M. Labori.—“At once. I will ask no other question until he is summoned.”
But, in spite of this, Colonel Picquart was not heard, the witnesses that were called to the bar in the meantime occupying the rest of the session. The first was M. Scheurer-Kestner, who appeared in order to contradict some points in the testimony of the expert, Teyssonnière.
“M. Teyssonnière,” said M. Scheurer-Kestner, “made an incredible blunder when he said that I showed him on Sunday, July 11, specimens of Esterhazy’s handwriting. It is a monstrous error, for on July 11, when M. Teyssonnière came to see me,—and we have not met since,—I had never heard the name of Esterhazy.”
M. Teyssonnière.—“I thought that Esterhazy’s name was mentioned. At least I found it on my notes.”
M. Labori.—“What notes?”
M. Teyssonnière.—“The notes that I take daily.”
M. Labori.—“How could you have found the name of Esterhazy on your notes at a time when nobody was thinking about it? Your conversation with M. Scheurer-Kestner was in July, and it was on November 17 that M. Mathieu Dreyfus pronounced Esterhazy’s name for the first time in denouncing him to the minister of war. Now, M. Teyssonnière, ‘La Libre Parole’ publishes this morning an article in which it is said that M. Scheurer-Kestner and M. Trarieux tried to get you to modify your opinions. Are you in any way connected with the publication of this article?”
M. Teyssonnière.—“Yes.”
M. Labori.—“The article contains a letter written to you by M. Trarieux. Who gave the letter to that newspaper?”
M. Teyssonnière.—“I did.”