Plant. Delicate cases are my speciality, and if I can be of any assistance to you—(aside)—or you to me—. (aloud) I'm at your service. Proceed.
Doctor. (aside) I'll break it to him gently why I can't marry his daughters, (to Plant) Well, to begin with, she's a married woman——
Plant. Is she? She'll cost her husband a pretty penny in hats.
Doctor. (airily) Oh, he can afford it. (speaks low so that Flo can't hear) He's a great friend of mine—in fact, the greatest friend I have in all the world.
Plant. (loudly) Then what's his wife's hat doing here?
Doctor. (aside) That's just like a d———d lawyer!
(softly) Don't you see, they married secretly, without her parents' consent, and she went back to her people, and—and time went on—and at last she could bear it no longer, so this afternoon she came up to town to find her husband——
Plant. Your greatest friend?
Doctor. Er—precisely!
Plant. (aside) It's that lieutenant in the navy. I must remember that.