"That is a matter of argument, it seems to me."

She smiled good naturedly and went on:

"As to your second contingency, Mr. Harleston; the envelope and its
contents were left with me for delivery to another party--which I
believe gives me the right of possession, as you term it. At any rate,
it gives me a better title than yours."

"If the party who left them with you had a good title," he amended. "If,
however, he obtained them from--a deserted cab, say--then his title
would be no better than you've put in me; not so good, in fact, for
according to your tale I have the envelope."

She shrugged again.

"Now as to your third contingency," she went on, "I am not able to say
what is the nature of the document, nor whom nor what nation it
concerns."

"You mean that you're ignorant of its contents and its nature?" he
asked.

She met his glance frankly. "I mean that I haven't any idea of its
contents or its purpose."

He slowly tapped his cigarette against the swinging brass ash-receiver.

"Wouldn't it be well, my dear Madame X, to lay your cards on the
table--all your cards?"