"Detectives have to be cool."
"You won't gain anything by following me."
"I haven't said that I was following you."
"But you have admitted that you are a detective, and that amounts to the same thing."
"Perhaps it does and perhaps it doesn't."
As Hal spoke, he looked around for Dick Ferris. The tall youth was nowhere to be seen.
"What are you looking for?"
"That's my business."
"Come, don't get cheeky."
"Then don't question me."