"I'm chock-full of it," rejoined Tobias easily, putting his pipe between his lips again and waving his hand.
"Confidential information," continued the man, glancing again at Lorna.
"That's all right," said Tobias. "This young woman knows almost as much as I do, and a little extry information won't hurt her a mite. What was you lookin' to find out?"
"My inquiry is in regard to the robbery of the Clinkerport Bank night before last."
He threw back the left lapel of his coat with a practiced gesture, revealing a glittering badge pinned near the armhole of his vest.
"Oh, sugar!" murmured Tobias. "A real detective? I cal'late I'm pinched."
Lorna dropped a fluttering hand upon his shoulder, but then saw that the old lightkeeper was still smiling cheerfully.
"You fire ahead, Mister."
"Did you ever see this knife before you picked it up under the bank window?" and the detective displayed the toy in his palm.
"Oh, sugar! Can't say as I did. And yet I might. Seems to me—wal, I cal'late I better say no and be done with it. I can't somehow seem to place that thing," declared the lightkeeper, in deep reflection.