you can of it."

It was complete surrender as to the combination knife-and-fork. He was
beaten, on that point at least, and owned it. His lie was found out.
"It's dashed difficult always to remember that you're a doctor," he broke
out the next minute.

Mary could not help laughing; but her eyes were still keen and
challenging as she said, "Perhaps you'd better change your doctor again,
Mr. Beaumaroy. You haven't found one stupid enough!"

Again Beaumaroy had no defense; his nonplussed air confessed that
maneuver, too. Mary dropped her rallying tone and went on gravely:
"Unless I'm treated with confidence and sincerity, I can't continue to
attend Mr. Saffron."

"That's your ultimatum, is it, Doctor Mary?"

She nodded sharply and decisively. Beaumaroy meditated for a few
seconds. Then he shook his head regretfully. "It's no use. I daren't
trust you," he said.

Mary laughed again, this time in amazed resentment of his impudence. "You
can't trust me! I think it's the other way round. It seems to me that the
boot's on the other leg."

"Not as I see it." Then he smiled slowly, as it were tentatively. "Or
would you--I wonder if you could--possibly--well, stand in with me?"

"Are you offering me a--a partnership?" she asked indignantly.