“Ah, I see.”
“With it in the pocket, moreover, was a letter written to me by the woman when she sent me the document for inspection,” Senator Barclay continued. “I received it only early last evening. I was to have returned it this morning. It was most important that I should have done so. The gravity of the situation, Carter, can hardly be imagined.”
“Because of the nature of the document?” Nick questioned.
“That is one reason,” was the reply. “The document relates to a secret compact between several European powers and in a measure has a bearing upon their relations with this country.”
“I see,” Nick nodded.
“It bears the signatures of no less than five foreign ambassadors now in Washington, all of whom are pledged to secrecy in regard to the matter. None would believe for a moment that this compact is even suspected by any American statesman or diplomat, and much less that the existence of the document mentioned is positively known.”
“I follow you.”
“The discovery of the fact might precipitate complications of a very grave and threatening nature,” Senator Barclay added. “I can safely assert, however, that I[{23}] am the only American who, with one exception, knows anything about the document—aside from the knave into whose hands it has fallen.”
“Let me know the exact facts,” said Nick. “Who is the one exception who knows about the document?”
“The woman I have mentioned.”