Excuse the question.

If it is yours, I must possess it under any conditions.

In case it is not yours, and you want to have it carried out by your assistant, we will talk the matter over first.

I know how extremely difficult it would be to copy it, and therefore I would rather let him finish something else than this.

But if it be in fact yours, rest assured, and make the best of it, that it will never come again into your keeping.