"I am ready, citizen officers," he said.
The two gendarmes preceded him into the corridor. As he stepped over the threshold, Gendarme Pierre caught him quickly by the wrist and the next instant had the file in his own possession.
It was done so adroitly and quickly that Tournay could have offered no resistance even had he been so inclined. The other gendarme was not even aware of what took place.
"I like a clever trick," said Pierre with a chuckle.
"You are quite a magician," was Tournay's rejoinder.
The tall gendarme gave his grim chuckle. "I am called Pierre the prestidigitateur," he said, "though you are yourself fairly adept at palming. What have you been doing with this little plaything?" he continued, as they walked down the corridor.
"You mean 'What did I intend to do with it?' do you not?"
The gendarme examined the file carefully.
"No, I mean what have you been using it on," he said.
Tournay was silent.