"No; I have only taken a short cut inland, and avoided the dull part of the river. You know the Neckar, of course?"
"Only as far as Neckargemünd; but I have heard that higher up it is almost as fine as the Rhine."
"Hadn't you better join me?" I said, as we adjusted our knapsacks and prepared to resume our journey.
He shook his head, smiling.
"Nay," he replied, "my route leads me by Buchen and Darmstadt. I have no business to go round by Heidelberg."
"It would be worth the détour."
"Ah, yes; but it would throw me two days later."
"Not if you made up for lost time by taking the train from Heidelberg."
He hesitated.
"I should like it," he said.