Erik Van Rijn wrote:"Professor Erik van Rijn," van Rijn replies, offering Hartly his hand. "I am afraid it is Life that I am sick with, and I am not sure I would care to be cured of it."
"Indeed, who does?" murmurs Crow, and his gray eyes look distant for a heartbeat. Then he blinks away the moment's passing fugue, executes a bow to the ailing guest-speaker, and rises with his notebook and pen in hand.
"Might you do me the courtesy, Professor, of indulging a minor pecadillo of mine? I collect the signatures of experts whose knowledge has added to my own meager supply. 'Autographs', they're called in certain circles. It aids the memory of the speech, in my experience, to have such a memento of the speaker ... and I'm sure your discourse will be well worth the recollection.
"When you're well enough to take the time, of course."