The Major found it hard to control his excitement, but as if he had already allowed himself to be too long diverted from his duty, he hastily returned to the real subject of his examination.
“You said that you have handed over certain sums of money to Countess Arselaarts. By whose order? and on whose account?”
“On account of the English Government and on the order of an English banking house with which I have had business dealings for many years.”
“Were the sums large?”
“Latterly, on an average about 10,000 francs a month.”
“And how were they paid?”
“Sometimes I sent the amount in cash, often by cheque on Brussels banks.”
“Have you any evidence on the point—a receipt signed by the Countess?”
Amelungen hesitated.
“I strongly advise you to keep nothing back from me. So much is at stake for you and your relatives who are involved in this affair that it is of the utmost consequence that you should secure lenient treatment by a frank confession.”