"All right, if you say so. But I won't have any Board o' Health snitches bossing it. They'd want to pull the whole row down."
"Exactly what ought to be done."
"What! And it averagin' better'n ten per cent," cried the agent in so scandalized a tone that the Doctor could not but smile.
"How have you managed to keep them out, thus far?"
"Haven't. There's been a couple of inspectors around, but I stalled 'em off. And we got the sick cases out right from under 'em."
"Dr. Merritt is a hard man to handle if he once gets started."
"He's got his hands full. The papers have been poundin' him because his milk regulations have put up the price. Persecution of the dairymen, they call it. Well, persecution of an honest property owner—with a pull—won't look pretty for Mr. Health Officer if he don't find nothing there. And the papers'll back me."
"Ellis of the 'Clarion' has his eye on the place."
"You can square that through your boy, can't you?"
The Doctor had his own private doubts, but didn't express them. "Leave it to me," he said. "Get some disinfectants and clean up. Your owners can stand the bill—at ten per cent. Much obliged for coming in, O'Farrell."