“In the smoking car,” said Garland. “I occupied a seat alone.”
“Where was the portfolio?”
“I placed it between me and the wall of the car, next to the window, where my arm could rest on it during the ride. I was reading a book in the meantime.”
“Could the portfolio have been removed by a person in the seat behind you without your knowing it?” Nick inquired.
“No, sir, absolutely,” said Garland. “When I placed it there, Mr. Carter, I made sure there was no space between the end of the seat and the wall, through which the portfolio could slip. Naturally, sir, knowing the vast importance of its contents, I was exceedingly careful and constantly alert. It would have been utterly impossible for any person to have removed my portfolio and substituted another on the train.”
“We will go a step farther, then,” said Nick. “When you arrived in Washington and came from the Union Station, what did you do?”
“I hastened to find my friends who promised to meet me, Miss Barclay and Miss Warren,” said Garland. “I found them nearly opposite the main exit. I got into the automobile with them and they——”
“One moment,” Nick interposed. “Was it a limousine or an ordinary touring car?”
“A touring car.”
“Top up?”