“Not exactly,” Nick replied. “There is one point on which we first must decide.”
“Just when and where the dummy portfolio was substituted for the other,” said Chick.
“Precisely.”
“How can we arrive at that?”
“By a process of elimination,” said Nick. “It’s not reasonable to suppose, in view of Garland’s positive assertions, that Captain Backas is guilty of treachery and treason.”
“Surely not,” Chick coincided. “Furthermore, he would not have taken the risk that Garland would discover the crime even before leaving, or arriving at the Annapolis station. In that case he would, of course, have instantly attributed the crime to Backas.”
“Very true,” Nick nodded. “That alone is enough to confirm Garland’s statements. He undoubtedly had the plans, then, when he started for the station. He rode[{11}] alone in a taxicab. We can safely assume, then, that he still had his own portfolio when he boarded the train.”
“It strikes me, chief, that there is the most likely place for the trick to have been turned,” said Patsy.
“I don’t agree with you.”
“Why not?”