This physician had a fine house in the street of Las Palmas, a great avenue planted with graceful trees, that has other little streets running into it.

Down one of these I came from my inn, a quiet narrow place having houses with patios or courtyards on either side of it.

As I walked down this street I noticed a man sitting in the shade on a stool in the doorway of his patio.

He was small and withered, with keen black eyes and a wonderful air of wisdom, and he watched me as I went by.

Now the house of the famous physician whom I sought was so placed that the man sitting at this doorway could command it with his eyes and take note of all who went in and came out.