“Garland don’t think so,” Nick replied, smiling. “He was very quick to resent a mere suggestion to that effect. He admits having placed the portfolio on the seat, nevertheless, and it may have been then, or during the ride to his apartments, that the substitution was accomplished.” “By one of the women?” “Presumably. The chauffeur could not have done it without being detected.” “But consider their character,” said Chick. “One is the daughter of Senator Barclay. The other----” “I prefer to consider the circumstances, Chick,” Nick interrupted. “They are much more to the point just now. I will consider the women after having seen them.” “You say Miss Barclay sat in the front seat?” “Yes, with the chauffeur,” replied Nick. “She would have had less opportunity than the other. Her name is Verona Warren, but I did not inquire further concerning her. If Garland were to feel that I really suspect her, he might inadvertently betray the fact to her, even though cautioned against it, which would serve to put her on her guard.” “Surely.” “We will look up both of them a little later and see what we can learn about them,” Nick added. “It was early evening, mind you, and such a trick could be much more easily turned in the dark than in daylight. That is another reason for my thinking that then is when it was done.” “You are right, too, I reckon,” Chick allowed. “It seems almost incredible, nevertheless.” Nick did not reply to the last. He arose and went to the bathroom to remove his disguise and make a change of clothing. Chick lit a cigar and fell to pondering upon the case, the extraordinary gravity of which gave it special interest. Patsy Garvan took a chair near one of the windows and resumed his perusal of a newspaper. He had been reading only a few minutes, when, looking up, he said abruptly: “Gee! here’s a curious case, Chick.” “Case of what?” Chick tersely questioned. “Not a case of beer, I hope.” “No, nothing like that,” grinned Patsy. “A case of assault. Listen. I will read it to you.” He reverted to the newspaper again and read aloud the following article: “‘MYSTERY UNSOLVED. “‘The motive for the brutal assault suffered by Captain Casper Dillon last Friday evening is still an unsolved mystery. The circumstances, as stated by him and in part corroborated by a witness of the assault, afford no explanation of the outrage, which is said to have been entirely unprovoked. “‘The one man who was run down and arrested by the witness mentioned, moreover, still forcibly denies that he was one of the assailants, and asserts that he was only trying to protect Captain Dillon, and ran away only in pursuit of the two ruffians who had assaulted him, and who succeeded in making their escape.