As the exceptional yachtsman was making his waydown the precarious sidewalk of the Street of the HolySepulchre， the solitary permanent guest of that decayinghotel sat at its door， enjoying the breeze from the sea.
Doctor Gregg， the quarantine physician， was a manof fifty or sixty， with a florid face and the longest beardbetween Topeka and Terra del Fuego. He held his positionby virtue of an appointment by the Board of Health of aseaport city in one of the Southern states. That city fearedthe ancient enemy of every Southern seaport—the yellowfever—and it was the duty of Doctor Gregg to examinecrew and passengers of every vessel leaving Coralio forpreliminary symptoms. The duties were light， and thesalary， for one who lived in Coralio， ample. Surplus timethere was in plenty； and the good doctor added to hisgains by a large private practice among the residents of thecoast. The fact that he did not know ten words of Spanishwas no obstacle； a pulse could be felt and a fee collectedwithout one being a linguist. Add to the descriptionthe facts that the doctor had a story to tell concerningthe operation of trepanning which no listener had everallowed him to conclude， and that he believed in brandy asa prophylactic； and the special points of interest possessedby Doctor Gregg will have become exhausted.
The doctor had dragged a chair to the sidewalk. He wascoatless， and he leaned back against the wall and smoked，while he stroked his beard. Surprise came into his paleblue eyes when he caught sight of Smith in his unusual andprismatic clothes.
“You’re Doctor Gregg—is that right？” said Smith， feelingthe dog’s head pin in his tie. “The constable—I mean theconsul， told me you hung out at this caravansary. Myname’s Smith； and I came in a yacht. Taking a cruisearound， looking at the monkeys and pineapple-trees.
Come inside and have a drink， Doc. This cafe looks on theblink， but I guess it can set out something wet.”
“I will join you， sir， in just a taste of brandy，” said DoctorGregg， rising quickly. “I find that as a prophylactic a littlebrandy is almost a necessity in this climate.”
As they turned to enter the pulperia a native man，barefoot， glided noiselessly up and addressed the doctor inSpanish. He was yellowish-brown， like an over-ripe lemon；he wore a cotton shirt and ragged linen trousers girdedby a leather belt. His face was like an animal’s， live andwary， but without promise of much intelligence. This manjabbered with animation and so much seriousness that itseemed a pity that his words were to be wasted.
Doctor Gregg felt his pulse.
“You sick？” he inquired.
“Mi mujer es enferma en la casa，” said the man， thusendeavoring to convey the news， in the only language opento him， that his wife lay ill in her palm-thatched hut.
The doctor drew a handful of capsules filled with a whitepowder from his trousers pocket. He counted out ten ofthem into the native’s hand， and held up his forefingerimpressively.
“Take one，” said the doctor， “every two hours.” He thenheld up two fingers， shaking them emphatically beforethe native’s face. Next he pulled out his watch and ranhis finger round the dial twice. Again the two fingersconfronted the patient’s nose. “Two—two—two hours，”
repeated the doctor.
“Si， Senor，” said the native， sadly.
He pulled a cheap silver watch from his own pocket andlaid it in the doctor’s hand. “Me bring，” said he， strugglingpainfully with his scant English， “other watchy tomorrow，”
then he departed downheartedly with his capsules.
“A very ignorant race of people， sir，” said the doctor， ashe slipped the watch into his pocket. “He seems to havemistaken my directions for taking the physic for the fee.
However， it is all right. He owes me an account， anyway.
The chances are that he won’t bring the other watch. Youcan’t depend on anything they promise you. About thatdrink， now？ How did you come to Coralio， Mr. Smith？
I was not aware that any boats except the Karlesfin hadarrived for some days.”
The two leaned against the deserted bar； and Madamaset out a bottle without waiting for the doctor’s order.
There was no dust on it.
After they had drank twice Smith said：
“You say there were no passengers on the Karlesfin，Doc？ Are you sure about that？ It seems to me I heardsomebody down on the beach say that there was one ortwo aboard.”
“They were mistaken， sir. I myself went out and putall hands through a medical examination， as usual. TheKarlesfin sails as soon as she gets her bananas loaded，which will be about daylight in the morning， and she goteverything ready this afternoon. No， sir， there was nopassenger list. Like that Three-Star？ A French schoonerlanded two slooploads of it a month ago. If any customsduties on it went to the distinguished republic of Anchuriayou may have my hat. If you won’t have another， come outand let’s sit in the cool a while. It isn’t often we exiles get achance to talk with somebody from the outside world.”
