Le Corbier silenced them and, addressing Philippe:
"Explain yourself, monsieur," he said. "I do not understand."
Philippe looked at his father again and, slowly, in a voice which he strove to render firm as he spoke, answered:
"I say, monsieur le ministre, that certain particulars in my evidence are not accurate and that it is my duty to correct them."
"Speak, monsieur," said the under-secretary, with some harshness.
Philippe did not hesitate. Facing old Morestal, who was quivering with indignation, he began, as though he were in a hurry to get it over:
"First of all, Private Baufeld did not say things that were quite as clear as those which I repeated. The words used were obscure and incoherent."
"What! Why, your declarations are precise...."
"Monsieur le ministre, when I gave my evidence for the first time before the examining-magistrate, I was under the shock of my father's arrest. I was under his influence. It seemed to me that the incident would have no consequences if the arrest had been effected on German territory; and, when relating Private Baufeld's last words, in spite of myself, without knowing it, I interpreted them in the sense of my own wishes. Later on, I understood my mistake. I am now repairing it."