"You see, Mr. Carter, I may be entirely in the air about it. I may be all wrong. It is a pure and simple guess; but all the same I have thought of it as a possibility."
"I wish you would tell me exactly what you mean, sir."
"Do you remember that in that other case, the spies often picked up information which was of no direct value to them, or to their employers, and that when they did so, the news was given out so that it would be made public?"
"Yes."
"That was done, in that case, for the purpose of mystifying us, and, if possible, to frighten us."
"Yes."
"Well, it has occurred to me that they have thought of another outlet for their superfluous information; one that is possibly remunerative."
"I don't think I understand you, quite."
"Just now the railroad legislation is creating considerable agitation, as you know."
"Yes."