"Here's some fine old rye," he said. "We have lots of time to touch it up a little before dinner."
"Excuse me," said Merry, shaking his head.
"Don't you care for rye? Well, I have some bourbon here. Perhaps that will——"
"I'll have to be excused from taking anything."
"Really? It will do you good. You've been having a session with the governor and those Wall Street sharks, and it seems to me you need something after that."
"I don't think I need anything, thank you."
"Well, later on we can have a cocktail before dinner. Which do you prefer, a Manhattan, or a——"
Frank was now brought to the point where it was necessary for him to state that he did not drink Manhattans or cocktails of any sort.
Young Hatch eyed him with an expression of doubt.
"You don't seem to be stringing me," he said. "Don't you drink at all?"