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