Чужак в чужой стране

           "Jubalthoughtrapidly."Butyousetuptheact;Ijustcashedinonit–andthere’splentyofcash.Sonameyourfee,Becky,anddon’tbeshy."Hedecidedthat,whateverfigureshepicked,hewoulddoubleit.ThatdrawingaccounthehaddemandedforMikewouldneverfeelit?anditwasbetter,farbetter,topayBeckyofflavishlythantolettheobligationstayopen.

           MadameVesantfrowned."Nowyou’vehurtmyfeelings."

           "Becky,Becky!You’reabiggirlnow,dear.Anybodycanclapandcheer–butapplauseworthwhilewillbefoundinapileofsoft,green,foldingmoney.Notmymoney.TheManfromMarspicksupthistaband,believeme,hecanaffordit."Hegrinned."Butallyou’llgetfrommeisthanks,andahugandakissthatwillcrackyourribsthefirsttimeIseeyou."

           Sherelaxedandsmiled."I’llholdyoutoit.IrememberhowyouusedtopatmyfannywhileyouassuredmethattheProfessorwassuretogetwell–youalwayscouldmakeabodyfeelbetter."

           "Ican’tbelievethatIeverdidanythingsounprofessional."

           "Youdid,youknowyoudid.Andyouweren’tveryfatherlyaboutit,either."

           "Maybeso.MaybeIthoughtitwasthetreatmentyouneeded.I’vegivenupfanny-pattingforLent–butI’llmakeanexceptioninyourcase."

           "You’dbetter."

           "Andyou’dbetterfigureoutthatfee.Don’tforgetthezeroes."

           "Uh,I’llthinkaboutit.But,truthfully,Doc,therearemorewaysofcollectingafeethanbymakingafastcountonthechange.