When Lamberti reached the Palazzo Farnese at eight o'clock he had all Guido's receipts for the Princess's money in his pocket. He had difficulty in getting the lawyer to see him on business so late in the afternoon, and when he succeeded at last he did not find it easy to carry matters with a high hand; but he had come prepared to go to any length, for he was in no gentle humour, and if he could not get the papers by persuasion, he fully intended to take them by force, though that might be the end of his career as an officer, and might even bring him into court for something very like robbery.
The lawyer was obdurate at first. He of course denied all knowledge of the article in the Figaro, but he said that he was the Princess's legal representative, that the case had been formally placed in his hands, and that he should use all his professional energy in her interests.
"After all," said Lamberti at last, "you have nothing but a few informal bits of writing to base your case upon. They have no legal value."
"They are stamped receipts," answered the lawyer.
"They are not stamped," Lamberti replied.
"They are!"
"They are not!"
"You are giving me the lie, sir," said the lawyer, angrily.
"I say that they are not stamped," retorted Lamberti. "You dare not show them to me."
The lawyer was human, after all. He opened his safe, in a rage, found the receipts, and showed one of them to Lamberti triumphantly.