"What!" said Pateley, at first hardly grasping what he saw. Then its full significance began to dawn upon him. "Africa—a partition of Africa between Germany and England! Do you mean to say that is it?"
"Yes," Sir William said. "But for Heaven's sake don't touch it, don't take it out of my hand," he said again, nervously conscious that his own strength was ebbing at every moment, and that if the resolute, dominant figure before him had chosen to seize on the paper, nothing could have prevented his doing so.
"Well, at any rate, let me have a good look at it," Pateley said, "the coast is still clear," and as he went to the window to give another look out, he took something out of his breast pocket. "Now then," he said, turning back to Sir William, "hold it up in the light so that I can have a good look at it;" and as Sir William held it in the light of the window, Pateley, as quick as lightning, drew his tiny camera out of his pocket. There was a click, and the map of Africa had been photographed. Pateley unconsciously drew a quick breath of relief as he put the machine back. Sir William, as white as a sheet, dropped his hands in dismay.
"Good Heavens! What have you done? Have you photographed it?"
"Yes," said Pateley, trying to control his own excitement, and recovering his usual tone with an effort. "That's all, thank you. It is much the simplest form of illustration."
"Illustration! What are you going to do with it?" Sir William said, aghast.
"That depends," said Pateley. "I must see how and when I can use it to the best advantage."
"You have sworn," Sir William said tremulously, "that you won't say where you got it from."
"Of course I won't," Pateley said, gradually returning to his usual burly heartiness. "Now, may I ask where you got it from?"
"I got it out of there," Sir William said, pointing to the table. "A corner of it was sticking out."