knowingness

Eranest Hemingwayの短編Out of Seasonの一節です。
They walked down the hill across the fields and then turned to follow the river bank. Peduzzi talked rapid with much winking and knowingness.
"know" の名詞としては "knowledge" は知っていますが、"knowingness" は初めて見ます。どんな意味でしょうか？
・Dictionary.com:affecting, implying, or deliberately revealing shrewd knowledge of secret or private information: a knowing glance.: The knowingness of little girls is hidden underneath their curls.
・Collins Dictionary: 1.the act or state of suggesting secret information or knowledge 2.wisdom, shrewdness, or cleverness
"knowledge" と違って、"knowingness" はすこし悪い意味を含んでいるのですね。