[Well, it is true that said "mockery" usually managed to push his buttons. Not that it's difficult to do or anything...]

Mockery? Don't know if I'd go that far. I mean, I'm pretty sure the only reason they gave you a hard time was to see how you'd react, Mr. Asch. Otherwise why would they have bothered hanging around for so long? [After Asch quit paying them, even. Not like there was any promise of that IOU being fulfilled, either.] They like you.

Besides, it seems like it'd be boring to sit up in the clinic all day.