Simmons, to my surprise, told me that he had already informed the client of this fact, and that the answer had only been a plea that the case was too urgent to admit of delay.

He also supplied the further information that the client was a young lady.

I am afraid," added Thornton, looking round his audience with a sympathetic smile, "that Simmons (I had got him from Harvard and he had not yet quite learned his place) even said something about her being strikingly handsome." A general laugh greeted Thornton's announcement.
"After all," said Fortescue, "I never could see why an Ice Man should be supposed to have a monopoly on gallantry." "Oh, I don't know," said Thornton.

"For my part--I say it without affectation--the moment I am called in professionally, women, as women, cease to exist for me.

I can stand beside them in the kitchen and explain to them the feed tap of a kitchen range without feeling them to be anything other than simply clients.