“One evening in October, 1896, I went into Colonel Picquart’s office to get leave of absence. He was sitting at his table with the carrier-pigeon file at his right, and at his left the file that I had handed to him between August 28 and September 5. The letter was contained in an envelope bearing the mark of Major Henry, and it was by this that I recognized it.”
The Judge.—“You saw no documents?”
M. Gribelin.—“No, the envelope was closed.”
Colonel Picquart.—“M. Gribelin is mistaken. I do not believe that he intends to make a false statement, but either his memory fails him or he has confused the files. I know that M. Gribelin is a perfectly honest man.”
The Judge.—“I asked General Gonse concerning him just now, and he spoke of him in the highest terms.”
Colonel Picquart.—“I do not believe him capable of an infamy, but I believe him capable of an error.”
M. Gribelin.—“You can believe what I say; I saw it.”
Colonel Picquart.—“But I say that you did not see it.”
The Judge.—“M. Picquart, did you ask M. Gribelin at a certain time if he could not get the post-office to stamp a letter, which letter you did not otherwise indicate?”
Colonel Picquart.—“To stamp a letter?”