"Do you mean to say that that's there?" asked Lupin, in a choking voice.
"Listen to the grand-duke's notes: Text of the treaty with Great Britain and France. And these rather obscure words: 'Alsace-Lorraine. . . . Colonies. . . . Limitation of naval armaments. . . ."
"It says that?" blurted Lupin. "And you call that obscure? . . . Why, the words are dazzling with light! . . . Oh, can it be possible? . . . And what next, what next?"
As he spoke there was a noise at the door. Some one was knocking.
"You can't come in," said Lupin. "I am busy. . . . Go on, Steinweg."
"But . . ." said the old man, in a great state of alarm.
The door was shaken violently and Lupin recognized Weber's voice. He shouted:
"A little patience, Weber. I shall have done in five minutes."
He gripped the old man's arm and, in a tone of command:
"Be easy and go on with your story. So, according to you, the expedition of the grand duke and his servant to Veldenz Castle had no other object than to hide those papers?"