“You are at liberty, of course, to act in what manner you please,” I answered. “I tell you frankly, however, that this terrible charge you bring against me is as startling as the information I have just read. I can only say I am entirely innocent.”
“Bah!” he cried, turning on his heel with a gesture of disgust. Then, facing me again, his eyes flashing with anger, he added, “If you are innocent, tell me why you were so long absent yesterday when registering the dispatch; tell me why, when such an important document was in your possession, you did not remain in the office instead of being absent over an hour?”
“I went out to lunch,” I said.
“With the document in your pocket?”
“Yes. But surely you do not suspect me of being a spy?” I cried.
“I do not suspect you, sir. I have positive proof of it.”
“Proof!” I gasped. “Show it to me.”
“It is here,” he answered, his thin, nervous hands turning over the mass of papers littering his writing-table, and taking from among them an official envelope. In an instant I recognised it as the one containing the treaty.
“This remains exactly as I took it from the safe with my own hands and cut it open.”
With trembling fingers I drew the document from its envelope and opened it.