"Very well," he agreed grimly. "You ought to know with whom you've been breaking bread. I'm a miserable sinner, Miss Browning. I was struck off the medical-"
"Easy, now!" Courtney interposed soothingly. "Is there any necessity for this?" Rich gestured him to silence.
"— register. I was accused of having… if you want to use a polite word, you can say 'seduced'.. one of my patients while she was under hypnosis."
"Oh."
"I was not guilty. I swear it. One day, perhaps soon, I may be able to prove it. And then! My name will still be mud, of course, so far as general practice is concerned. But some official post: a snip's doctor, say!"
Ann was looking at the branches of the tree overhead. She nodded as though she followed this.
"But to have been accused of this affair, of being mad enough to drive a contaminated pin into a person's arm, would have finished me past all hope. Relieved? Gad, I could dance the fandango!"
"Doctor," said Courtney quietly, "would you mind if I asked you one question?"
"Not at all. Ask away."
He filled his pipe, lighted it, and watched the gray smoke hang heavily in die thick thundery air.