“Concrete, in short?” Jake remarked. “Well, it’s not an interesting subject to outsiders and sometimes gets very stale to those who have to handle it. Are you quite sure you haven’t been writing about anything else?”
“I am sure. Why do you ask?”
“Because, as you see, somebody thought it worth while to steal the top sheet of your blotter,” Jake replied. “Now perhaps I’d better tell you something I’ve just learned.”
He related what Payne had told him and concluded: “I’m puzzled about Oliva’s motive. After all, it could hardly be revenge.”
“No,” said Dick, with a thoughtful frown, “I don’t imagine it is.”
“Then what does he expect to gain?”
Dick was silent for a few moments with knitted brows, and then asked: “You have a Monroe Doctrine, haven’t you?”
“We certainly have,” Jake agreed, smiling. “We reaffirmed it not long ago.”
“Roughly speaking, the Doctrine states that no European power can be allowed to set up a naval base or make warlike preparations in any part of America. In fact, you warn all foreigners to keep their hands off?”
“That’s its general purport; but while I support it patriotically, I can’t tell you exactly what it says. Anyhow, I don’t see what this has to do with the matter.”