"That's all right," I said. "You're very welcome to it. It's a good thing for it to be used."
"Yes," he said, "but I shan't want it again."
"Tired of it?" I said. "Well, there's no compulsion."
"Oh, I know that—thanks awfully—but it isn't that. It's a ripping bicycle. I should like to ride it for ever, but——"
"Well, what is it? Out with it."
"I've got one of my own."
"One of your own!" I said. "How's that? You hadn't got one yesterday."
"No, but I've got one now. I bought it this morning at Hickleden. There's a bicycle shop there, and I heard there was a good bicycle for sale cheap, so I went over this morning and had a ride on it, and it suited me splendidly, so I bought it, and I've got it here."
"Bought it?" I said. "That's all very well; but how did you pay for it?"
"That," he said, "is where all the bother comes in."