“But how could they have framed it up so quickly?”
“What are you driving at?” Patsy demanded, turning upon Chick. “Why quickly?”
“That ought to be plain enough even to you,” Chick retorted. “Lord Waldmere stated that he and his wife were in the office of the loan company only about five minutes.”
“Well, I admit that.”
“It is obvious, too, that their visit could not have been anticipated,” Chick proceeded to argue. “Neither Morris Garland, nor the assistant manager, Moses Hart, could have known that Lady Waldmere had any intention of redeeming the jewelry at just that time.”
“True again, old man,” nodded Patsy, with an expression of perplexity returning to his face.
“That’s what I mean, then, by their having framed up the job so quickly,” Chick forcibly added.
“I get you.”
“They would have had only five minutes in which to have laid their plans and made all the arrangements for executing them. That’s a mighty short time in which to shape up such a job, to say nothing of getting ready to carry it out. It’s not a simple stunt to pick up a woman on Fifth Avenue and get away with her from under her husband’s eyes.”
“Say, you’re getting wiser every minute, Chick,” cried Patsy, laughing. “I begin to think there really is something in what you say.”