"If I were an ordinary man—perhaps," said Nick. "If I were a doctor—" he paused—"if I were a doctor, Max," he said again with a sudden smile, "I think I should tackle the situation from another standpoint. Either way, if she loved me and I loved her, I would marry her. As to the consequences—there wouldn't be any."
Max grunted. "Of course you are the exception to every rule."
"Who told you that?" thrust in Nick.
"It's been dinned into me ever since I met you." Half-churlishly Max made reply, and turning fell to pacing the room with the measured tread of one trained to step warily.
"And you believe it?" Nick leaned back in his chair peering forth through eyes half-closed.
"I do—more or less."
"Thanks!" said Nick. "And how goes the courtship?"
Max frowned heavily, without speaking.
"Pardon my asking," said Nick, "and consider the question answered!"
Max stopped squarely in front of him. "It doesn't go," he said briefly.