Its possession upon your person, or upon the person of any one who was not upon his guard, might be a very serious matter indeed." Laverick shrugged his shoulders.
"As a matter of fact," he declared, "I certainly have no idea of carrying it about with me.

On the other hand, I shall part with it to no one.

I might discuss the matter with Mademoiselle Idiale as soon as she is recovered.

I am not disposed--I mean no offence, sir--but I may say frankly that I am not disposed even to do as much with you." Laverick rose to his feet with the obvious intention of leaving.
Lassen followed his example and confronted him.
"Mr.Laverick," he said, "in your own interests you must not talk like that,--in your own interests, I say." "At any rate," Laverick remarked, "my interests are better looked after by myself than by strangers.

You must forgive my adding, Mr.Lassen, that you are a stranger to me." "No more so than Mademoiselle Idiale!" the little man exclaimed.
"Mademoiselle Idiale has given me certain proof that she knew at least of the existence of this document," Laverick answered.