What are you driving at ?" "Schmidt must know your father.

They are bound to have come together in more than one important deal." "Well ?" "It seems to me that, if the father's evidence is not available, the son's gains a trifle more weight." "Dash me if I can imagine where you are getting off at, Steingall." "You regard Mr.Curtis as a friend ?" "I am proud of the fact." "Stick to that, and you will do him good service." "Well, that's easy." The detective seemed to be picking his words with a good deal of care.
He covered several paces in silence, and Curtis, who had reverted to his normal habit of sober gravity, took no part in the conversation.
His estimate of its purport differed from Devar's.

That light-hearted youngster was somewhat annoyed by the detective's implied hint that his friendship with Curtis rested on no more solid foundation than a steamer acquaintance, and would hardly bear the test of close scrutiny if it came to analysis on the score of prior knowledge, or if his testimony were sought as to Curtis's earlier career.

But he had the good sense to understand that Steingall was actuated by no light motive, so he held his peace.

Curtis went farther.