Drake takes in all those passionate words, turning them over in his mind. He knew that Jackson hadn't been at his best that day, but he'd put it down to his knees first. But now that he thinks on it, he realises how unnatural Jackson's attraction to the laudanum had been, how he's always seemed a little more than drunk when Drake's pulled him out of gutters.

"It weren't your fault," Drake says stubbornly. "You're a good doctor - the best."