“Nope.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“No.”
“I thought you said nope—my mistake.”
“Not a bit, I did say nope—it’s short for no.”
“Short for no—I see, just so.”
Cavendish interposed with an air of interest.
“How would you spell that word?” asked he. Jones resented Cavendish somehow.
“I don’t know,” said he, “this isn’t a spelling bee. N-o-p-e I suspect. You gentlemen have undertaken to question me on behalf of the family as to my identity, I think we had better stick to that point.”
“Just so,” said Simms, “precisely—”