“Yes, I think so. Will you let me look at it?” The General moved his chair closer and put the papers in her fingers. She opened the papers and finding the message, scanned it closely, reading the writing with deliberateness and then looking up into von Stromberg’s face. “You have seen this before?” “Yes.” “Where?” “At Lady Heathcote’s house in Scotland.” “How did it come into your hands?” “I found it on the floor of Mr. Hammersley’s room.” “The night Herr Rizzio entered it, thinking it was yours?” “Yes. That was the time.” “You are quite sure?” “Quite.” “How did you identify it?” “By certain peculiar characteristics of the handwriting, with which I am familiar.” “Mr. Hammersley’s, is it not?” “Yes.” “And how did this package of papers go out of your possession?” “Mr.--Mr. Hammersley took them from me.” “By force?” She raised her chin proudly and looked at her questioner and then lowered her eyes, replying quietly: “Yes.” “There was another package of cigarette papers of the same make as these?” “There was.” “You read them?” “I did.” “Was this before or after you found the second package--these which I now have in my hand?” “Before.” “How long before?” “It was the night of Lady Heathcote’s dinner in London--the night Mr. Hammersley took me home in the machine.” “The night you were followed by men in another machine?” “Yes.” “You escaped to Ashwater Park with the package of papers which Herr Hammersley had given you and, after hiding in a tree, in the privacy of your room read these papers?” “I did.” “Were the contents of the papers you read at Ashwater Park the same as those you hold in your hand?” “As nearly as I can remember, they were, exactly.” “Word for word?” “I cannot say that. There were certain names and certain figures that I remember very clearly as being exactly the same. I--I----” she hesitated. “There were reasons why, in the state of mind that I was in, what I saw remained impressed upon my memory.” Hammersley throughout had sat immovable. But Rizzio, who had shown signs of anxiety, now interrupted. “Excellenz, I beg----” Von Stromberg silenced him with a gesture. “If you will be pleased to continue, Fräulein. Do you remember the numerals?” “Some of them.” “And the towns and dates?” “Some of them.” “And are they, the ones that you remember, identical in both packets?” “As far as I can remember.” Von Stromberg took the packet from her hands and turned it over in his fingers. “There is nothing about this packet, no distinguishing mark that would make it different from the other, the one that was burned?” “None, except the handwriting.” “H-m.” General von Stromberg put the packet into an inside pocket and buttoned his coat carefully. “So far--so good. You are an intelligent witness, Fräulein.” “Thank you.” If the words of her questioner contained an ulterior suggestion, the girl gave every indication of being oblivious to it, listening with a grave calmness to his next question.