"Besides, for a young fellow like you, with your agility, what is eight miles? Walk down the road and you will come to a place where you will be made at home and fed like a king."
"Eight miles, that's not much! But on such a night as this?"
There was a faint glint in the eyes of the colonel; was he not sharpening his wits for his contest of words, and enjoying it?
"The wind will be at your back and buoy your steps. It will shorten the eight miles to four."
Very definitely Donnegan felt that the other was reading him. What was it that he saw as he turned the pages?
"There is one thing you fail to take into your accounting."
"Ah?"
"I have an irresistible aversion to walking."
"Ah?" repeated Macon.
"Or exercise in any form."