“Detective!”

The boy said nothing.

“Why am I to be watched?”

“I don’t know.”

“What has happened lately?”

“Don’t you know? Don’t you ever read the papers?”

“Sometimes.”

“Then you must know that they’ve killed Mother Flintstone.”

“Who’s she?”

“My best friend, even if she didn’t have all the frills of society,” said Billy, with a grin.