A humorous twinkle shone for a minute in Hickory's eye.
"Pooh!" said he, "it's just getting interesting."
"Opinions differ," quoth Byrd.
"Not much," retorted Hickory.
Something in the way he said this made Byrd look at him more intently. He instantly changed his tone.
"Old fellow," said he, "you don't believe Miss Dare committed this crime any more than I do."
A sly twinkle answered him from the detective's half-shut eye.
"All that talk of having seen through your disguise in the hut is just nonsense on your part to cover up your real notion about it. What is that notion, Hickory? Come, out with it; let us understand each other thoroughly at last."
"Do I understand you?"
"You shall, when you tell me just what your convictions are in this matter."