"I've never even handled a divorce case," Chotas was confiding in an embarrassed voice, "so I'll have to defer to your expertise."
The old lawyer was caving in completely. It would make an even better story than Minos had anticipated.
"I'll bet you keep very busy," Chotas said.
"I have as many cases as I can handle."
"As many as you can handle!" There was open admiration in Napoleon Chotas' voice.
"Sometimes more."
Peter Demonides looked down at the floor, unable to watch what was happening.
Chotas' voice took on an awed tone. "I don't want to pry into your personal business, Mr. Minos, but as a matter of professional curiosity, how many clients would you say walk through your door in a year?"
"Well, that's pretty difficult to say."
"Come on now, Mr. Minos. Don't be modest. Make a guess."
"Oh, I suppose two hundred. That's an approximation, you understand."
"Two hundred divorces a year! The paper work alone must be staggering."
"Well, there aren't actually two hundred divorces."
Chotas rubbed his chin, perplexed. "What?"
"They're not all divorces."
A puzzled look came over Chotas' face. "Didn't you say that you only handled divorce cases?"
"Yes, but--" Minos' voice wavered.
"But what?" Chotas asked in bewilderment.
"Well, what I mean is, they don't all get divorced."
"But isn't that why they come to see you?"
"Yes, but some of them--well--change their minds for one reason or another."
Chotas nodded in sudden understanding. "Ah! You mean there's a reconciliation or something of the sort?"
"Exactly," Minos said.
"So that what you're saying is that--what?--ten percent don't bother to go through with the divorce action?"
Minos shifted in his chair uneasily. "The percentage is a bit higher."
"How much higher? Fifteen percent? Twenty?"
"Closer to forty."
Napoleon Chotas stared at him in amazement. "Mr. Minos, are you telling us that almost half the people who come to see you decide not to get a divorce?"
"Yes."
Tiny beads of sweat were popping out on Minos' forehead. He turned to look at Peter Demonides, but Demonides was studiously concentrating on a crack in the floor.