“I do not know.”
“How long a time have you been attached to the embassy at Washington?”
“Two years; rather more than that.”
“They have been in preparation since you have been there?”
“Yes.”
“And before that time?”
“I have reason to suppose so.”
“Who would be chiefly interested in stealing papers of the sort you suppose them to be, colonel?”
“Ah; now you ask me a question which I can answer. Not directly; I don’t mean that; but in a general way.”
“Well?”