I made a movement to speak, as his voice ceased; but the King held up his hand. Then, as if by an afterthought he dropped it again.
"Well; speak if you like—point by point. But I would recommend you to hear it all first."
"Sir," I said, "I have no reserves, and nothing to conceal. I will answer point by point if Your Majesty will give me leave."
He said nothing. I turned back to the other.
"Well, sir," I said, "I had that paper from one Rumbald, in a private parlour in the Mitre inn, without Aldgate. He gave it me with some others, and forgot to ask for it again."
No one moved a finger or a feature, except the Colonel, who glanced at me, and then down again.
"The second point is, Why Mr. Mallock did not hand over the paper to the proper authorities." Again he paused.
"It was in cypher," said I, "and I could not read it."
"Then why did you preserve it so carefully, sir?" asked the Colonel angrily, speaking direct to me for the first time.
"I preserved it because it might be of interest, seeing from whom I received it."