Gerrod smiled. Davis was sufficiently his friend to break an engagement and admit it frankly, and besides Gerrod more than suspected where Davis had gone.
"How is Miss Morrison?" he asked.
"She's all right," said Davis still more gloomily. "But damn her father!"
Gerrod raised his eyebrows and said nothing until they arrived at the cottage with the little built-on laboratory. Evelyn came out at the sound of the motor and shook hands with Davis.
"We were beginning to be afraid the competition was too much for us," she said with a smile.
Davis looked at her and tried to smile in return, but the result was a dismal failure.
"Oh, I'm glad to be here now," he said dolefully.
Gerrod made a sign to Evelyn not to refer to Nita again until he could speak to her, and helped Davis carry his two suit cases into the house.
"Your usual room, of course," he said cheerfully. "Dinner is served at the same hour as before, and you can do just as you please until you feel like coming down. I'll be in the laboratory."
Davis went heavily upstairs, his usually cheerful face suffused with gloom. Evelyn glanced at Gerrod.