I paid a fabulous price for the papers.

They were brought to me by a lady wearing a thick veil--a lady I had never seen before.

I asked no questions, and paid her the money.

It subsequently transpired that the papers had been stolen, as you perhaps know, from the house of Count Stepan Lanovitch--the house to which you happen to be going--at Thors.

Well, that is all ancient history.