Inspector Jacks studied the brass plate for a moment, and then rang the patients' bell. The former, he noticed was very much in want of cleaning, and for a doctor's residence there was a certain lack of smartness about the house and its appointments which betokened a limited practice. The railing in front was broken, and no pretence had been made at keeping the garden in order. Inspector Jacks had time to notice these things, for it was not until after his second summons that the door was opened by Dr. Whiles himself.
"Good morning!" the latter said tentatively. Then, with a slight air of disappointment, he recognized his visitor.
"Good morning, doctor!" Inspector Jacks replied. "You haven't forgotten me, I hope? I came down to see you a short time ago, respecting the man who was knocked down by a motor car and treated by you on a certain evening."The doctor nodded.
"Will you come in?" he asked.
He led the way into a somewhat dingy waiting room. A copy of the FIELD, a month old, a dog-eared magazine, and a bound volume of GOOD WORDS were spread upon the table. The room itself, except for a few chairs, was practically bare.
"I do not wish to take up too much of your time, Dr. Whiles," the Inspector began,--The doctor laughed shortly.
"You needn't bother about that," he said. "I'm tired of making a bluff. My time isn't any too well occupied."The Inspector glanced at his watch,--it was a few minutes past twelve.
"If you are really not busy," he said, "I was about to suggest to you that you should come back to town with me and lunch. I do not expect, of course, to take up your day for nothing," he continued. "You will understand, as a professional man, that when your services are required by the authorities, they expect and are willing to pay for them.""But what use can I be to you?" the doctor asked. "You know all about the man whom I fixed up on the night of the murder. There's nothing more to tell you about that. I'd as soon go up to town and lunch with you as not, but if you think that I've anything more to tell you, you'll only be disappointed."The Inspector nodded.
"I'm quite content to run the risk of that," he said. "Of course," he continued, "it does not follow in the least that this person was in any way connected with the murder. In fact, so far as I can tell at present, the chances are very much against it.
But at the same time it would interest my chief if you were able to identify him."The doctor nodded.
"I begin to understand," he said.
"If you will consider a day spent up in town equivalent to the treatment of twenty-five patients at your ordinary scale,"Inspector Jacks said, "I shall be glad if you would accompany me there by the next train. We will lunch together first, and look for our friend later in the afternoon."The doctor did not attempt to conceal the fact that he found this suggestion entirely satisfactory. In less than half an hour, the two men were on their way to town.
Curiously enough, Penelope and Prince Maiyo met that morning for the first time in several days. They were both guests of the Duchess of Devenham at a large luncheon party at the Savoy Restaurant. Penelope felt a little shiver when she saw him coming down the stairs. Somehow or other, she had dreaded this meeting, yet when it came, she knew that it was a relief. There was no change in his manner, no trace of anxiety in his smooth, unruffled face. He seemed, if possible, to have grown younger, to walk more buoyantly. His eyes met hers frankly, his smile was wholly unembarrassed. It was not possible for a man to bear himself thus who stood beneath the great shadow!
So far from avoiding her, he came over to her side directly he had greeted his hostess.
"This morning," he said, "I heard some good news. You are to be a fellow guest at Devenham.""I am afraid," she admitted, "that of my two aunts I impose most frequently upon the one where my claims are the slightest. The Duchess is so good-natured.""She is charming," the Prince declared. "I am looking forward to my visit immensely. I think I am a little weary of London. Avisit to the country seems to me most delightful. They tell me, too, that your spring gardens are wonderful. What London suffers from, I think, at this time of the year, is a lack of flowers. We want something to remind us that the spring is coming, besides these occasional gleams of blue sky and very occasional bursts of sunshine.""You are a sentimentalist, Prince," she declared, smiling.
"No, I think not," he answered seriously. "I love all beautiful things. I think that there are many men as well as women who are like that. Shall I be very rude and say that in the matter of climate and flowers one grows, perhaps, to expect a little more in my own country."An uncontrollable impulse moved her. She leaned a little towards him.
"Climate and flowers only?" she murmured. "What about the third essential?""Miss Penelope," he said under his breath, "I have to admit that one must travel further afield for Heaven's greatest gift. Even then one can only worship. The stars are denied to us."The Duchess came sailing over to them.
"Every one is here," she said. "I hope that you are all hungry.
After lunch, Prince, I want you to speak to General Sherrif. He has been dying to meet you, to talk over your campaign together in Manchuria. There's another man who is anxious to meet you, too,--Professor Spenlove. He has been to Japan for a month, and thinks about writing a book on your customs. I believe he looks to you to correct his impressions.""So long as he does not ask me to correct his proofs!" the Prince murmured.
