“With your permission, the matter is no concern of mine,” she replied coldly.
“It seems to me that you are both anxious to raise difficulties.”
Helga shrugged her shoulders, and Boreski spread out his hands deprecatingly.
“With all deference, I submit I am not asking too much to be allowed to examine documents of such vital importance to me.”
I thought for a moment. If I parted with the papers and did not get the others in exchange I should be pretty considerably euchred; but on the other hand his request was not unreasonable. Then I saw the way out. I remembered that I was armed.
“Very well. You can see them,” and I pushed them across to him, and rising, stood between him and the door.
“Your confidence in our honour is very striking, monsieur,” said Helga scornfully.
“Is that fair? I offered to trust them to you, and you replied it was no concern of yours. I am now dealing with the holder of stolen documents.”
“And you judge M. Boreski by the standard of the persons who surround and advise you continually. No doubt you are right according to your experience,” was her bitterly spoken retort.
“Your anger and injustice are too manifest to need a further reply from me, mademoiselle,” I returned.