"Thanks all the same," said John, "but I am afraid I cannot spare the time."
"I can give you a very decent peg of whisky," said Cherriton, quietly.
John, playing the part of Bernard Treves, smiled.
"I am afraid I must keep off the whisky, as I am going to see my father," he answered adroitly.
After that Cherriton pressed him no more. Presently, however, he slackened his pace.
"This is where I get off," he said. He dismounted, and John also alighted. "Why not come in until the rain is over?"
"I don't mind the rain," said John.
Cherriton turned and pushed his bicycle through the gap in the stone wall. He was still scheming with all his thoughts to get John into the secluded cottage. A new thought came to him.
"By the way," he said, "has your friend Manwitz been able to give you any of the tablets you used to be so anxious about?" He paused a moment, looking John steadily in the eyes, "or have you managed to break the habit?"
John detected something in his tone which caused him to move warily.