His manner was contemptuous. Barney had not forgotten their first experience together and Corcoran’s disgust at “this kid business” when he had stolen Cooper’s cipher code.
He touched the detective’s elbow, mutely, and began to spell out an impertinent reply on his fingers.
“Aw, can that,” Corcoran said. He did not know the deaf and dumb alphabet, and it annoyed him.
Barney lifted his eyebrows, frowned, flickered eloquently with his hands, pointed at Corcoran, repeated his pantomime, and ended with his eyebrows up again.
Corcoran said: “What the hell ’s the matter with you?”
Barney pointed to his mouth and to his ears, shook his head and launched into another gravely impudent communication.
“I ’ll chuck you down the elevator shaft in a minute,” Corcoran growled.
Barney spelled out on his fingers: “Yes, you will, you big stiff.” And it was evident
