按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in search is brought to justice or not。 All that I wish to hear from you is whether or not you accept my offer。〃
The Inspector shook his head。
〃Prince；〃 he said； 〃there can be no question about that。 I thank you very much for it； but I must decline。〃
〃Your mind is quite made up？〃 the Prince asked regretfully。
〃Quite；〃 the Inspector said firmly。
〃Japan；〃 the Prince said thoughtfully； 〃is a pleasant country。〃
〃London suits me moderately well；〃 Inspector Jacks declared。
〃Under certain conditions；〃 the Prince continued； 〃I should have imagined that the climate here might prove most unhealthy for you。 You must remember that I was a witness of your slight indisposition the other day。〃
〃In my profession； sir；〃 the detective said； 〃we must take our risks。〃
The Prince came to a standstill。 They were at the parting of the ways。
〃I am very sorry；〃 he said simply。 〃It was a great post； and it was one which you would have filled well。 It is not for me； however； to press the matter。〃
〃It would make no difference； sir；〃 the detective answered。
The Prince was on the point of moving away。
〃I shall not seek in any case to persuade you；〃 he said。 〃My offer remains open if you should change your mind。 Think； too； over what I have said about our climate。 At your time of life； Mr。 Inspector Jacks； and particularly at this season of the year； one should be careful。 A sea voyage now would； I am convinced； be the very thing for you。 Good day； Mr。 Jacks！〃
The Prince turned towards Buckingham Palace； and the Inspector slowly retraced his steps。
〃It is a bribe！〃 he muttered to himself slowly；〃a cleverly offered bribe！ Thirty thousand pounds to forget the little I have learned！ Thirty thousand pounds for silence！〃
CHAPTER XXV。 HOBSON'S CHOICE
There were some days when the absence of patients seemed to Dr。 Spencer Whiles a thing almost insupportable。 Too late he began to realize that he had set up in the wrong neighborhood。 In years to come； he reflected gloomily； when the great building estate which was to have been developed more than a year ago was really opened up； there might be an opportunity where he was； a very excellent opportunity； too； for a young doctor of ability。 Just now； however； the outlook was almost hopeless。 He found himself even looking eagerly forward every day for another visit from Mr。 Inspector Jacks。 Another trip to town would mean a peep into the world of luxury； whose doors were so closely barred against him； and； what was more important still； it would mean a fee which would keep the wolf from the door for another week。 It had come to that with Dr。 Whiles。 His little stock of savings was exhausted。 Unless something turned up within the course of the next few weeks； he knew very well that there was nothing left for him to do but to slip away quietly into the embrace of the more shady parts of the great city； to find a situation somewhere； somehow； beyond the ken of the disappointed creditors whom he would leave behind。
Mr。 Inspector Jacks； however； had apparently no further use； for the present at any rate； for his medical friend。 On the other hand； Dr。 Spencer Whiles was not left wholly to himself。 On the fourth day after his visit to London a motor car drew up outside his modest surgery door； and with an excitement which he found it almost impossible to conceal； he saw a plainly dressed young man； evidently a foreigner and； he believed； a Japanese； descend and ring the patients' bell。 The doctor had dismissed his boy a week ago； from sheer inability to pay his modest wages； and he did not hesitate for a moment about opening the door himself。 The man outside raised his hat and made him a sweeping bow。
〃It is Dr。 Spencer Whiles？〃 he asked。
The doctor admitted the fact and invited his visitor to enter。
〃It is here； perhaps；〃 the latter continued； 〃that a gentleman who was riding a bicycle and was run into by a motor car； was brought after the accident and treated so skilfully？〃
〃That is so；〃 Dr。 Whiles admitted。 〃There was nothing much the matter with him。 He had rather a narrow escape。〃
〃I am that gentleman's servant；〃 the visitor continued with a bland smile。 〃He has sent me down here to see you。 The leg which was injured is perfectly well； but there was a pain in the side of which he spoke to you； which has not disappeared。 This morning； in fact； it is worse；much worse。 My master； therefore； has sent me to you。 He begs that if it is not inconvenient you will return with me at once and examine him。〃
The doctor drew a little breath。 This might mean another week or so of respite！
〃Where does your master live？〃 he asked the man。
〃In the West end of London； sir；〃 was the reply。 〃The Square of St。 James it is called。〃
Dr。 Whiles glanced at his watch。
〃It will take me some time to go there with you；〃 he said； 〃and I shall have to arrange with a friend to treat any other patients。 Do you think your master will understand that I shall need an increased fee？〃
〃My master desired me to say；〃 the other answered； 〃that he would be prepared to pay any fee you cared to mention。 Money is not of account with him。 He has not had occasion to seek medical advice in London； and as he is leaving very soon； he did not wish to send for a strange physician。 He remembered with gratitude your care of him； and he sends for you〃
〃That's all right；〃 Dr。 Whiles declared； 〃so long as it's understood。 You'll excuse me for a moment while I write a note； and I'll come along。〃
Dr。 Whiles had no note to write； but he made a few changes in his toilet which somewhat improved his appearance。 In due course he reappeared and was rapidly whirled up to London； the sole passenger in the magnificent car。 The man who had brought him the message from his quondam patient was sitting in front； next the chauffeur； so Dr。 Whiles had no opportunity of asking him for any information concerning his master。 Nor did the car itself slacken speed until it drew up before the door of the large corner house in St。 James' Square。 A footman in dark livery came running out； a butler bowed upon the steps。 Dr。 Spencer Whiles was immensely impressed。 The servants were all Japanese； but their livery and manners were faultless。 He made his way into the hall and followed the butler up the broad stairs。
〃My master；〃 the latter explained； 〃will receive you very shortly。 He is but party dressed at present。〃
Dr。 Spencer Whiles came of a family of successful tradespeople； and he was not used to such quiet magnificence as was everywhere displayed。 Yet； with it all； there seemed to him to be an air of gloom about the place； something almost mysterious in the silence of the thick carpets； the subdued voices； and the absence of maidservants。 The house itself was apparently an old one。 He noticed that the doors were very heavy and thick； the corridors roomy； the absence of light almost remarkable。 The apartment into which he was shown； however； came as a pleasant surprise。 It was small； but delightfully furnished in the most modern fashion。 Its only drawback was that it looked out upon a blank wall。
〃My master will come to you in a few minutes；〃 the butler announced。 〃What refreshments may I have the honor of serving？〃
Dr。 Whiles waved aside the invitation；he would at any rate remain professional。 The man withdrew； and almost immediately afterwards Prince Maiyo entered the room。 The doctor rose to his feet with a little thrill of excitement。 The Prince held out his hand。
〃I am very pleased to see you again； doctor；〃 he said。 〃You looked after me so well last time that I was afraid I should have no excuse for sending for you。〃
〃I am glad to find that you are not suffering；〃 the doctor answered。 〃I understood from your servant that you were feeling a good deal of pain in the side。〃
〃It troubles me at times；〃 the Prince admitted； drawing a chair up towards his visitor；〃just sufficiently； perhaps； to give me the excuse of seeking a little conversation with you。 You must let me offer you something after your ride。〃
〃You are very good；〃 the doctor answered。 〃Perhaps I had better examine you first。〃
The Prince rang the bell and waved aside the suggestion。
〃That；〃 he said； 〃can wait。 In my country； you know； we do not consider that a guest is properly treated unless he partakes of our hospitality the moment he crosses the threshold。 The whiskey and soda water；〃 he ordered of the butler who appeared at the door。 〃We will talk of my ailments；〃 the Prince continued； 〃in a moment or two。 Tell me what you thought of that marvellous restaurant where I saw you the other morning？〃
The doctor drew a little breath。
〃It was you； then！〃 he exclaimed。
〃But naturally；〃 the Prince murmured。 〃I took it for granted that you would recognize me。〃
The doctor found some difficulty in proceeding。 He was trying to imagine the cousin of an Emperor riding a bicycle along a country road； staggering into his surgery at midnight； covered with dust； inarticulate； pointing only to the wounds beneath his cheap clothes！
〃Nothing；〃 the Prince continued easily； 〃has impressed me more in your country than the splendor of your restaurants。 You see； that side of your life represents something we are altogether ignorant of i