing to open his mouth for a sufficient consideration.
Shortly after Colonel ——’s departure, therefore, I strolled round to the General’s private residence, off the Avenue Clichy. Garnier was not at home, but I left a message with the concierge that the dealer in old coins, who had formerly sold him some Roman specimens, had just obtained others which he was anxious to submit for inspection.
As I anticipated, this message had the desired result of bringing General Garnier to see me the same night. He came, not to my public bureau, but to a little apartment in the Quartier Latin which I rent for the purpose of interviews with clients who do not wish their acquaintance with me to be known.
It was evident that my summons had annoyed, perhaps frightened, him.
‘Now, Monsieur V——, what does this mean?’ he blustered, as I closed the door behind him.
‘It means, Monsieur le Général, that I have a question to ask you, but that I do not expect you to answer it for nothing.’
Garnier was visibly relieved to discover that I had not sent for him to extort blackmail. But his reply was not encouraging.
‘I fear that you have given yourself trouble uselessly. It is not my intention to sell any information of a kind which cannot be given openly.’
I knew the man I was dealing with too well to take this answer as final.