He's a regular, of sorts, by which I mean we know his name. Sometimes he's in 2 or three times a week, other times it might be a month or two before we see him.
This week he's been quite regular.
Now, unlike most of our more regular customers he's quite good. Quiet, no special requests, he spends money and tips well. I like him.
This week something's up.
The first time we see him he's with the new philanthropist, a regular customer who's just received some media attention over a sizable donation he's made to a local trade college. They drink Amarone, and chat like old friends, Dr. X pays the bill.
The second time he's with the President of a local University, drink Ripassa, again it's Dr. X paying the bill.
Now it seems coincidental, but I have a suspicion that Dr. X is soliciting the philanthropist on behalf of the President, and I have to admire how he pairs the wine with his guest, feting each according to their expectations.
It's odd, too, how he knows so many of our other customers, it's not uncommon for them to come in and sit on other sides of the dining room and not exchange a hello, but today he's got business with them. A lot of our customers are the same way.
He comes in again - this third guest of his I don't know, appears to be a tradesman of sorts, and with him they each drink juice and skip the appetizers.
Something is up, I don't know what it is, could make a guess but he is, after all, the inscrutable doctor.