Reddy grinned wickedly as he said this to himself, for he knew that there was no one for whom Peter Rabbit had less love, unless it was old Granny Fox.

So Reddy trotted down to the Old Briar-patch.  Peter saw him coming and scowled, for he guessed right away what Reddy was coming for, and he made ready to answer all Reddy’s questions and still tell him nothing, as he had with all the others who had called.

But Reddy asked no questions.  He didn’t once mention the fact that he had heard there was news in the Old Briar-patch.  He didn’t once speak of Jenny Wren.  He just talked about the weather and the Old Pasture, where Peter had made such a long visit, and all the time was as pleasant and polite as if he and Peter were the dearest of friends.

But while he was talking, Reddy was using those sharp eyes and those keen ears of his the best he knew how.  But the Old Briar-patch was very thick, and he could see only a little way into it, and out of it came no sound to hint of a secret there.  Then Reddy began to walk around the Old Briar-patch in quite the most matter-of-fact way, but as he walked that wonderful nose of his was testing every little breath of air that came out of the Old Briar-patch.  At last he reached a certain place where a little stronger breath of air tickled his nose.  He stopped for a few minutes, and slowly a smile grew and grew.  Then, without saying a word, he turned and trotted back towards the Green Forest.

Peter Rabbit watched him go.  Then he joined Mrs. Peter in the heart of the Old Briar-patch.  “My dear,” he said, with a sigh that was almost a sob, “Reddy Fox has found out our secret.”

“Never mind,” said little Mrs. Peter brightly.  “It would have to be found out soon, anyway.”

Trotting back up the Lone Little Path, Reddy Fox was grinning broadly.  “It is news!” said he.  “Jenny Wren was right, it is news!  But I don’t believe anybody else knows it yet, and I hope they won’t find it out right away, least of all Old Man Coyote.  What a wonderful thing a good nose is!  It tells me what my eyes cannot see nor my ears hear.”

CHAPTER XXXI

BLACKY THE CROW HAS SHARP EYES

 Mischief always waits to greet
 Idle hands and idle feet. 
                              Peter Rabbit.

That is what a lot of people say about Blacky the Crow.  Of course it is true that Blacky does get into a lot of mischief, but if people really knew him they would find that he isn’t as black as he looks.  In fact, Blacky the Crow does a whole lot of good in his own peculiar way, but people are always looking for him to do bad things, and you know you most always see what you expect to see.  Thus the good Blacky does isn’t seen, while the bad is, and so he has grown to have a reputation blacker than the coat he wears.

But this doesn’t worry Blacky the Crow.  No, Sir, it doesn’t worry him a bit.  You see he has grown used to it.  And then he is so smart that he is never afraid of being caught when he does do wrong things.  No one has sharper eyes than Blacky, and no one knows better how to use them.  There is very little going on in the Green Forest or on the Green Meadows that he misses when he is about.