“No, I did not admit it. This is what happened before the council
of war. Colonel Henry said simply that there was a file on Colonel
Picquart’s table. He said nothing of a photograph, and specified no
date, and I said to him: ‘Colonel, I believe that you are mistaken,
but, as it is not my habit to make a minute inventory of the documents
that are lying on the desks of people when I go to see them, I
consider that it is not for me, but rather for Colonel Picquart, to
say whether at any time whatsoever there was on his desk an envelope
bearing the words “secret file.”’ I said very firmly to Colonel Henry:
‘I do not wish to contradict you, not simply out of politeness, but
because I consider that it is for Colonel Picquart to contradict this
statement, if it is incorrect.’ But, if he had made a more precise
statement, and had said what he has just said,--that the file included
a photograph,--I would have contradicted him absolutely.”
Colonel Henry.--“I contradict M. Leblois absolutely. This is what I
said before the council of war: ‘Before these gentlemen lay a secret
file and a photographed document, the document half out of the envelope
and beginning with these words, “That scoundrel D----”’”
The Judge.--“Did you see the document?”
Colonel Henry.--“Yes.”
M. Leblois.--“But the colonel has just admitted that he said that the
photograph was not out of the envelope. Could Colonel Henry explain
to us how he reconciles his present evidence, M. Leblois and Colonel
Picquart turning their backs to the desk, with his evidence given at
the investigation and thus stated in Major Ravary’s report: ‘When
Colonel Henry, on his return to Paris, entered Colonel Picquart’s
office, he saw M. Leblois, from whom the colonel received long and
frequent visits, sitting near the desk and searching with him a secret
file.’”
Colonel Henry.--“Searching ... searching?”
M. Labori.--“Either Colonel Henry does not tell the truth, or else the
truth is not told in Major Ravary’s report.”
Colonel Henry [walking toward Labori].--“I will not permit you to call
my words in question. I will not permit it.”
M. Labori.--“I say that there is a formal contradiction between Major
Ravary’s report and your evidence.”
Colonel Henry.--“That is not my affair.”