“It is strange,” he muttered. “Very strange. You did not realize then that I suspected you?”
Hammersley laughed.
“Not at once. I did later. That is your privilege, Excellenz. But I refused to be caught under the circumstances. I preferred to take the risk of failure. After all, you see, I succeeded.”
General von Stromberg was not immune from the frankness of Hammersley’s smile. He turned toward the table and scrutinized the papers with great care.
“These are the very papers you got from Herr Captain Byfield?”
Hammersley’s reply was startling.
“Unfortunately, no. The original papers were burned——”
“Burned!” cried the General, turning in his chair.
“But not before I had made this copy, which I put in a safe place.”
“Explain.”