“Eh, huh.”
All the wind was out of Tom’s sails. “What do you mean?” he ejaculated. “Weren’t you afraid I’d go and tell?”
“No.”
Followed a pause. Whalen was perfectly calm.
“You mean to tell me you weren’t afraid?” Tom demanded in amazement. “You didn’t think I’d tell?”
Whalen puffed his pipe. “I knew you wouldn’t,” he said.
“Well—I’ll—be—. Is there anything you don’t know?”
“I didn’t have to know much to know that.”
Followed another pause.
“Thanks,” said Tom, his voice trembling. “I—thanks.”