 What is significant about the captain's initial reaction to Mr. Janssens attache case being stolen?
The theft of Carver Janssen's attache case occurred on the thirty-first day out. He said it was significant that all en route had passed stability tests, and that it was to the ship's discredit that someone with criminal tendencies should have been permitted aboard. On the thirty-fourth day a witness turned up who said he had seen a man emerging from Janssen's compartment with the black case. Elias Cromley, who had the compartment next to Janssen's, sounded the consensus when he said, "Surely a man wouldn't steal from his own quadrant, now would he, Mr. Ellason?" He introduces a countermeasure, proof he exists, which is any overt act, sometimes violent.
 It shows that the captain wants to give people the impression that he thinks the passengers are all okay
 It reveals his negligence as a leader  It proves that the captain does not think anything could be wrong  It shows that the captain wants to give people the impression that he thinks the passengers are all okay  It shows the passengers that the captain cannot be trusted