"No," said Newman. "Not to-night, Carrick, please!"
"Hang it!" said Carrick. He would have spoken more liberally, but the choice was between restraint in language and the loss of Mr. Newman as an acquaintance. That had been made clear soon after their first meeting.
Mr. Newman smiled, and rested a large hand on Carrick's arm.
"We go by different roads to our goal, Carrick," he said, "but it is the same goal. We serve the same Master, under different names and in different ways. You call Him Science and I call Him Christ—the same Master, though; and my services take me to church to-night. But to- morrow, if you like, I will come over to your place."
"Get back," said Carrick violently to the dog. "To heel, you beast!"
The fork of the road was in front of them; they paused at the division of the way.
"Will that suit you?" inquired Mr. Newman. "I can come round after dinner."
Carrick gave him a look in which contempt, fury, and a certainly involuntary liking were strangely at war.
"Of all the sanctimonious asses," he said, and broke off. "Good- night!" he concluded abruptly.
"I'll come, then," said Mr. Newman, smiling. "Good-night, my dear fellow."