Summary

Harley Street – The narrator, Miss Todd, is a receptionist and secretary at a doctor’s office on Harley Street. She seems to like to know everything she can about everyone. She is friends with Bettina, who works in the basement office taking blood samples from patients. Bettina isn’t always thrilled with her work, and she is even less thrilled with her attempts at dating. The patients, most of them from Harley Street, are not always happy with the prices charged by Dr. Shinbone, so nicknamed for the kind of work he does. All the doctors in the building receive nicknames based on what they do. Shinbone’s patients always seem to be pale and thin. Mrs. Bathurst, who also works at the doctor’s office, is also pale and tall.

One evening, Mrs. Bathurst, Miss Todd, and Bettina...