The Judge.—“Let us pass to another order of ideas.”
M. Labori.—“I pass not to another order of ideas, but to another order of questions. Can General de Boisdeffre tell us anything about the veiled lady?”
General de Boisdeffre.—“I know absolutely nothing about the veiled lady, and have not heard her spoken of except by the newspapers.”
M. Labori.—“It is not only the newspapers that have spoken of her; she was a means of defence employed by Major Esterhazy before the council of war in the public part of the trial. I should like to know whether either the minister of war or General de Boisdeffre ordered any investigation concerning her.”
General de Boisdeffre.—“We did all that we could to find out who the veiled lady was, but we found out nothing.”
M. Labori.—“Does General de Boisdeffre declare that he does not know at all whence the veiled lady came, or with whom she was connected, or, on the contrary, does he know that she had some sort of relations with Colonel Picquart?”
General de Boisdeffre.—“I know nothing about it.”
M. Labori.—“Can General de Boisdeffre tell us how the liberating document got away from the war department?”
General de Boisdeffre.—“I know nothing about that, either.”
M. Labori.—“But the general must have made an inquiry.”