I quite understand that you have never met Hamvert, nor Hamvert you, nor that Hamvert was aware that you and the Weasel had anything to do with one another and were playing in together--but that equally is unimportant.

When Hamvert engaged the Weasel for ten thousand dollars to get the map from you for him, the Weasel chose the line of least resistance.

He KNEW you, and approached you with an offer to split the money in return for the map.

It was not a question of your accepting his offer--it was simply a matter of how you could do it and still protect yourself.

The Weasel was well qualified to point the way--a fake robbery of your house would answer the purpose admirably--you could not be held either legally or morally responsible for a document that was placed, unsolicited by you, in your possession, if it were stolen from you." Mittel's face was ashen, colourless.