"
The doctor sat quite still for a moment. He was in a condition
when speech was difficult. Then his eyes fell upon his tumbler of
whiskey and soda still half filled. He emptied it at a draught.
"A thousand guineas!" he repeated hoarsely.
"I trust that you will find the sum attractive," the Prince said
smoothly, "because, as I have warned you before, there are one or
two curious conditions coupled with the post."
"I don't care what the conditions are," the doctor said slowly.
"I accept!"
The Prince nodded.
"You are the man I thought you were, doctor," he said. "The first
condition, then, is this. You see the sitting room we are now
in--a pleasant little apartment, I think,--books, you see,
papers, a smoking cabinet in which I can assure you that you will
find the finest Havana cigars and the best cigarettes to be
procured in London. Through here"--the Prince threw open an inner
door--"is a small sleeping apartment. It has, as you see, the
same outlook. It is comfortable if not luxurious."
The doctor sighed.
"I am not used to luxury," he said.
"These two rooms will be yours," the Prince announced, "and the
first condition of our arrangement is that until two months are
up, or our engagement is finished, you do not leave them."
The doctor stared at him blankly.
"Are you in earnest, sir?" he asked.
"In absolute earnest," the Prince assured him. "Not only that,
but I require you to keep your whereabouts, until after the
period of time I have mentioned, an entire secret from every one.
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