"Let my father, then, have that one document."
"It is in Balatka's house."
"That can hardly be possible," said Trendellsohn.
"As I am a Christian gentleman," said Ziska, "I believe it to be in that house."
"As I am a Jew, sir, fearing God," said the other, "I do not believe it. Who in that house has the charge of it?"
Ziska hesitated before he replied. "Nina, as I think," he said at last. "I suppose Nina has it herself."
"Then she would be a traitor to me."
"What am I to say as to that?" said Ziska, smiling. Trendellsohn came to him and sat down close at his side, looking closely into his face. Ziska would have moved away from the Jew, but the elbow of the sofa did not admit of his receding; and then, while he was thinking that he would escape by rising from his seat, Anton spoke again in a low voice — so low that it was almost a whisper, but the words seemed to fall direct into Ziska's ears, and to hurt him. "What are you to say? You called yourself just now a Christian gentleman. Neither the one name nor the other goes for aught with me. I am neither the one nor the other. But I am a man; and I ask you, as another man, whether it be true that Nina Balatka has that paper in her possession — in her own possession, mind you, I say." Ziska had hesitated before, but his hesitation now was much more palpable. "Why do you not answer me?" continued the Jew. "You have made this accusation against her. Is the accusation true?"
"I think she has it," said Ziska. "Indeed I feel sure of it."
"In her own hands?"