"And I had half a mind," Robinson confessed, "to refuse you the chance.
Glad I didn't. Glad as I can be you made good."
With the egotism any man is likely to draw from his efforts in the detection of crime he added easily:
"Of course I've suspected this spigotty all along. I don't have to remind you of that."
"Sure," Rawlins said. "And didn't I put it up to him strong enough to-night?"
Paredes laughed lightly.
"All credit where it is due. You also put it up to Miss Perrine."
"The details will straighten all that out," Robinson said. "I don't pretend to have them yet."
"I gather not," Paredes mused, "with old Blackburn's ghost still in the offing."
"That talk," Rawlins said, "won't go down from you any more. I daresay you've got most of the details in your head."
"I daresay," Paredes answered dryly.