“It doesn’t matter. Let’s go.”

They were standing in the gutter of a narrow street, next to a barricade of sawhorses. “No wait,”

protested the prince. “I’ve got such a headache. It’s your fault. You said you were going to help me with the wine. I had to drink it all myself.”

“Believe me, I would have liked to,” said Thanakar. “Anything to get me through that awful music. But I couldn’t stand the idea of her touching the cup. It seems stupid now.”

“Why? It was silver. I brought it from home the first time I went.”

“No. I don’t care about that so much.”

“What then? You told me yourself that the pollution laws are nonsense, an idea made up by priests to keep people apart.”

“Yes,” said Thanakar. “I know. But there is a difference between being medically sure and . . . absolutely sure. Besides, her hands were probably filthy.”

“Well anyway, did you enjoy yourself?” asked Abu. “I think it is my favorite place. I could listen to him talk forever. It’s such a beautiful way of talking.”

“I found it irritating.”

Prince Abu laughed. “You should have had something to drink. I can picture you trying to understand each word. What did you think about the boy? Wasn’t he incredible?”

“What boy?”

“The boy this morning. With the cats. I’d love to see him dance.”

“I didn’t like what he was wearing,” said Thanakar.

“What was he wearing?”

“You didn’t notice? It was skin. Leather.”

“I noticed what was on the bed. You could smell it.” Abu shivered. “It’s disgusting, the way they treat animals. He was dressed in leather?”

“Yes.”

“What kind?”

“I’m scarcely a judge.”

“It’s disgusting, the way they treat animals,” repeated Abu after a pause. Then he brightened. “But he was incredibly handsome. Not so big as the others. He was probably a half-caste. The pure-bloods don’t breed much anymore. It’s sad.”

They had started walking again, and had come out of the slums into neighborhoods that were simply poor, rows of wooden houses, put up for common laborers by the episcopal authorities. In an alleyway, they found the doctor’s motorcar. The driver woke when Thanakar rapped on the glass, and staggered out half-dressed to unlock the cramped luxury of the back seat. Inside, the prince unbuttoned his overcoat. And as the car wheeled clumsily out into the road, he picked the conversation up in the same place.

“He was incredible.”

“I didn’t notice.”

“How can you not have noticed? He was incredible.”

“So I understand. Describe him.” This was a game they played at lucklessly during their professional consultations.

“Yes, doctor. He was very, very . . . handsome.”

“That’s a judgment, not a description.”

“It’s both. Handsome people always look alike, just as good people always do the same things.”

“How philosophical.”

“Well, so what if it is?” complained the prince. “You’re like my brother-in-law. Just because I’m fit for nothing doesn’t mean I’m a fool. Necessarily. I try my best. It’s not easy, being a prince. You should be glad that fellow dropped you.”