“The day must come when the whole truth will be known.”
In this speech Frank was prophetic. The day did come when the whole wretched conspiracy came to light, and the unfortunate Dreyfus was publicly proclaimed innocent.
“So much the worse for France if Dreyfus dies on that island.”
“You are getting warm over it, Jack,” laughed Merry.
“A trifle,” confessed the Virginian. “Who wouldn’t?”
“It is enough to warm up almost anybody,” agreed Frank. “I think you begin to understand how I feel. And you must see why I guarded that ball with my very life.”
“But that contained nothing.”
“When it was opened it contained nothing. I believe there was a time when it contained a paper that would have aided in proving Dreyfus innocent.”
There was a low, musical laugh near at hand, and a voice spoke in French, saying:
“Messieurs, you are so eager, so earnest! I wonder what it can be you talk of so animatedly? It cannot be of Mademoiselle Held, for you have scarcely glanced toward the stage. Yet I’ll wager I can read the truth in your faces and tell you your very thoughts.”