“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 in Japan.” “It is a very wonderful place,” the doctor admitted. “We had luncheon, my friend and I, in the grillroom, but we came for a few minutes into the foyer to watch the people from the restaurant.” The Prince nodded genially. “By the bye,” he remarked, “it is strange that my very good friend--Mr. Inspector Jacks--should also be a friend of yours.” “He is scarcely that,” the doctor objected. “I have known him for a very short time.” The Prince raised his eyebrows. The whiskey and soda were brought, and the doctor helped himself. How curiously deficient these Westerners were, the Prince thought, in every instinct of duplicity! As clearly as possible the doctor had revealed the fact that his acquaintance with Inspector Jacks was of precisely that nature which might have been expected. The Prince sighed. There was but one course open to him. “Now, Dr. Whiles,” he said, “I will tell you something. You must listen to me very carefully, please. I sent for you not so much on account of any immediate pain but because my general health has been giving me a little trouble lately. I have come to the conclusion that I require the services of a medical attendant always at hand.” The doctor looked at his prospective patient skeptically. “You have not the appearance,” he remarked, “of being in ill health.” “Perhaps not,” the Prince answered. “Perhaps even, there is not for the moment very much the matter with me. One has humors, you know, my dear doctor. I have a somewhat large suite here with me in England, but I do not number amongst them a physician. I wanted to ask you to accept that position in my household for two months.” “Do you mean come and live here?” the doctor asked.