"You wouldn't, I suppose ?" "No," said Nick.
"You would marry her regardless of the consequences ?" "If I were an ordinary man--perhaps," said Nick.

"If I were a doctor--" he paused--"if I were a doctor, Max," he said again with a sudden smile, "I think I should tackle the situation from another standpoint.

Either way, if she loved me and I loved her, I would marry her.

As to the consequences--there wouldn't be any." Max grunted.

"Of course you are the exception to every rule." "Who told you that ?" thrust in Nick.
"It's been dinned into me ever since I met you." Half-churlishly Max made reply, and turning fell to pacing the room with the measured tread of one trained to step warily.
"And you believe it ?" Nick leaned back in his chair peering forth through eyes half-closed.
"I do--more or less." "Thanks!" said Nick.