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you are still casting a lecherous eye over every serving maid whose mistress is fool enough to send her here. But were you not well on your way to a doctor’s qualifications when I left Glasgow?’
    The apothecary stepped quickly around the counter and closed the door to the shop, pulling down the blind. Then he advanced upon Adam and grasped him in an embrace that would have done justice to any bear.
    ‘There,’ he said. ‘I have closed my shop and we may retire to my parlour to talk properly. I want to know all about your adventures in the United Provinces. As for my own story, it will prove familiar enough. Still, I own that what once seemed the worst of fortunes has proved to be nothing of the kind.’

    T he two men were soon seated in a comfortable parlour, each holding a glass of punch, which had been served by a well-dressed and attentive maidservant.
    ‘You are not married, Lassimer, I think,’ Adam said, after tasting the punch and nodding his head in pleasure. ‘The looks that passed between you and your maid would have quickly drawn the ire of any wife.’
    ‘Married?’ Lassimer said. ‘Nay, sir, that is a yoke to which I will long be loathe to bend my neck. For who would settle for a single wine when he might taste of as many of those that are on offer as his stomach – and his fortune – may bear. Unless, of course, he spurns the native beauties of his own land to seek out exotic beauties from over the seas.’
    ‘I am not sure that I would allow any exotic beauty to make your acquaintance, sir,’ Adam said. ‘Not only would you turn her head with outrageous flattery, but would soon win her away from a dull dog like me.’
    ‘You may rest easy, my friend,’ Lassimer said. ‘You are no dull dog. But are you not wed?’
    ‘Indeed not. I am too poor, my friend. Besides, like you, I value my freedom to do as I wish, though perhaps not in quite the same way.’
    ‘Yet I am sure you do not lack female company, Bascom. At Glasgow, as I recall, you had your pleasure of many a Scottish lass. Indeed, there was sometimes quite a queue.'
    ‘Do not mock me, old friend. You make me sound a veritable terror to the fair sex.’
    ‘As you were. I speak only the truth.’
    ‘Nay,’ Adam said. ‘Not even then and certainly not now. Am I not a grave physician, devoted only to my books and patients?’
    ‘I pray that is not so,’ Lassimer said, laughing. ‘But if you do lack for suitable diversions, I will be happy to supply you with the names of several lusty widows of my acquaintance. One man alone can do only so much. I would welcome assistance to lessen the demands placed upon me.’
    ‘Lassimer,!’ Adam said. ‘You are as given to boasting of your exploits now as you ever were. I can find all the ladies I need by my own efforts, thank you.’
    If that was not strictly true, it would suffice. He did not doubt Lassimer would arouse a fury of speculation and gossip if he did as he promised. What husband would then trust Adam to attend on his wife? What father would trust him to treat his sick daughter? ‘Enough of such nonsense, sir. I never expected to find you an apothecary, and in Norfolk too. Still, I am in no doubt that you are an excellent practitioner of your art, and much valued by your customers.’
    ‘Yet are you not well upon your way to fame and fortune as a physician of note,’ Lassimer said, ‘while I will languish in this small town for the rest of my days?’
    ‘Fame I care about little. Fortune would be enough. But now, sir. You promised me an answer to my question on how you came to be here. You say you met misfortune. Yet here you are, frightening the grave virgins of this county and in possession of what I see to be a fine house and shop.’
    ‘My tale is soon related,’ Lassimer said, his levity gone for the moment. ‘I was set upon my way to obtaining my degree at the university. I proceeded more slowly than yourself, for I lack both your fine brain and the education you