The Judge.—“You simply think so?”
Colonel Picquart.—“I think so.”
M. Labori.—“Does the witness think that these machinations were the work of Major Esterhazy alone, or does he think that Major Esterhazy had accomplices?”
Colonel Picquart.—“I believe that he had accomplices.”
M. Labori.—“Accomplices in the war offices?”
Colonel Picquart.—“There was certainly an accomplice who was familiar with what was going on in the war offices. First, there is the card-telegram signed ‘Blanche.’ Then there is the letter signed ‘Speranza,’ which could have been written only by a person familiar with the letter that had been opened and copied, the original of which had then been forwarded to me in November, 1896. I asked Major Ravary, on several occasions, to make an investigation, and to hear Souffrain, who, according to information given to me by General de Pellieux, was the author of the ‘Speranza’ telegrams. Major Ravary always refused, on the ground that there was no reason for such an investigation.”
M. Labori.—“Was the mission on which Colonel Picquart was sent an important one?”
Colonel Picquart.—“I will not permit myself to judge my superiors on that matter, but it does not seem to me that it was indispensable to send someone on it.”
M. Labori.—“Did Colonel Picquart always clearly understand the purpose of his mission?”
Colonel Picquart.—“I tried very hard to understand it.”