"I came here, madame," continued Anton, "not to talk of my love, but of certain documents or title-deeds respecting those houses, which should be at present in my father's custody. I am told that your husband has them in his safe custody."
"My husband has them not," said Madame Zamenoy.
"Stop, my dear — stop," said the husband.
"Not that he would be bound to give them up to you if he had got them, or that he would do so; but he has them not."
"In whose hands are they then?"
"That is for you to find out, not for us to tell you."
"Why should not all the world be told, so that the proper owner may have his own?"
"It is not always so easy to find out who is the proper owner," said Zamenoy the elder.
"You have seen this contract before, I think, said Trendellsohn, bringing forth a written paper.
"I will not look at it now at any rate. I have nothing to do with it, and I will have nothing to do with it. You have heard Madame Zamenoy declare that the deed which you seek is not here. I cannot say whether it is here or no. I do not say — as you will be pleased to remember. If it were here it would be in safe keeping for my brother-in-law, and only to him could it be given."