“Mr. Portersham went on board the ship by himself, and was shown to the stateroom that Morlein had engaged for him by telephone. He got there at the last moment, and as soon as he was aboard, the gangplank was taken in, and off went the ship.” “I see. Well?” “His automobile was on the wharf, with the regular chauffeur, José, at the wheel. José did not turn around to see whether the secretary was in the back seat until fifteen or twenty minutes after the steamer had gone. Then he thought he was being kept there longer than seemed necessary, and he turned his head, to ask Morlein for orders.” “Go on,” urged Nick. “What is the point of all this?” “The point is,” replied Captain Douglas impressively, “that Henry Morlein was lying in the back seat of the car, senseless from chloroform, and everything in his pockets, including several hundred dollars belonging to the government, had been taken. He had been robbed of every valuable thing that had been about him.” “Chloroformed?” “Yes. That’s what the doctor says it was.” “Who is supposed to have done it?” “Men about the wharf say there was no one near the automobile except Mr. Portersham. He was seen talking to Morlein before he went to the steamer, and José remembers hearing Mr. Portersham tell Morlein not to get out of the car, but to go right back.” “José is sure of that, eh?” “Quite.” “What kind of a man is this José?” “He’s a reliable fellow. Everybody speaks well of him. He is a Cuban by birth. If he makes a statement, it is safe to accept it, as a rule.” “Where has Mr. Portersham gone?” “The steamer is bound for New York. So he must be going there. Briggs, a butler at the palace, says he heard Mr. Portersham tell Morlein that he had been called to Washington.” “By telegraph?” “No. Senator Micah Garnford called on him a little while before he sailed, telling him that he was required in Washington at once, on some government business.” “Senator Garnford?” exclaimed Nick. “Why, he is in Washington.” “No. He is in San Juan. Briggs saw him, he says.” “Briggs? I shall have to see Briggs and ask him a few things,” said Nick thoughtfully. “I’m sure the senator could not be here now.” “Briggs is sure he took in Senator Garnford’s card, and that he went into Mr. Portersham’s room for a talk. Afterward the senator left the palace by a back doorway.” “Did any one see him go?” “I believe not. But that is what Mr. Portersham said to Briggs.” Like a flash it came to Nick Carter that all this mystery might be mixed up with John Garrison Rayne. The fact that somebody supposed to be the acting governor had left so abruptly on the steamer, as well as the injury to and robbery of Henry Morlein, smelled so strongly of the Apache’s methods that Nick could not think of anything else. “I should like to go to the palace, captain,” he said. “Is your car outside?” “Yes. I was hoping you would come.” “I’ll take my two assistants with me. You have no objection?”