A pioneering cardiologist was in such demand to talk about his breakthrough discovery that he was paid fifty thousand dollars to present it before a convention of his peers. After being asked to do several more presentations for a similar fee, he quickly realized that it was more lucrative to go on the medical lecture circuit than to continue as a working surgeon. So he decided to concentrate on the lectures full-time. To make the incessant touring more pleasurable, he bought a limousine and hired a chauffeur.

Six months into the new career, his chauffeur turned to him and said: 'It's not fair this . ..'

'What do you mean?' asked the surgeon.

'Well, you get fifty thousand dollars every time you give a lecture, and that's more than I get paid in a whole year.'

The surgeon tried to justify himself by explaining that the groundbreaking process he had discovered was extremely complex and that only he could deliver the lecture.

'That's nonsense,' said the driver. 'I could do your lecture. I've seen you give it so many times that I know it by heart.'

'All right then,' agreed the surgeon. 'I'll let you do the next lecture and you can keep the fifty thousand. Is that fair?'

The chauffeur said: 'Right. You're on.'

So on arrival at the lecture hall, the surgeon and the driver exchanged jackets. While the driver went up on stage to deliver the lecture, the surgeon, wearing the driver's cap, sat quietly at the rear of the hall.

The chauffeur was not only word perfect with the lecture but he also managed to field every question without the slightest problem. But just as he was about to wind the afternoon up, a medical geek in the audience stumped him with a really difficult question. Rather than admit not knowing the answer, the driver remained commendably calm. 'You know,' he said, 'I have done this lecture over two hundred and fifty times, and I have never been asked such a stupid question. As a matter of fact, that question is SO stupid that I am going to let my driver answer it.'