Colonel Picquart.--“There was certainly an accomplice who was
familiar with what was going on in the war offices. First, there is
the card-telegram signed ‘Blanche.’ Then there is the letter signed
‘Speranza,’ which could have been written only by a person familiar
with the letter that had been opened and copied, the original of which
had then been forwarded to me in November, 1896. I asked Major Ravary,
on several occasions, to make an investigation, and to hear Souffrain,
who, according to information given to me by General de Pellieux, was
the author of the ‘Speranza’ telegrams. Major Ravary always refused, on
the ground that there was no reason for such an investigation.”
M. Labori.--“Was the mission on which Colonel Picquart was sent an
important one?”
Colonel Picquart.--“I will not permit myself to judge my superiors on
that matter, but it does not seem to me that it was indispensable to
send someone on it.”
M. Labori.--“Did Colonel Picquart always clearly understand the purpose
of his mission?”
Colonel Picquart.--“I tried very hard to understand it.”
M. Labori.--“Will Colonel Picquart explain what he meant by saying that
his mission was to end at Gabès?”
Colonel Picquart.--“I said this,--that at the beginning of the Dreyfus
matter I received an order to go to the frontier of Tripoli. General
Leclerc told me that he would not allow me to go farther than Gabès.”
M. Labori.--“Is the place to which Colonel Picquart was sent a
dangerous place?”
Colonel Picquart.--“It is not one of the safest.”
M. Labori.--“Is not the police agent with whom Colonel Picquart was in
relations concerning the Esterhazy dispatch the one through whom the
_bordereau_, reached the minister of war?”
Colonel Picquart.--“Yes.”
M. Labori.--“Consequently, when occasion arose for discussion of
the origin of the _bordereau_, did not this origin seem more than
suspicious from the very fact that it came through this police agent?”
Colonel Picquart.--“Certainly.”
M. Labori.--“How happens it, then, that the serious character of this
origin is now disputed?”
Colonel Picquart.--“The serious character of the origin is not
disputed; the origin itself is denied.”
M. Labori.--“Does Colonel Picquart declare, on his soul and conscience,
that the document really originated as he has said?”
Colonel Picquart.--“Absolutely.”
M. Labori.--“If, then, Colonel Picquart were not telling the truth, he
would be guilty of falsehood, and even of perjury?”
Colonel Picquart.--“Exactly.”
M. Labori.--“It follows, _Monsieur le Président_, that, if Colonel
Picquart is not prosecuted on this charge, it is because the question
is not disputed. Has Colonel Picquart so far been the object of any
prosecution on this charge?”
Colonel Picquart.--“Not that I know of.”
M. Labori.--“Colonel Picquart has told us that he gathered information
unfavorable to Esterhazy. Will he go a little more into details?”
Colonel Picquart.--“The facts gathered were various in character.
First, there were facts relating to his pecuniary situation. Major
Esterhazy was concerned in money transactions that were rather shady. I
cannot go into details; the examination must show all that. Then there
was a matter of unpaid house-rent at Courbevoie, which was not very
clear either.”
The Judge.--“That has no relation” ...