"At any rate, I should not like to lose it," said the messenger, who appeared to be properly on his guard.
"Oh, don't mention it," said Travers politely, and he walked back and resumed his seat beside Brandon.
The quiet man, to whom we have already referred, noted this little piece of acting with a smile of enjoyment.
"Very well done, good people," he said to himself. "It ought to succeed, but it won't."
His sharp eyes had detected what the other passengers had not—that Travers had skilfully substituted another package for the one he had picked up from the seat vacated by Carver.
Carver passed on into the next car, and Denton now concentrated his attention upon Brandon and Travers.
He noticed in both traces of joyful excitement, for which he could easily account. They thought they had succeeded, and each mentally congratulated himself on the acquisition of a neat little fortune.
"They will get out at Portland," thought Denton, "and take account of their booty. I should like to be there to see, but I am instructed to follow my friend the bank messenger to Boston, and must, therefore, forego the pleasure."
At Portland, Brandon and Travers got out of the cars, and took a hack to the Falmouth Hotel.