"That was a neat piece of business," Pat laughed.
"Was it?" answered her companion.
"It was. And you know it. A neat bit of skullduggery."
The laugh that followed was very masculine—and there was no mistaking the originator.
"May I ask what the idea was?" asked Pat.
Billy Thompson's well-modulated voice answered: "Sure, I'll tell you. Do you want it right off the shoulder or will you take it by degrees?"
"I can take it," said Patricia. Her tone was light, but under-tones of softness were there. "Can you dish it out?"
Kennebec swallowed. Billy Thompson! Whatever he had done, he'd done it well. Kennebec smiled wistfully. Any man who could cut Patricia out of the tight-pack between Lane and Downing was either overly wise or—
"I'm dishing," said Billy. "I've been wondering how it would be to have you all to myself."
"Have you found out yet?" asked Patricia lightly.