"Yes, hello?" "Who is it?" "Are you there, Mr Herriot?" " Yes." "Is that you, Mrs Burns?" "Yes, Mr Herriot." "I brought your morning tea." "Tea?" " What time is it?" "It's half past seven." " Oh, no!" "James, tell her we just want to sleep." "After all the trouble she's gone to?" "Mm-hm." " Are you awake, Mr Herriot?" "You go back to sleep." "I'll deal with it." "Mr Herriot!" " Yes, coming, Mrs Burns." "Good morning, Mr Herriot." " It's an early good morning." "There's nothing like a pot of tea to start the day right." "You shouldn't have bothered." "After all that trouble you had getting here, your car broken down, missing your dinner." "The least I can do is make a fuss of you, right?" "Yes, but we had planned to sleep in today." "So I gave you a good lie-in before I woke you up." "That's kind of you but..." "Sleep well?" " Very well, thank you." "And Mrs Herriot too, I hope?" " Yes, she slept well." "I spent my own wedding night in that bed." "Aye, a long time ago, mind." "Fascinating." " We didn't have anybody to bring us up cups of tea in the morning, though." "We are fortunate." "We'd better have this while it's hot." "Right you are." "You do just that and leave the rest to me." "Thank you, Mrs Burns." "Your morning tea, Mrs Herriot." "So I gather." "Given the choice I'd have preferred the extra sleep." "Given the choice, I..." "Anyway, the tea's here, we're up, so let's make the most of it." "How do you feel?" "Like someone who's... pushed a car across the Yorkshire Moors." "How do you feel?" " Wonderful!" "You look different, you know?" " I do." "How?" "Until yesterday you were Helen Alderson, a simple country girl." "Now this morning you're transformed into the beautiful, fascinating Mrs James Herriot." "You are romantic this morning." "It's not every morning I find a new wife in my bed." "Never mind." "You'll enjoy this much more." "Are you in there, Mr Herriot?" "Yes, I think so." "What is it?" " Breakfast's ready." "Breakfast!" "Oh, no!" " Aren't you hungry?" "Not just now, James." " All right." "Leave it to me." "Oh." "There you are, Mr Herriot." " That's very kind of you but..." "I don't always do breakfast in bed, mind, but with this being your honeymoon, it's only right." "Yes." "But we weren't ready for it, you see." "Not ready for your breakfast?" "Whatever do you mean?" "We weren't quite ready for so delicious a breakfast." "That's what I mean." " Thank you, Mr Herriot." "It's nice to be appreciated." " I appreciate it very much." "Mrs awake, is she?" " Just about." "Still in bed?" " Yes but this will soon have her up." "The poor lassie's tired out, more than likely." "She is, rather." " Well, you know what they say." "Treat her right on first night and marriage will last without a fight." "No, I didn't know that." " Oh, aye." "You don't want to let that get cold now, do you?" "No, of course not." "Thank you." "Well, er..." "I'd better get downstairs." "Thank you." " Aye." "Well, if you can't beat them, you join them." "I think she feels sorry for us." "So do I!" "Mm!" " Oh, yes." "Ooh, delicious!" "Shall we eat, James?" " You try and stop me." "I'm sorry, Helen." "This isn't quite the honeymoon I'd planned." "Oh!" "It'll be wonderful." "Offering to test Ministry herds?" "I must have been mad." "I don't mind what we do, James, as long as I'm with you." "We'll be hard-pushed to find time to ourselves." "I'm a vet's wife." "I knew what I was letting myself in for." "You're marvellous." " Mm-hm." "And happy to be with a husband I love." "Oh, I love you, Helen." "Mm..." "James." " Mm?" "The plate." " Mm-hmm." "Yes." "Oh, please, not again!" "Are you in there, Mr Herriot?" "Just about, Mrs Burns." "Won't be a moment." "I thought you'd like a fresh pot of tea with your breakfast." "You read my mind." " Breakfast all right?" "Fine." " Mrs enjoying it too, is she?" "Perhaps you'd like to ask her." " Oh, no thank you, Mr Herriot." "Two's company, three's a crowd on these occasions, if you know what I mean." " Yes, I do." "Oh, and don't bother about bringing down the dishes." "Thank you, Mrs Burns." " If you'd like any hot water..." "You mustn't bother again." "It's no trouble, Mr Herriot." " Oh, but it is!" "We've had more than enough already, thank you, Mrs Burns." "Well, if you say so." " Yes, I do, Mrs Burns." "Aye." "Aye." "James... no messing about." "Busy, I see?" "I'm dealing with my correspondence." "There are things to be done before surgery." "No, Siegfried, everything's under control." "Damn!" "Have you seen that new length of calving rope?" "Top left-hand drawer." " Ah." "What do you mean?" "Siegfried, you know my exams are coming up." "Frightful, disgusting mess!" "Look at it!" "Look at it!" "Look at it!" "Look at it!" "How is this business to function with things in this state?" "What are you looking for?" "Stethoscope." "What do you think I'm looking for?" "Try under your coat." "Coat?" "Which coat?" " The coat you have on." "Why didn't you tell me before?" "You didn't ask." " Can't hang around here." "I've got a vast amount of work on." "I'll be back late." "You have to cope." "Before you go..." " I've got 15 visits to make, including two calvings, which means work, work, work." "Something you wouldn't know much about." "I'm trying to tell you that my exams are coming up but if you're not interested..." "Exams?" "What exams?" " My finals." "It'll mean spending a fortnight or so in Edinburgh." "A fortnight?" "Tristan, why didn't you tell me?" "I've been trying to!" " It's a fine time for exams." "James on honeymoon, you in Edinburgh." "How will I manage?" "James will be back and someone can take my place." "Oh, I suppose so." "I take it you've prepared for these exams." "I think so." " I've seen little evidence." "I've been working, you know." "No, I don't." "In any case, we'll soon find out." "I'm going to put you on an intensive course of revision." "That's awfully kind." "It's not my way of working, though." "Your way of working is one of the unsolved mysteries of our times." "You intend to succeed, don't you?" " Well, of course!" "Then succeed you shall, my boy." "Right?" "Leave it all to me." "Goodbye." "Mr Herriot!" " Morning, Mrs Allen." "Is something wrong, Mrs Allen?" "I didn't expect you." " Why is that?" "Mr Farnon said you were getting wed." "That's right." "We were married a few days ago." "Helen, my wife." " Pleased to meet you." "It's about time this fella got taken in hand." "Are you from these parts?" " Almost, Mrs Allen." "Heston Grange, near Earlsdale." "Well, I never!" "An Earlsdale lass is more than he deserves." "Nothing but the best, Mrs Allen." "I've come to read the tests that Mr Farnon did." "Read the tests?" " That's right." "Read tests?" "Muck about with cows on your honeymoon?" "Work stops for no man." "Well, not vets." "Aye, but not on poor lass's honeymoon." "Oh, don't worry about her, Mrs Allen." "She'll do as she's told." "If she knows what's good for her." "Got yourself a rum 'un there, lass." "Don't you worry about him, Mrs Allen." "I'll soon sort him out." "We'd better get on with it." " If you'll wait here," "I'll see if I can find my man." "That was wicked!" " What was?" "Teasing Mrs Allen like that." " There's no teasing about it." "You promised to love, honour and obey." "That's precisely what you'll do, especially obey." "I'll consider it if you agree to keep your part of the deal." "What's that?" " To cherish, protect... and worship." " Oh, that's no problem." "I'll show you." "James!" "Not here!" "Hello, Mr Allen." "Just come to read the tests on the cows." "Oh, aye?" " Yes." "I've brought my wife to help." "Helen, that's Mr Allen and that's Jack and Robbie." " Hello." "If you and Mrs Veterinary's ready, t'cows are through t'bottom field." "Right." "Well, we'll... we'll get on with it." "Right, then." "Now... fractures of special parts, the second phalanx." "The second phalanx?" " You heard." "And include in your answer fractures of the coffin and navicular bones." "Er... coffin and navicular." "Yes." "Well?" " I'm collecting my thoughts." "Heaven." " Don't be so impatient!" "Impatient?" "Me?" " Temper spoils my concentration." "Then for the Lord's sake stop being an ignoramus and get on with it." "I didn't ask for this inquisition!" " Oh, I see." "There's gratitude for getting your addled wits moving." "Either we take this test like the real thing or we pack it in." "I'm sorry." "It's just a bad case of pre-final nerves." "Hm?" "Well... yes." "Of course I understand." "I'll be all right on the day." " Come on, then." "Er... fractures of the second phalanx, including the coffin and the navicular" "Yes." "Fractures of these bones are rare, correct?" "More explicit, please." "Yes." "Er... caused by direct violence or yes, following a neurectomy." "Excellent." "Now, then." "Explain, please, what you know of listerella monocytogenes." "Listerella monocytogenes." " Must you repeat everything I say?" "It's irritating and won't endear you to the examiners." "I'm not a machine." "It's just me thinking out loud." "Tip 185." "Always think silently." "Silently." "Or they'll fail you out of sheer bad temper." "I've got it!" " Eureka!" "Listerella monocytogenes causes listeriosis." "Proceed." "Yes, er... attacks... rodents... ruminants, er... poultry... pigs..." "And..." " .." "And..." "You're doing it again." " .." "And man." "Precisely how I feel." "Result?" "Causes "ensephalitis"..." " Encephalitis - "kepha"." "..and abortion in cattle and sheep." "And..." " And... wait!" "Er... yes." "Meningitis in man." " The Lord be praised." "It's not information you just roll off." "It might if you spent more time with your books and less with a bottle." "Continue." " There's something else?" "You've just touched the surface." "A little knowledge is more dangerous than none at all." "What else do you want to know?" " Seasonal occurrence, means of infection, treatment." "Listeriosis occurs..." " Well?" "Hang on." "Is it spring and summer?" "Spring and winter." "Winter." "That's what I meant." " Then say what you mean." "How is the infection spread?" "Get a move on." "Examiners wait for no man." "Er... the infection spreads through milk... urine... faeces... aborted foetus." "Treatment." "Quickly, quickly." " Treatment!" "If you repeat that again it's what you'll need!" "But there is none." " Then for the Lord's sake, say so!" "There is no known treatment for listeriosis." "Heaven help the examiner." "Helen!" "James!" "Welcome." "Welcome home." "Helen, my dear, you look simply ravishing." "James, may I?" "Of course." " Thank you." "We had a wonderful time." " It was all right, was it?" "I wouldn't swap it for all the sun in the Mediterranean." "James, how did it go?" "Well, "Mrs Veterinary" and I took it all in our stride." "We got rid of all the herds on the list." "Marvellous." "I'd never have coped without you." "I've kept a bottle of malt specially for this occasion!" "Oh, yes, please." "Tristan, perhaps you'd fetch it for us?" "I think we should unpack first." "The farmers gave us enough food to keep the house going for a month." "Excellent." " I'll get the stuff." "Tristan, perhaps you'd help." "I'd like a word with James, if I may." "After you, Mrs Herriot." " So kind, Mr Farnon." "I'm sure you know where I've hidden that malt." "James." " Yes." "James, I confess I feel guilty about this whole tuberculin testing thing." "Don't." "We were willing volunteers." " Yes, I know." "But, er..." "I feel deeply grateful and shan't forget your sacrifice." "We could've been mining salt in Siberia for all we cared." "Then let's call the matter closed." " Exactly!" "There is just one thing we should mention." "Er... yes, James." " Erm... the partnership?" "What about it?" " It was a generous gesture." "I'm deeply grateful but you did spring it on me." "Shouldn't we have discussed it?" " What on earth for?" "It is what you want, isn't it?" " Yes." "But more than I expected." "Much more." "Are you sure you've done the right thing?" "Let me ask you a question, James." "Are you sure that it's what you want?" "Everything that goes with being a partner in a small country practice?" "Long hours, actual hardships, practically non-existent social life." "You forget the compensations." " What about the money?" "If you've any visions of wealth, forget them." "We will never be rich doing this job." "I know there are easier ways of making a living but I'll take my chances." " But think ahead, James." "At the best, if you can persuade people to pay their bills, you may make a halfway decent living for you and Helen." "But at the worst, at times like now, with millions of people out of work and in real need, well, if you can just manage to keep your head above water..." "It's true but the work's got to be done and I like doing it." "Why?" "Gratitude?" "Not all folk think of us as knights in shining armour." "A lot of people think we're expensive layabouts." "Parasites on the agricultural community." "We are only of use to them when things go wrong." "We are a necessary evil but they need us as much as we need them." "I don't give a damn what people think." "It's nice to be appreciated but my satisfaction comes from doing the job as well as I can with the means at my disposal." "Perhaps that's part of the fascination." "That's why I made you my partner." "Well, thank you, Siegfried." "No, think it less a gift, more a burden to be shared." "You're impossible." " Amen." "Come and get it." " Ah." "Thank you." "My dears." "Welcome home." "Mrs Hall!" "Where shall I dump this lot?" " In t'basket." "I'll burn 'em later." "I've been at Mr Farnon for years to let me clear that much." "I think we're winning now." "Good day to you, ladies." " Mr Farnon." "Siegfried, do you want to check my new filing system?" "What's she up to?" "Excellent." "Excellent." " Shouldn't you check?" "My dear, it's all in your capable hands." "Where's James?" "In the surgery." " Thank you." "Come along." "Ah, James." "There you are." "Do you know Angus Grier, the vet over at Broughton?" "Heard of him." " Take this cat to him." "It was his case before the owner moved to our district." "What's the matter with it?" " Bladder stones job." "I don't want Grier to think we poach." "Fair enough." " You'll find, er..." "Angus Grier quite an amusing old bird to meet." "He's a good vet but a mite touchy where youngsters like yourself are concerned." "You might have quite an interesting experience." "Ready for the off, Tristan?" "Give me five minutes to say goodbye and I'll be with you." "Fine." "I'll get the car ready." "You're off, then?" " To Edinburgh for my finals." "Reckon we'll have another vet in the family soon?" "That's the idea, yes." " I wish you all the best." "Thank you, Mrs Hall." "You noisy lot." "Well, I'm off." "Erm... take care, Siegfried." "I'll see you out." "Got everything you need?" " Yes, thanks." "Got digs arranged and such?" "It's all fixed up." " Uh-huh." "Erm..." "A little something to smooth the journey for you." "That's kind." "I don't..." " You'll miss your train." "Well, goodbye." "Good luck." " Thank you." "Shut up!" " Shut up, you lot!" "Mr Grier?" " Aye." "You'll be Herriot." "Yes." " Come in, laddie." "Thank you." "Clinton, second-year student." " Hello." "Pansy-looking lot we're getting in the profession these days." "How long have you been here?" " Over a month now." "He's away home tomorrow when he could be learning the ropes." "Then it's back to college, is it?" "No." "I promised my mother I'd spend a few days at home." "Can't stay away from the titty, can you, Clinton?" "Don't stand there." "Prepare the animal for surgery." "Yes, Edna?" " I tell him but does he listen?" "Day in, day out..." " What are you blethering about?" "Fires left burning all day, nothing ever done right." "Waste and yet more waste, day in, day out." "Will you not be ridiculous?" "And put the fire back on." "It's cold." "May be cold as he says but that's no excuse." "Fires burning all day." "Telephone going non-stop." "Food eaten day in, day out." "Where will it all end?" "Edna, this is not the time." "And that young man." " Me, Mrs Grier?" "What have you been up to, Clinton?" " Reading in bed late at night." "Lights burning, papers rustling, night after night." "I warned you about that." "I do have to swot, Mrs Grier." "He may have to swot but who has to pay the bill?" "Who has to make the sums balance at the end of the month?" "That's James Herriot, Edna." "He's in the profession." "Mr Farnon's partner from Darrowby." "Hello, Mrs Grier." " Pleased to meet him, I'm sure." "If you'll leave us, we've work to do." "We mustn't waste working time." "You'll watch fires?" " Yes." "Only dispense what's necessary." " Just leave it all to me, Edna." "Clinton!" "I told you to prepare that animal!" "Now, do as I say, do you hear?" " Yes, Mr Grier." "Married are you, Herriot?" " Yes." "Aye." "A man needs the support of a sound and reliable wife in this profession." " Oh, I agree." "Been with Farnon long, have you?" "About..." " Buy your way in, did you?" "That wasn't necessary." " Cunning young devil and no mistake!" "I'm not quite with you." " I've had clever fellas like you trying to smarm their way into the practice but I'm no Siegfried Farnon, you know." "That's quite obvious." " Don't you get smart with me." "Ready for surgery, Mr Grier." "Aye." "About time." "Care to watch, would you?" " Yes, if that's all right." "Watch closely, keep quiet and you might learn something." "Right, Clinton." "Put your lily-white hands to work and clean that lot up." "Me and Herriot have things to do." "I ought to get back to Darrowby." "Aye, you'll not want to move the animal till it comes to." "No." "No, of course not." "And we can't have you idling around the surgery." "Or is that the way you do things in Darrowby?" "What is it you'd like me to do, Mr Grier?" "I've got a tricky bit of business coming on one of the outlying farms." "In that case, of course I'll come." "Good lad." " What's the problem?" "Hm." "They've got a cow that's doing poorly." "Bad case of retained afterbirth." "That's a one-man job, isn't it, Mr Grier." "I wouldn't ask you for your help if I didn't need to." "Would I?" "If you're sure but I don't have any gear and I'm not dressed for it." "I've just remembered." "I've got something you can put on." "Er..." "You'll find your gear in the back." "There's nothing in the back, Mr Grier." "Open the box, laddie." "It's a calving outfit." "I got it a while back." "Just right for this kind of job." "Pretty heavy, isn't it?" "A mite heavy, but it'll keep you grand and clean." "Now stop fussing and get into it." "I'll call you when I want you." "Good day to you, Mr Grier." " Aye." "How is she, Mr Adderley?" "Not much use to her calf till she's up and about." "Don't worry." "Soon have her to rights." "I've even brought along a colleague of mine, a specialist in these matters." "Another specialist, eh?" "Close!" "Close, dammit!" "We're about ready for the specialist, Mr Adderley." "Give him a shout, would you?" "Hello." "You're wanted in here, mister." "It's snug on you, Herriot." "It's a bit too snug, Mr Grier." "What do you think of my colleague, Mr Adderley?" "I've not seen owt like it before." "This specialist fellow looks like business, Mr Grier." "Consider yourself privileged to see modern veterinary practice at work." "Progress, Mr Grier." "It's amazing." "What you chaps will come up with next." "Aye." "This smart fella has come here to show an old-fashioned dodderer like me how to attend to your cow." "Am I right, Herriot?" "Tell me what you want me to do." "This suit's none too comfortable." "Right you are, Herriot." "If you'd be so kind as to pass yon pessary now." "Pass yon pessary?" "Aye." "The P-E-S-S-A-R-Y." "If you please." "I do know what a pessary is." " Then pass it, laddie." "If you don't mind." "Now, ain't that something?" "Er..." "Tolly, Mr Adderley, kindly assist Mr Herriot to his feet, if you will." "Thank you." "And now the pessary, if you please, Herriot." "Thank you." "Kind of you, Herriot." "Aye, most kind." "What else do you want me to do, Mr Grier?" "Do?" "I don't take your meaning, laddie." "You've got me into this... thing for some reason, haven't you?" "I sure have." "And you've done it." "Thank you, laddie." "Thank you kindly for your expert help." "Come on, come on, come on." "Double bezique." "I was wondering where those cards were hiding." "Well, now you know." " Why not show them separately?" "I wanted to see your face when I put them all down." "If I'd known James was marrying a sadist..." "Another 500 points, if you please, Siegfried." "From now on, I shall show no mercy." "Must be James." "Never mind." "I can wait." " Hello, darling." "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine." "Now, then, James." " Thank you." "How was your day with Grier?" "That vindictive old devil." "Don't talk about him." "Didn't hit it off?" " You knew I wouldn't." "Why didn't you tell me?" "I said he had an odd attitude towards younger colleagues." "The understatement of the year!" "Hell for young vets must surely be working for him." "If I never see him again it'll be too soon." "Never mind." "Another thread in the tapestry of your life." "Whisky." "Thank you." "You're looking pleased with yourself." "It can't be his good fortune at bezique, I thrashed him." "I'm allowing her the illusion of victory." "My mind's on other matters." "To be precise, on Tristan's replacement." "Oh, yes." "I meant to ask you about that." "With Tristan here we were busy." "Now it'll be murder." "Precisely my feelings, James." "That's why I've done something." "We'll have a student here." "Helen, have you seen that letter lately?" "It's in the Ministry file, marked "Current"." "James, your wife shows such talent for organisation." "Our paperwork's never been in such good order." "Yes, here it is." "Now, then." "He's a young fellow called Carmody." "Richard Carmody." "Wilson, the Ministry man, recommends him very highly." "Any experience of rural work?" "No, just town and mixed." "But he seems a bright lad." "Final year London, all that." "He arrives tomorrow." " He wants picking up?" "No, he doesn't." "He's booked into the Reniston for the duration." "The Reniston?" "What sort of student can afford to stay there?" "No ordinary one." "Good morning." "My name is Carmody." "Oh, Mr Carmody, won't you come in?" " Thank you." "I'm Mrs Herriot." "Mr Farnon and my husband are expecting you." "Siegfried, James, Richard Carmody is here." "Ah!" "Well done!" "Siegfried Farnon." "How do you do?" " Mr Farnon." "This is my partner, James Herriot." " Hello, Carmody." "Well, all settled in, I trust?" "Quite settled in." " How is the Reniston?" "It serves its purpose." "I'm sure you'll enjoy it." " I think so." "Good." "Excellent." "I'm delighted to have met you." "I'll leave my colleague to show you the ropes." "Of course, Mr Farnon." "Goodbye." " Bye!" "This is the first time you've seen country work?" "No, I spend summers on the family estate in Berkshire." "Hardly the Yorkshire Dales." "Obviously." "But one farm is pretty much like another." "Hm, perhaps." "Anyway, this is the surgery." "So I see." "Instrument cupboard there." " Yes, quite." "And we do our dispensing here." "Adrivan?" " Yes." "Still using it?" " It's the best we've got." "New compounds made it extinct." " They cost five times as much." "To farmers, money's most important." " Quite." "Well, I trust our little tour is over." "So when do we commence work?" "Morning surgery starts in half an hour." "Small animal stuff?" " Yes." "I was hoping to focus on larger work." "Don't worry, Carmody." "You'll see plenty of that." "You'll need protective clothing." " Yes, quite." "Galoshes are not very efficient for this kind of work." "I'll manage, Mr Herriot." "Suit yourself." "Hello, Mr Earnshaw." " Afternoon, Veterinary." "The little fella's been limping summat bad." "He's got joint ill." "It's an infection through the navel after birth." "You reckon you can fix him up, do you?" "We've caught it in plenty of time." "I'm sure he'll be fine." "Just get my things from the car." "Excuse me." "Here you are, Mr Earnshaw." "One of those three times a day." "Right." "She's gone down t'nick ever since she calved." "I reckon meself she's fit for nowt but dog meat." "Yes, she looks bad, all right." "Keeping her in conditions like that hasn't exactly helped." "I can't keep her with t'other beasts." "Not if she's got summat catching." "Well, let's have a look at her." "Went off her cake first, did she?" "Aye, that's right." " Lost weight rapidly?" "Never seen a cow go down so fast." "I see." "Well, you can stop worrying, Mr Smith." "She's got nothing infectious." "It's slow fever." "Is it?" "!" "Had a day of it, I see." " You could say that, yes." "How did you find it, Carmody?" " Interesting." "Far cry from the work you're used to?" "It's the approach to it I find intriguing." "Oh?" "In what way?" " This is not the time or place." "Praise or criticism, all alike to us, aren't they?" "Of course." " I had a few points to clear up." "What points?" " Excuse me a moment." "That calf we saw." " Mr Earnshaw's." "What about it?" "You diagnosed joint ill." " Yes." "You were mistaken." " How do you get that?" "There was only one joint involved - the knee." "That's all it takes." " But the navel was dry." "So what is your diagnosis?" " A sprained knee." "The calf's temperature was 105, high for a sprained knee." "Did you check for other signs?" " It wasn't necessary." "That calf could have had any number of things wrong with it which might explain its high temperature." "But we can agree to differ." " Yes, you can." "I call round one even." "Anything else, Carmody?" "Just one more point." " Oh, yes?" "That cow of Mr Smith's." "You said it had contracted... what was it?" "Ah, yes." "Slow fever." " Yes, yes, yes." "You meant acetonemia?" " Slow fever is the local name." "So I gathered." "Acetonemia is one of my areas of interest." "Any conclusions as to its causes?" "Obviously it had to do with liver dysfunction." "Yes, but the cause of that interests me." "Siegfried is the theorist around here, aren't you?" "What?" "Quite." "Yes." "Acetonemia." "Well..." "I agree really with what James said." "And the fact that it occurs in cattle within three weeks of calving is, er... significant." "But the causes of the failure..." " I'd be interested in your views." "I can't decide which theory I endorse at the moment." "Stevens maintains it is oxidisation of the fatty acids." "Others lean towards liver intoxication." "My own view is that if we can pinpoint the exact cause of the production of diacetic and beta-oxybutyric acids, we'd be on the way to solving the problem." "Yes." " That's all my notes for now." "Excuse me." "I've arranged to dine at the Reniston." "Good night, gentlemen."