"Yes . . . yes . . ." stammered Lupin. "We have the evidence of the grand-duke himself."
"Better still," said Steinweg.
"What?"
"A document, a document written in his own hand, signed by him and containing . . ."
"Containing what?"
"A list of the secret papers confided to his charge."
"Tell me, in two words. . . ."
"In two words? That can't be done. The document is a very long one, scattered all over with annotations and remarks which are sometimes impossible to understand. Let me mention just two titles which obviously refer to two bundles of secret papers: Original letters of the Crown Prince to Bismarck is one. The dates show that these letters were written during the three months of the reign of Frederick III. To picture what the letters may contain, you have only to think of the Emperor Frederick's illness, his quarrels with his son . . ."
"Yes, yes, I know. . . . And the other title?"
"Photographs of the letters of Frederick III., and the Empress Victoria to the Queen of England."