A week later, Von Cohn Morris, one of Dick's patients, was packing up and left with his parents. Mr. Morris told Dick that it was time for him and the others to leave. He told Dick that his clinic had been a waste of his time and money. Dr. Ladislau, who Dick had never liked, had seen Mr. Morris because Dick could not be found. Von Cohn's father started yelling at Dick, telling him that his son, who was there for alcoholism, had smelt liquor on Dick's breath two times in the past month. Dick defended himself, not believing that he should have to give up something he enjoys. He also commented that Von Cohn was there for kleptomania. Dick asked Dr. Ladislau to say goodbye to Von Cohn and his family.
As he watched them drive away, Dick thought about how much he drank--a drink with each meal, a nightcap, and sometimes some gin during the day. Dick realized this is too much and he tried to think of ways to cut his liquor consumption in half. As he was doing this, Franz returned from his trip to Mount Everest. Dick told him about the Morris boy leaving, and Franz said that Ladislau had already told him and he asked Dick why he left. Dick tells him it was for "the usual incoherent reasons". Franz asked Dick if they should keep Ladislau. Dick told Franz that when Mr. Morris accused him of being a drunkard, Ladislau did nothing to help the situation. Although Dick denied having an alcohol problem, Franz said that he has noticed Dick drinking at inappropriate times and suggested that Dick may need a leave of absence. Dick did not see this as a solution and was upset with the situation, and kept thinking: "to explain, to patch--these were not natural functions at their age--better to continue with the cracked echo of an old truth in the ears." Book 3, Chapter 2, pg. 256 Dick told Franz that he wanted to leave the clinic for good, and Franz agreed, saying that he had expected this and that he could give Dick back all of Nicole's money by the end of the year. Dick felt a sense of relief. "Not without desperation he had long felt the ethics of his profession dissolving into a lifeless mass." Book 3, Chapter 3, pg. 256
