'My dear chap, do calm down,' he laughed.
Alec started at the sound of his mocking. He seemed again to become aware of himself. It was interesting to observe the quite visible effort he made to regain his self-control. In a moment he had mastered his excitement, and he turned to Dick with studied nonchalance.
'Do you think I look wildly excited?' he asked blandly.
Dick smiled.
'If you will permit me to say so, I think butter would have no difficulty in melting in your mouth,' he replied.
'I never felt cooler in my life.'
'Lucky man, with the thermometer at a hundred and two!'
Alec laughed and put his arm through Dick's.
'Perhaps we had better go home,' he said.
'Your common sense is no less remarkable than your personal appearance,' answered Dick gravely.