Although James can't tell for sure from that response, at least it seems that Hickey may not have been bragging about the subject to the others, whether that's because it's not something he cares to do or because he might fear some consequences after all or some other reason. Ultimately it doesn't matter why, but if it's perhaps not knowledge that Hickey's jumping on the first opportunity to share, then all the better.

It's an unexpected comfort that Jopson sounds so scathing; James hadn't thought that Jopson would react any differently, but his own emotions in response are somewhat stronger than he'd anticipated. That isn't new--he's found himself far more temperamental as of late--but when he'd first found out about what had happened he'd been more annoyed by Hickey's audacity than anything else. It hadn't really been upsetting, but maybe that's just because he'd focused only on the practicalities, had justified the whole thing to himself as really not being important because he was dead, what did it matter what had happened afterward? But perhaps it does, or at the very least it's alright for the indignity of being graverobbed to be a little bit distressing after all.

He keeps his emotions under control enough to respond, although the struggle to do so certainly shows on his face. "I spoke to him about it, but it hardly warranted anything more." No need to get into a fight over boots he doesn't actually need, even if he were well enough to consider doing such a thing. "And I suppose it's good to know that should anything happen to mine, there's another pair available."

He can also console himself with the hope that Hickey might trip over the too-large shoes and break his neck falling down a hill or something. Wouldn't that save them all a lot of trouble.