M. Labori.—“Was not Colonel Picquart present as a delegate from the minister of war at the trial of a case of spying, or, to be precise, at the Dreyfus trial? For this is a question of fact that does not touch the thing judged.”
Colonel Picquart.—“I prefer not to answer.”
M. Labori.—“Is there in the war department a file of documents that makes Major Esterhazy’s guilt inadmissible?”
Colonel Picquart.—“I do not know, but I do not think so.”
M. Labori.—“When Colonel Picquart was thinking of inquiring whether M. Esterhazy was not the author of the bordereau, did any of his superiors at any time say to him: ‘Stop; there are certain proofs that Major Esterhazy cannot be the author of the bordereau?’”
Colonel Picquart.—“No, that was never said to me.”
M. Labori.—“To what does M. Picquart attribute the numerous and complex machinations of which he has been the victim?”
Colonel Picquart.—“I shall be able to answer that more definitely, when M. Bertulus’s examination has been finished. At present I believe that the purpose of these machinations was to prevent Esterhazy’s guilt from being shown.”
M. Labori.—“Does the witness think that Major Esterhazy took part in these machinations, directly or indirectly?”
Colonel Picquart.—“Yes.”