General de Boisdeffre.--“I cannot say of any officer sent upon a
mission that he was sent away in disgrace.”
M. Labori.--“Oh! everything that comes from a general’s mouth does not
necessarily concern the national defence. General de Boisdeffre must
tell us whether Colonel Picquart was sent away in disgrace or not.”
General de Boisdeffre.--“Colonel Picquart was in a state of mind that
did not permit him to attend to his duties satisfactorily. He was
absorbed by a single idea. The minister of war thought it wise to send
him on a mission that would restore him to his normal state of mind.”
M. Labori.--“Will General de Boisdeffre tell us what idea it was that
obsessed Colonel Picquart’s mind?”
General de Boisdeffre.--“I do not believe that I can answer that
question, because I must not answer concerning the case” ...
Here the witness hesitated.