From "The Medic's Tale" I'd assumed Dr. Patel gave up the coffee mug because he felt guilty. I'm probably not the only one who thought that.

I thought that, too, perhaps because the Medic is kind and slightly naive. So I was prepared to give Dr. Patel the benefit of the doubt when he walked into the interview room in the back of my head, but he insisted on showing his true colors.

An interesting detail about the Master, too -- for all his abuse of, and hate for, the Doctor, he still respected him.

Whatever else the Master may think of his enemy, he cannot forget that the Doctor is a Time Lord. And Patel, however useful he may be, is only a human.