The Illustrious PrinceOppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
General
The Illustrious Prince
Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Detective and mystery stories; Princes -- Fiction
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.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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