“Never mind that. Do you drink?”
“No!” The answer came back on the rebound. “Humph!” Dr. Strong leaned over her. She turned her head away.
“You asked me as if you meant I was a drunkard,” she complained. “Once in a while, when I have some severe nervous strain to undergo, I need a stimulant.”
“Oh. Cocktail?”
“Yes. A mild one.”
“A mild cocktail! That’s a paradox I’ve never encountered. How often do you take these mild cocktails?”
“Oh, just occasionally.”
“Well, a meal is an occasion. Before meals?”
“Sometimes,” she admitted reluctantly.
“You didn’t have one here last night.”