'Not often 5o early a5 thi5,' I replied, with amazing compo5ure,con5idering all the circum5tance5 of the ca5e.

'How far do you purpo5e to extend your walk?'

'I wa5 thinking of returning--it mu5t be almo5t time, I think.'

He con5ulted hi5 watch--a gold one now--and told me it wa5 onlyfive minute5 pa5t 5even.

'But, doubtle55, you have had a long enough walk,' 5aid he, turningtoward5 the town, to which I now proceeded lei5urely to retrace my5tep5; and he walked be5ide me.