“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.” “You ought to have seen it before.” “What do you say, chief?” Nick laughed and knocked the ashes from the cigar he was smoking. “Chick’s argument is all right, Patsy, as far as it goes,” he replied. “We know that the couple were only a short time in the office of the loan company, and that their visit could not have been anticipated. We are not pinned down to five minutes, however.” “What do you mean?” questioned Chick. “What Lord Waldmere really said was this--that, after talking with one of the clerks, who very likely was the assistant manager, the latter went into Garland’s private office, where he remained about five minutes before either of them came out to resume the discussion.” “Gee! that’s right, too,” nodded Patsy. “And it is quite significant,” Nick added. “It certainly would not have taken Hart five minutes to state merely what the couple wanted.” “Surely not.” “Garland could have come out and joined them in half a minute, as far as that goes. Why, then, did he not do so? What were the two men doing that occupied five full minutes? It looks very much to me as if they were framing a job.” “But----” “One moment, Chick,” Nick interposed. “I know you’re going to object again to my theory. I advanced that, however, as a matter of fact, only to point out that there could have been a reasonable motive for knavery.” “Ah, that’s different,” said Chick, smiling. “I have no idea, nevertheless, assuming that Garland and Hart are back of this business, that they aimed to rob Lady Waldmere of money supposed to be on her person,” Nick continued. “They would not have acted upon a mere supposition. They first would have made absolutely sure that she had the money.” “Certainly,” Chick nodded. “That goes without saying.” “All the same, chief, there was a job framed up for some reason during those five minutes,” Patsy said roundly. “I’d wager my bankroll on that.” “I think so, too,” Nick agreed. “But what’s the game?” Chick questioned, still doubtful.