“Because I spent that evening watching Box Five and the sham envelope which you put there. I did not go to the ballet-foyer for a second.”

“No, sir, and I did not give you the envelope that evening, but at the next performance⁠ ⁠… on the evening when the undersecretary of state for fine arts⁠ ⁠…”

At these words, M. Richard suddenly interrupted Mame Giry:

“Yes, that’s true, I remember now! The undersecretary went behind the scenes. He asked for me. I went down to the ballet-foyer for a moment. I was on the foyer steps.⁠ ⁠… The undersecretary and his chief clerk were in the foyer itself.⁠ ⁠… I suddenly turned around⁠ ⁠… you had passed behind me, Mme. Giry.⁠ ⁠… You seemed to push against me.⁠ ⁠… Oh, I can see you still, I can see you still!”