"I am not mistaken. I repeat, the receipt is found, and has been in my possession an hour."
Meanwhile Hermann had collected himself, and now once more roused all his energy.
"You have the paper with you? May I see it?"
She shrank back at the proposal, and involuntarily laid both hands protectingly on her bosom. He smiled bitterly.
"Do you fear a renewed theft? I give you my word of honour that the paper shall be returned to you uninjured."
Slowly Gertrud drew it out and gave it to him; he opened it, the Präsidentin's eyes hung in breathless suspense on his features.
No one spoke for some seconds, but the Count leaned more and more heavily on the table, his cheeks pale as death; with averted face he at last, without speaking a word, gave back the paper, threw himself into a chair, and covered his eyes with his hand.
The Präsidentin knew enough.
"Mademoiselle--" it was in vain that she endeavoured to make her voice firm, it trembled audibly--"Mademoiselle, you can, and will not, make any use of this document; it accuses the dead."
Gertrud drew herself up scornfully; so soon as a third interfered, all her courage returned.