"What have you now?"
"Nothing. As you see me write me down."[23]
"Have you any papers?"
"What?"
"Papers," explained Aunt Grathia, "your certificate of birth, for instance."
"Yes, I have that. It's here," she said touching her chest.
"Let me see."
She drew out a stained and yellowing paper, while Anania thought bitterly of his endeavours to find out if Maria Obinu had any tell-tale documents. He turned the paper round, looked at it, and gave it back.
It's date was recent.
"Why did you get this?" he asked.