"Nothing." One would have sworn that Carroll was surprised at Barker's flare of anger—or else that it had passed unnoticed. "I just figured that you, having been his valet, and knowing a good deal about him, would have knowledge of this."
"He wasn't in the habit of discussin' his lady friends with me," growled the ex-valet surlily.
"Of course he wasn't; but you know, of course? You guessed?"
"No, I didn't do nothin' of the kind. Say, what are you tryin' to do—trip me up or somethin'?"
"Of course not. Why should I be interested in tripping you up?"
"You was sayin'—"
"Don't be foolish, Barker! It wouldn't do me a bit of good to—er—trip you up. All I want is whatever knowledge you have which may prove of interest in solving this case."
The man's eyes narrowed craftily.
"You ain't got no suspicions yourself, have you?"
"Suspicions of what?"