Pieter winced in sympathy for Mr Waite. Even he could tell that now was not the time for a wry remark. Were he the honest, idealistic type, he might have made the same mistake. He was not against the truth, in principle... but there was a time and place for it, and this was not it.

He got up to tell Mrs Hofstadter, softly: "I'm going to bed, but if there's any change in your husband's condition, for the better or worse, don't hesitate to wake me up."

He himself doubted there was anything more he could do for the sick man, but as long as the woman believed he knew what he was doing, she would not give in to despair.

Am I giving her false hope?