Sax  Rohmer Dope (Fiscle Part-X) 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 1(A Message For Irvin) Pg 1 
 Monte Irvin, Alderman Of     The     City And Prospective Lord Mayor Of     London, 
 Paced Restlessly From End To End Of     The     Well-Appointed Library Of     His 
 House In Prince's Gate. Between His Teeth He Gripped The     Stump Of     A 
 Burnt-Out Cigar. A Tiny Spaniel Lay Beside The     Fire, His Beady Black 
 Eyes Following The     Nervous Movements Of     The     Master Of     The     House. 
   
   
   
 At The     Age Of     Forty-Five Monte Irvin Was Not Ill-Looking, And, Indeed, 
 Was Sometimes Spoken Of     As Handsome. His Figure Was Full Without Being 
 Corpulent; His Well-Groomed Black Hair And Moustache And Fresh If Rather 
 Coarse Complexion, Together With The     Dignity Of     His Upright Carriage, 
 Lent Him Something Of     A Military Air. This He Assiduously Cultivated As 
 Befitting An Ex-Territorial Officer, Although As He Had Seen No Active 
 Service He Modestly Refrained From Using Any Title Of     Rank. 
   
   
   
   
 Some Quality In His Brilliant Smile, An Oriental Expressiveness Of     The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 1(A Message For Irvin) Pg 2 
 Dark Eyes Beneath Their Drooping Lids, Hinted A Semitic Strain; But 
 It Was Otherwise Not Marked In His Appearance, Which Was Free From 
 Vulgarity, Whilst Essentially That Of     A Successful Man Of     Affairs. 
   
   
   
 In Fact, Monte Irvin Had Made A Success Of     Every Affair In Life With 
 The Lamentable Exception Of     His Marriage. Of     Late His Forehead Had 
 Grown Lined, And Those Business Friends Who Had Known Him For A Man Of 
 Abstemious Habits Had Observed In The     City Chophouse At Which He Lunched 
 Almost Daily That Whereas Formerly He Had Been A Noted Trencherman, He 
 Now Ate Little But Drank Much. 
   
   
   
 Suddenly The     Spaniel Leapt Up With That Feverish, Spider-Like Activity 
 Of The     Toy Species And Began To Bark. 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Paused In His Restless Patrol And Listened. 
   
   
   
 "Lie Down!" He Said. "Be Quiet." 
   
   
   
 The Spaniel Ran To The     Door, Sniffing Eagerly. A Muffled Sound Of     Voices 
 Became Audible, And Irvin, Following A Moment Of     Hesitation, Crossed 
 And Opened The     Door. The     Dog Ran Out, Yapping In His Irritating Staccato 
 Fashion, And An Expression Of     Hope Faded From Irvin's Face As He Saw A 
 Tall Fair Girl Standing In The     Hallway Talking To Hinkes, The     Butler. 
 She Wore Soiled Burberry, High-Legged Tan Boots, And A Peaked Cap Of 
 Distinctly Military Appearance. Irvin Would Have Retired Again, But 
 The Girl Glanced Up And Saw Him Where He Stood By The     Library Door. He 
 Summoned Up A Smile And Advanced. 
   
   
   
 "Good Evening, Miss Halley," He Said, Striving To Speak Genially--For Of 
 All Of     His Wife's Friends He Liked Margaret Halley The     Best. "Were You 
 Expecting To Find Rita At Home?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 1(A Message For Irvin) Pg 3 
   
 The Girl's Expression Was Vaguely Troubled. She Had The     Clear Complexion 
 And Bright Eyes Of     Perfect Health, But To-Night Her Eyes Seemed 
 Over-Bright, Whilst Her Face Was Slightly Pale. 
   
   
   
 "Yes," She Replied; "That Is, I Hoped She Might Be At Home." 
   
   
   
 "I Am Afraid I Cannot Tell You When She Is Likely To Return. But Please 
 Come In, And I Will Make Inquiries." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, No, I Would Rather You Did Not Trouble And I Won't Stay, Thank You 
 Nevertheless. I Expect She Will Ring Me Up When She Comes In." 
   
   
   
 "Is There Any Message I Can Give Her?" 
   
   
   
 "Well"--She Hesitated For An Instant--"You Might Tell Her, If You Would, 
 That I Only Returned Home At Eight O'clock, So That I Could Not Come 
 Around Any Earlier." She Glanced Rapidly At Irvin, Biting Her Lip. "I 
 Wish I Could Have Seen Her," She Added In A Low Voice. 
   
   
   
 "She Wishes To See You Particularly?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. She Left A Note This Afternoon." Again She Glanced At Him In 
 A Troubled Way. "Well, I Suppose It Cannot Be Helped," She Added And 
 Smilingly Extended Her Hand. "Good Night, Mr. Irvin. Don't Bother To 
 Come To The     Door." 
   
   
   
 But Irvin Passed Hinkes And Walked Out Under The     Porch With Margaret 
 Halley. Humid Yellow Mist Floated Past The     Street Lamps, And Seemed To 
 Have Gathered In A Moving Reef Around The     Little Runabout Car Which Was 
 Standing Outside The     House, Its Motor Chattering Tremulously. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 1(A Message For Irvin) Pg 4 
 "Phew! A Beastly Night!" He Said. "Foggy And Wet." 
   
   
   
 "It's A Brute Isn't It?" Said The     Girl Laughingly, And Turned On The 
 Steps So That The     Light Shining Out Of     The     Hallway Gleamed On Her White 
 Teeth And Upraised Eyes. She Was Pulling On Big, Ugly, Furred Gloves, 
 And Monte Irvin Mentally Contrasted Her Fresh, Athletic Type Of     Beauty 
 With The     Delicate, Exotic Charm Of     His Wife. 
   
   
   
 She Opened The     Door Of     The     Little Car, Got In And Drove Off, Waving One 
 Hugely Gloved Hand To Irvin As He Stood In The     Porch Looking After Her. 
 When The     Red Tail-Light Had Vanished In The     Mist He Returned To The 
 House And Re-Entered The     Library. If Only All His Wife's Friends 
 Were Like Margaret Halley, He Mused, He Might Have Been Spared The 
 Insupportable Misgivings Which Were Goading Him To Madness. His Mind 
 Filled With Poisonous Suspicions, He Resumed His Pacing Of     The     Library, 
 Awaiting And Dreading That Which Should Confirm His Blackest Theories. 
 He Was Unaware Of     The     Fact That Throughout The     Interview He Had Held The 
 Stump Of     Cigar Between His Teeth. He Held It There Yet, Pacing, Pacing 
 Up And Down The     Long Room. 
   
   
   
 Then Came The     Expected Summons. The     Telephone Bell Rang. Monte Irvin 
 Clenched His Hands And Inhaled Deeply. His Color Changed In A 
 Manner That Would Have Aroused A Physician's Interest. Regaining His 
 Self-Possession By A Visible Effort, He Crossed To A Small Side-Table 
 Upon Which The     Instrument Rested. Rolling The     Cigar Stump Into The     Left 
 Corner Of     His Mouth, He Took Up The     Receiver. 
   
   
   
 "Hallo!" He Said. 
   
   
   
 "Someone Named Brisley, Sir, Wishes--" 
   
   
   
   
 "Put Him Through To Me Here." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 1(A Message For Irvin) Pg 5 
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir." 
   
   
   
 A Short Interval, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Yes?" Said Monte Irvin. 
   
   
   
 "My Name Is Brisley. I Have A Message For Mr. Monte Irvin." 
   
   
   
 "Monte Irvin Speaking. Anything To Report, Brisley?" 
   
   
   
 Irvin's Deep, Rich Voice Was Not Entirely Under Control. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sir. The     Lady Drove By Taxicab From Prince's Gate To Albemarle 
 Street." 
   
   
   
 "Ah!" 
   
   
   
 "Went Up To Chambers Of     Sir Lucien Pyne And Was Admitted." 
   
   
   
 "Well?" 
   
   
   
 "Twenty Minutes Later Came Out. Lady Was With Sir Lucien. Both Walked 
 Around To Old Bond Street. The     Honorable Quentin Gray--" 
   
   
   
 "Ah!" Breathed Irvin. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 1(A Message For Irvin) Pg 6 
 "--Overtook Them There. He Got Out Of     A Cab. He Joined Them. All Three 
 Up To Apartments Of     A Professional Crystal-Gazer Styling Himself Kazmah 
 'The Dream-Reader.'" 
   
   
   
 A Puzzled Expression Began To Steal Over The     Face Of     Monte Irvin. At 
 The Sound Of     The     Telephone Bell He Had Paled Somewhat. Now He Began To 
 Recover His Habitual Florid Coloring. 
   
   
   
 "Go On," He Directed, For The     Speaker Had Paused. 
   
   
   
 "Seven To Ten Minutes Later," Resumed The     Nasal Voice, "Mr. Gray Came 
 Down. He Hailed A Passing Cab, But Man Refused To Stop. Mr. Gray Seemed 
 To Be Very Irritable." 
   
   
   
 The Fact That The     Invisible Speaker Was Reading From A Notebook He 
 Betrayed By His Monotonous Intonation And Abbreviated Sentences, Which 
 Resembled Those Of     A Constable Giving Evidence In A Police Court. 
   
   
   
 "He Walked Off Rapidly In Direction Of     Piccadilly. Colleague Followed. 
 Near The     Ritz He Obtained A Cab. He Returned In Same To Old Bond Street. 
 He Ran Upstairs And Was Gone From Four-And-A-Half To Five Minutes. He 
 Then Came Down Again. He Was Very Pale And Agitated. He Discharged Cab 
 And Walked Away. Colleague Followed. He Saw Mr. Gray Enter Prince's 
 Restaurant. In The     Hall Mr. Gray Met A Gent Unknown By Sight To 
 Colleague. Following Some Conversation Both Gents Went In To Dinner. 
 They Are There Now. Speaking From Dover Street Tube." 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Yes. But The     Lady?" 
   
   
   
 "A Native, Possibly Egyptian, Apparently Servant Of     Kazmah, Came Out A 
 Few Minutes After Mr. Gray Had Gone For Cab, And Went Away. Sir Lucien 
 Pyne And Lady Are Still In Kazmah's Rooms." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 1(A Message For Irvin) Pg 7 
   
   
 "What!" Cried Irvin, Pulling Out His Watch And Glancing At The     Disk. 
 "But It's After Eight O'clock!" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sir. The     Place Is All Shut Up, And Other Offices In Block Closed 
 At Six. Door Of     Kazmah's Is Locked. I Knocked And Got No Reply." 
   
   
   
 "Damn It! You're Talking Nonsense! There Must Be Another Exit." 
   
   
   
 "No, Sir. Colleague Has Just Relieved Me. Left Two Gents Over Their Wine 
 At Prince's." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin's Color Began To Fade Slowly. 
   
   
   
 "Then It's Pyne!" He Whispered. The     Hand Which Held The     Receiver Shook. 
 "Brisley--Meet Me At The     Piccadilly End Of     Bond Street. I Am Coming 
 Now." 
   
   
   
 He Put Down The     Telephone, Crossed To The     Wall And Pressed A Button. The 
 Cigar Stump Held Firmly Between His Teeth, He Stood On The     Rug Before 
 The Hearth, Facing The     Door. Presently It Opened And Hinkes Came In. 
   
   
   
 "The Car Is Ready, Hinkes?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sir, As You Ordered. Shall Pattison Come Round To The     Door?" 
   
   
   
 "At Once." 
   
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 1(A Message For Irvin) Pg 8 
   
   
   
 He Withdrew, Closing The     Door Quietly, And Monte Irvin Stood Staring 
 Across The     Library At The     Full-Length Portrait In Oils Of     His Wife In 
 The Pierrot Dress Which She Had Worn In The     Third Act Of     The     Maid Of     The 
 Masque. 
   
   
   
 The Clock In The     Hall Struck Half-Past Eight. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 2(The     Apartments Of     Kazmah) Pg 9 
   
 It Was Rather Less Than Two Hours Earlier On The     Same Evening That 
 Quentin Gray Came Out Of     The     Confectioner's Shop In Old Bond Street 
 Carrying A Neat Parcel. Yellow Dusk Was Closing Down Upon This Bazaar 
 Of The     New Babylon, And Many Of     The     Dealers In Precious Gems, Vendors 
 Of Rich Stuffs, And Makers Of     Modes Had Already Deserted Their Shops. 
 Smartly Dressed Show-Girls, Saleswomen, Girl Clerks And Others Crowded 
 The Pavements, Which At High Noon Had Been Thronged With Ladies Of 
 Fashion. Here A Tailor's Staff, There A Hatter's Lingered Awhile As Iron 
 Shutters And Gratings Were Secured, And Bidding One Another Good Night, 
 Separated And Made Off Towards Tube And Bus. The     Working Day Was Ended. 
 Society Was Dressing For Dinner. 
   
   
   
 Gray Was About To Enter The     Cab Which Awaited Him, And His 
 Fresh-Colored, Boyish Face Wore An Expression Of     Eager Expectancy, 
 Which Must Have Betrayed The     Fact To An Experienced Beholder That He Was 
 Hurrying To Keep An Agreeable Appointment. Then, His Hand Resting On The 
 Handle Of     The     Cab-Door, This Expression Suddenly Changed To One Of     Alert 
 Suspicion. 
   
   
   
 A Tall, Dark Man, Accompanied By A Woman Muffled In Grey Furs And 
   
 Wearing A Silk Scarf Over Her Hair, Had Passed On Foot Along The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 2(The     Apartments Of     Kazmah) Pg 10 
 Opposite Side Of     The     Street. Gray Had Seen Them Through The     Cab Windows. 
   
   
   
 His Smooth Brow Wrinkled And His Mouth Tightened To A Thin Straight Line 
 Beneath The     Fair "Regulation" Moustache. He Fumbled Under His Overcoat 
 For Loose Silver, Drew Out A Handful And Paid Off The     Taximan. 
   
   
   
 Sometimes Walking In The     Gutter In Order To Avoid The     Throngs Upon 
 The Pavement, Regardless Of     The     Fact That His Glossy Dress-Boots Were 
 Becoming Spattered With Mud, Gray Hurried Off In Pursuit Of     The     Pair. 
 Twenty Yards Ahead He Overtook Them, As They Were On The     Point Of 
 Passing A Picture Dealer's Window, From Which Yellow Light Streamed 
 Forth Into The     Humid Dusk. They Were Walking Slowly, And Gray Stopped In 
 Front Of     Them. 
   
   
   
 "Hello, You Two!" He Cried. "Where Are You Off To? I Was On My Way To 
 Call For You, Rita." 
   
   
   
 Flushed And Boyish He Stood Before Them, And His Annoyance Was 
 Increased By Their Failure To Conceal The     Fact That His Appearance Was 
 Embarrassing If Not Unwelcome. Mrs. Monte Irvin Was A Petite, Pretty 
 Woman, Although Some Of     The     More Wonderful Bronzed Tints Of     Her Hair 
 Suggested The     Employment Of     Henna, And Her Naturally Lovely Complexion 
 Was Delicately And Artistically Enhanced By Art. Nevertheless, The 
 Flower-Like Face Peeping Out From The     Folds Of     A Gauzy Scarf, Like A 
 Rose From A Mist, Whilst Her Soft Little Chin Nestled Into The     Fur, 
 Might Have Explained Even In The     Case Of     An Older Man The     Infatuation 
 Which Quentin Gray Was At No Pains To Hide. 
   
   
   
 She Glanced Up At Her Companion, Sir Lucien Pyne, A Swarthy, Cynical 
 Type Of     Aristocrat, Imperturbably. Then: "I Had Left A Note For 
 You, Quentin," She Said Hurriedly. She Seemed To Be In A Dangerously 
 High-Strung Condition. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 2(The     Apartments Of     Kazmah) Pg 11 
   
   
 "But I Have Booked A Table And A Box," Cried Gray, With A Hint Of 
 Juvenile Petulance. 
   
   
   
 "My Dear Gray," Said Sir Lucien Coolly, "We Are Men Of     The     World--And 
 We Do Not Look For Consistency In Womenfolk. Mrs. Irvin Has Decided To 
 Consult A Palmist Or A Hypnotist Or Some Such Occult Authority Before 
 Dining With You This Evening. Doubtless She Seeks To Learn If The     Play 
 To Which You Propose To Take Her Is An Amusing One." 
   
   
   
 His Smile Of     Sardonic Amusement Gray Found To Be Almost Insupportable, 
 And Although Sir Lucien Refrained From Looking At Mrs. Irvin Whilst 
 He Spoke, It Was Evident Enough That His Words Held Some Covert 
 Significance, For: 
   
   
   
 "You Know Perfectly Well That I Have A Particular Reason For Seeing 
 Him," She Said. 
   
   
   
 "A Woman's Particular Reason Is A Man's Feeble Excuse," Murmured Sir 
 Lucien Rudely. "At Least, According To A Learned Arabian Philosopher." 
   
   
   
 "I Was Going To Meet You At Prince's," Said Mrs. Irvin Hurriedly, And 
 Again Glancing At Gray. There Was A Pathetic Hesitancy In Her Manner, 
 The Hesitancy Of     A Weak Woman Who Adheres To A Purpose Only By Supreme 
 Effort. 
   
   
   
 "Might I Ask," Said Gray, "The Name Of     The     Pervert You Are Going To 
 Consult?" 
   
   
   
 Again She Hesitated And Glanced Rapidly At Sir Lucien, But He Was 
 Staring Coolly In Another Direction. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 2(The     Apartments Of     Kazmah) Pg 12 
 "Kazmah," She Replied In A Low Voice. 
   
   
   
 "Kazmah!" Cried Gray. "The Man Who Sells Perfume And Pretends To Read 
 Dreams? What An Extraordinary Notion. Wouldn't Tomorrow Do? He Will 
 Surely Have Shut Up Shop!" 
   
   
   
 "I Have Been At Pains To Ascertain," Replied Sir Lucien, "At Mrs. 
 Irvin's Express Desire, That The     Man Of     Mystery Is Still In Session And 
 Will Receive Her." 
   
   
   
 Beneath The     Mask Of     Nonchalance Which He Wore It Might Have Been 
 Possible To Detect Excitement Repressed With Difficulty; And Had Gray 
 Been More Composed And Not Obsessed With The     Idea That Sir Lucien Had 
 Deliberately Intruded Upon His Plans For The     Evening, He Could Not Have 
 Failed To Perceive That Mrs. Monte Irvin Was Feverishly Preoccupied With 
 Matters Having No Relation To Dinner And The     Theatre. But His Private 
 Suspicions Grew Only The     More Acute. 
   
   
   
 "Then If The     Dinner Is Not Off," He Said, "May I Come Along And Wait For 
 You?" 
   
   
   
 "At Kazmah's?" Asked Mrs. Irvin. "Certainly." She Turned To Sir Lucien. 
 "Shall You Wait? It Isn't Much Use As I'm Dining With Quentin." 
   
   
   
 "If I Do Not Intrude," Replied The     Baronet, "I Will Accompany You As Far 
 As The     Cave Of     The     Oracle, And Then Bid You Good Night." 
   
   
   
 The Trio Proceeded Along Old Bond Street. Quentin Gray Regarded The 
 Story Of     Kazmah As A Very Poor Lie Devised On The     Spur Of     The     Moment. 
 If He Had Been Less Infatuated, His Natural Sense Of     Dignity Must 
 Have Dictated An Offer To Release Mrs. Irvin From Her Engagement. But 
 Jealousy Stimulates The     Worst Instincts And Destroys The     Best. He 
 Was Determined To Attach Himself As Closely As The     Old Man Of     The 
 Sea Attached Himself To Es-Sindibad, In Order That The     Lie Might 
   
 Be Unmasked. Mrs. Irvin's Palpable Embarrassment And Nervousness He 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 2(The     Apartments Of     Kazmah) Pg 13 
 Ascribed To Her Perception Of     His Design. 
   
   
   
 A Group Of     Shop Girls And Others Waiting For Buses Rendered It 
 Impossible For The     Three To Keep Abreast, And Gray, Falling To The     Rear, 
 Stepped Upon The     Foot Of     A Little Man Who Was Walking Close Behind Them. 
   
   
   
 "Sorry, Sir," Said The     Man, Suppressing An Exclamation Of     Pain--For The 
 Fault Had Been Gray's. 
   
   
   
 Gray Muttered An Ungenerous Acknowledgment, All Anxiety To Regain The 
 Side Of     Mrs. Irvin; For She Seemed To Be Speaking Rapidly And Excitedly 
 To Sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 He Recovered His Place As The     Two Turned In At A Lighted Doorway. Upon 
 The Wall Was A Bronze Plate Bearing The     Inscription: 
   
   
   
     Kazmah 
     Second Floor 
   
   
   
 Gray Fully Expected Mrs. Irvin To Suggest That He Should Return Later. 
 But Without A Word She Began To Ascend The     Stairs. Gray Followed, Sir 
 Lucien Standing Aside To Give Him Precedence. On The     Second Floor Was A 
 Door Painted In Oriental Fashion. It Possessed Neither Bell Nor Knocker, 
 But As One Stepped Upon The     Threshold This Door Opened Noiselessly As 
 If Dumbly Inviting The     Visitor To Enter The     Square Apartment Discovered. 
 This Apartment Was Richly Furnished In The     Arab Manner, And Lighted By 
 A Fine Brass Lamp Swung Upon Chains From The     Painted Ceiling. The 
 Intricate Perforations Of     The     Lamp Were Inset With Colored Glass, And 
 The Result Was A Subdued And Warm Illumination. Odd-Looking Oriental 
 Vessels, Long-Necked Jars, Jugs With Tenuous Spouts And Squat Bowls 
 Possessing Engraved And Figured Covers Emerged From The     Shadows Of 
   
 Niches. A Low Divan With Gaily Colored Mattresses Extended From The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 2(The     Apartments Of     Kazmah) Pg 14 
 Door Around One Corner Of     The     Room Where It Terminated Beside A Kind 
 Of Mushrabiyeh Cabinet Or Cupboard. Beyond This Cabinet Was A Long, Low 
 Counter Laden With Statuettes Of     Nile Gods, Amulets, Mummy-Beads And 
 Little Stoppered Flasks Of     Blue Enamel Ware. There Were Two Glass Cases 
 Filled With Other Strange-Looking Antiquities. A Faint Perfume Was 
 Perceptible. 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Entering Last Of     The     Party, The     Door Closed Behind Him, And 
 From The     Cabinet On The     Right Of     The     Divan A Young Egyptian Stepped 
 Out. He Wore The     Customary White Robe, Red Sash And Red Slippers, And A 
 Tarbush, The     Little Scarlet Cap Commonly Called A Fez, Was Set Upon 
 His Head. He Walked To A Door On The     Left Of     The     Counter, And Slid It 
 Noiselessly Open. Bowing Gravely, "The Sheikh El Kazmah Awaits," He 
 Said, Speaking With The     Soft Intonation Of     A Native Of     Upper Egypt. 
   
   
   
 It Now Became Evident, Even To The     Infatuated Gray, That Mrs. Irvin Was 
 Laboring Under The     Influence Of     Tremendous Excitement. She Turned To Him 
 Quickly, And He Thought That Her Face Looked Almost Haggard, Whilst Her 
 Eyes Seemed To Have Changed Color--Become Lighter, Although He Could 
 Not Be Certain That This Latter Effect Was Not Due To The     Peculiar 
 Illumination Of     The     Room. But When She Spoke Her Voice Was Unsteady. 
   
   
   
 "Will You See If You Can Find A Cab," She Said. "It Is So Difficult At 
 Night, And My Shoes Will Get Frightfully Muddy Crossing Piccadilly. I 
 Shall Not Be More Than A Few Minutes." She Walked Through The     Doorway, 
 The Egyptian Standing Aside As She Passed. He Followed Her, But Came 
 Out Again Almost Immediately, Reclosed The     Door, And Retired Into The 
 Cabinet, Which Was Evidently His Private Cubicle. 
   
   
   
 Silence Claimed The     Apartment. Sir Lucien Threw Himself Nonchalantly 
 Upon The     Divan, And Took Out His Cigarette-Case. 
   
   
   
   
 "Will You Have A Cigarette, Gray?" He Asked. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 2(The     Apartments Of     Kazmah) Pg 15 
   
   
   
 "No Thanks," Replied The     Other, In Tones Of     Smothered Hostility. He 
 Was Ill At Ease, And Paced The     Apartment Nervously. Pyne Lighted A 
 Cigarette, And Tossed The     Extinguished Match Into A Brass Bowl. 
   
   
   
 "I Think," Said Gray Jerkily, "I Shall Go For A Cab. Are You Remaining?" 
   
   
   
 "I Am Dining At The     Club," Answered Pyne, "But I Can Wait Until You 
 Return." 
   
   
   
 "As You Wish," Jerked Gray. "I Don't Expect To Be Long." 
   
   
   
 He Walked Rapidly To The     Outer Door, Which Opened At His Approach And 
 Closed Noiselessly Behind Him As He Made His Exit. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 3 ( Kazmah ) Pg 16 
   
 Mrs. Monte Irvin Entered The     Inner Room. The     Air Was Heavy With The 
 Perfume Of     Frankincense Which Smouldered In A Brass Vessel Set Upon A 
 Tray. This Was The     Audience Chamber Of     Kazmah. In Marked Contrast To The 
 Overcrowded Appointments, Divans And Cupboards Of     The     First Room, It 
 Was Sparsely Furnished. The     Floor Was Thickly Carpeted, But Save For An 
 Ornate Inlaid Table Upon Which Stood The     Tray And Incense-Burner, And 
 A Long, Low-Cushioned Seat Placed Immediately Beneath A Hanging Lamp 
 Burning Dimly In A Globular Green Shade, It Was Devoid Of     Decoration. 
 The Walls Were Draped With Green Curtains, So That Except For The 
 Presence Of     The     Painted Door, The     Four Sides Of     The     Apartment Appeared 
 To Be Uniform. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 3 ( Kazmah ) Pg 17 
   
 Having Conducted Mrs. Irvin To The     Seat, The     Egyptian Bowed And Retired 
 Again Through The     Doorway By Which They Had Entered. The     Visitor Found 
 Herself Alone. 
   
   
   
 She Moved Nervously, Staring Across At The     Blank Wall Before Her. With 
 Her Little Satin Shoe She Tapped The     Carpet, Biting Her Under Lip And 
 Seeming To Be Listening. Nothing Stirred. Not Even An Echo Of     Busy Bond 
 Street Penetrated To The     Place. Mrs. Irvin Unfastened Her Cloak And 
 Allowed It To Fall Back Upon The     Settee. Her Bare Shoulders Looked Waxen 
 And Unnatural In The     Weird Light Which Shone Down Upon Them. She Was 
 Breathing Rapidly. 
   
   
   
 The Minutes Passed By In Unbroken Silence. So Still Was The     Room That 
 Mrs. Irvin Could Hear The     Faint Crackling Sound Made By The     Burning 
 Charcoal In The     Brass Vessel Near Her. Wisps Of     Blue-Grey Smoke Arose 
 Through The     Perforated Lid And She Began To Watch Them Fascinatedly, 
 So Lithe They Seemed, Like Wraiths Of     Serpents Creeping Up The     Green 
 Draperies. 
   
   
   
 So She Was Seated, Her Foot Still Restlessly Tapping, But Her Gaze 
 Arrested By The     Hypnotic Movements Of     The     Smoke, When At Last A Sound 
 From The     Outer World, Penetrated To The     Room. A Church Clock Struck The 
 Hour Of     Seven, Its Clangor Intruding Upon The     Silence Only As A Muffled 
 Boom. Almost Coincident With The     Last Stroke Came The     Sweeter Note Of     A 
 Silver Gong From Somewhere Close At Hand. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Irvin Started, And Her Eyes Turned Instantly In The     Direction 
 Of The     Greenly Draped Wall Before Her. Her Pupils Had Grown Suddenly 
 Dilated, And She Clenched Her Hands Tightly. 
   
   
   
   
 The Light Above Her Head Went Out. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 3 ( Kazmah ) Pg 18 
   
 Now That The     Moment Was Come To Which She Had Looked Forward With 
 Mingled Hope And Terror, Long Pent-Up Emotion Threatened To Overcome 
 Her, And She Trembled Wildly. 
   
   
   
 Out Of     The     Darkness Dawned A Vague Light And In It A Shape Seemed To 
 Take Form. As The     Light Increased The     Effect Was As Though Part Of     The 
 Wall Had Become Transparent So As To Reveal The     Interior Of     An Inner 
 Room Where A Figure Was Seated In A Massive Ebony Chair. The     Figure Was 
 That Of     An Oriental, Richly Robed And Wearing A White Turban. His Long 
 Slim Hands, Of     The     Color Of     Old Ivory, Rested Upon The     Arms Of 
 The Chair, And On The     First Finger Of     The     Right Hand Gleamed A Big 
 Talismanic Ring. The     Face Of     The     Seated Man Was Lowered, But From Under 
 Heavy Brows His Abnormally Large Eyes Regarded Her Fixedly. 
   
   
   
 So Dim The     Light Remained That It Was Impossible To Discern The     Details 
 With Anything Like Clearness, But That The     Clean-Shaven Face Of     The     Man 
 With Those Wonderful Eyes Was Strikingly And Intellectually Handsome 
 There Could Be No Doubt. 
   
   
   
 This Was Kazmah, "The Dream Reader," And Although Mrs. Irvin Had Seen 
 Him Before, His Statuesque Repose And The     Weirdness Of     His Unfaltering 
 Gaze Thrilled Her Uncannily. 
   
   
   
 Kazmah Slightly Raised His Hand In Greeting: The     Big Ring Glittered In 
 The Subdued Light. 
   
   
   
 "Tell Me Your Dream," Came A Curious Mocking Voice; "And I Will Read Its 
 Portent." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 3 ( Kazmah ) Pg 19 
   
   
 Such Was The     Set Formula With Which Kazmah Opened All Interviews. He 
 Spoke With A Slight And Not Unmusical Accent. He Lowered His Hand Again. 
 The Gaze Of     Those Brilliant Eyes Remained Fixed Upon The     Woman's Face. 
 Moistening Her Lips, Mrs. Irvin Spoke. 
   
   
   
 "Dreams! What I Have To Say Does Not Belong To Dreams, But To Reality!" 
 She Laughed Unmirthfully. "You Know Well Enough Why I Am Here." 
   
   
   
 She Paused. 
   
   
   
 "Why Are You Here?" 
   
   
   
 "You Know! You Know!" Suddenly Into Her Voice Had Come The     Unmistakable 
 Note Of     Hysteria. "Your Theatrical Tricks Do Not Impress Me. I Know What 
 You Are! A Spy--An Eavesdropper Who Watches--Watches, And Listens! But 
 You May Go Too Far! I Am Nearly Desperate--Do You Understand?--Nearly 
 Desperate. Speak! Move! Answer Me!" 
   
   
   
 But Kazmah Preserved His Uncanny Repose. 
   
   
   
 "You Are Distracted," He Said. "I Am Sorry For You. But Why Do You Come 
 To Me With Your Stories Of     Desperation? You Have Insisted Upon Seeing 
 Me. I Am Here." 
   
   
   
 "And You Play With Me--Taunt Me!" 
   
   
   
 "The Remedy Is In Your Hands." 
   
   
   
 "For The     Last Time, I Tell You I Will Never Do It! Never, Never, Never!" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 3 ( Kazmah ) Pg 20 
   
 "Then Why Do You Complain? If You Cannot Afford To Pay For Your 
 Amusements, And You Refuse To Compromise In A Simple Manner, Why Do You 
 Approach Me?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, My God!" She Moaned And Swayed Dizzily--"Have Pity On Me! Who Are 
 You, What Are You, That You Can Bring Ruin On A Woman Because--" She 
 Uttered A Choking Sound, But Continued Hoarsely, "Raise Your Head. Let 
 Me See Your Face. As Heaven Is My Witness, I Am Ruined--Ruined!" 
   
   
   
 "Tomorrow--" 
   
   
   
 "I Cannot Wait For Tomorrow--" 
   
   
   
 That Quivering, Hoarse Cry Betrayed A Condition Of     Desperate Febrile 
 Excitement. Mrs. Irvin Was Capable Of     Proceeding To The     Wildest 
 Extremities. Clearly The     Mysterious Egyptian Recognized This To Be The 
 Case, For Slowly Raising His Hand: 
   
   
   
 "I Will Communicate With You," He Said, And The     Words Were Spoken Almost 
 Hurriedly. "Depart In Peace--"; A Formula Wherewith He Terminated Every 
 Seance. He Lowered His Hand. 
   
   
   
 The Silver Gong Sounded Again--And The     Dim Light Began To Fade. 
   
   
   
 Thereupon The     Unhappy Woman Acted; The     Long Suppressed Outburst Came At 
 Last. Stepping Rapidly To The     Green Transparent Veil Behind Which Kazmah 
 Was Seated, She Wrenched It Asunder And Leapt Toward The     Figure In The 
 Black Chair. 
   
   
   
   
 "You Shall Not Trick Me!" She Panted. "Hear Me Out Or I Go Straight To 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 3 ( Kazmah ) Pg 21 
 The Police--Now--Now!" She Grasped The     Hands Of     Kazmah As They Rested 
 Motionless, On The     Chair-Arms. 
   
   
   
 Complete Darkness Came. 
   
   
   
 Out Of     It Rose A Husky, Terrified Cry--A Second, Louder Cry; And Then A 
 Long, Wailing Scream... Horror-Laden As That Of     One Who Has Touched Some 
 Slumbering Reptile.... 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 22 
   
 Rather Less Than Five Minutes Later A Taxicab Drew Up In Old Bond 
 Street, And From It Quentin Gray Leapt Out Impetuously And Ran In At The 
 Doorway Leading To Kazmah's Stairs. So Hurried Was His Progress That 
 He Collided Violently With A Little Man Who, Carrying Himself With A 
 Pronounced Stoop, Was Slinking Furtively Out. 
   
   
   
 The Little Man Reeled At The     Impact And Almost Fell, But: 
   
   
   
 "Hang It All!" Cried Gray Irritably. "Why The     Devil Don't You Look Where 
 You're Going!" 
   
   
   
 He Glared Angrily Into The     Face Of     The     Other. It Was A Peculiar And 
 Rememberable Face, Notable Because Of     A Long, Sharp, Hooked Nose 
 And Very Little, Foxy, Brown Eyes; A Sly Face To Which A Small, Fair 
 Moustache Only Added Insignificance. It Was Crowned By A Wide-Brimmed 
 Bowler Hat Which The     Man Wore Pressed Down Upon His Ears Like A Jew 
 Pedlar. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 23 
 "Why!" Cried Gray, "This Is The     Second Time Tonight You Have Jostled 
 Me!" 
   
   
   
 He Thought He Had Recognized The     Man For The     Same Who Had Been Following 
 Himself, Mrs. Irvin And Sir Lucien Pyne Along Old Bond Street. 
   
   
   
 A Smile, Intended To Be Propitiatory, Appeared Upon The     Pale Face. 
   
   
   
 "No, Sir, Excuse Me, Sir--" 
   
   
   
 "Don't Deny It!" Said Gray Angrily. "If I Had The     Time I Should Give You 
 In Charge As A Suspicious Loiterer." 
   
   
   
 Calling To The     Cabman To Wait, He Ran Up The     Stairs To The     Second Floor 
 Landing. Before The     Painted Door Bearing The     Name Of     Kazmah He Halted, 
 And As The     Door Did Not Open, Stamped Impatiently, But With No Better 
 Result. 
   
   
   
 At That, Since There Was Neither Bell Nor Knocker, He Raised His Fist 
 And Banged Loudly. 
   
   
   
 No One Responded To The     Summons. 
   
   
   
 "Hi, There!" He Shouted. "Open The     Door! Pyne! Rita!" 
   
   
   
 Again He Banged--And Yet Again. Then He Paused, Listening, His Ear 
 Pressed To The     Panel. 
   
   
   
   
 He Could Detect No Sound Of     Movement Within. Fists Clenched, He Stood 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 24 
 Staring At The     Closed Door, And His Fresh Color Slowly Deserted Him And 
 Left Him Pale. 
   
   
   
 "Damn Him!" He Muttered Savagely. "Damn Him! He Has Fooled Me!" 
   
   
   
 Passionate And Self-Willed, He Was Shaken By A Storm Of     Murderous Anger. 
 That Pyne Had Planned This Trick, With Rita Irvin's Consent, He Did Not 
 Doubt, And His Passive Dislike Of     The     Man Became Active Hatred Of     The 
 Woman He Dared Not Think. He Had For Long Looked Upon Sir Lucien In 
 The Light Of     A Rival, And The     Irregularity Of     His Own Infatuation For 
 Another's Wife In No Degree Lessened His Resentment. 
   
   
   
 Again He Pressed His Ear To The     Door, And Listened Intently. Perhaps 
 They Were Hiding Within. Perhaps This Charlatan, Kazmah, Was An 
 Accomplice In The     Pay Of     Sir Lucien. Perhaps This Was A Secret Place Of 
 Rendezvous. 
   
   
   
 To The     Manifest Absurdity Of     Such A Conjecture He Was Blind In His 
 Anger. But That He Was Helpless, Befooled, He Recognized; And With A 
 Final Muttered Imprecation He Turned And Slowly Descended The     Stair. 
 A Lingering Hope Was Dispelled When, Looking Right And Left Along Bond 
 Street, He Failed To Perceive The     Missing Pair. 
   
   
   
 The Cabman Glanced At Him Interrogatively. "I Shall Not Require You," 
 Said Gray, And Gave The     Man Half-A-Crown. 
   
   
   
 Busy With His Poisonous Conjectures, He Remained All Unaware Of     The 
 Presence Of     A Furtive, Stooping Figure Which Lurked Behind The     Railings 
 Of The     Arcade At This Point Linking Old Bond Street To Albemarle Street. 
 Nor Had The     Stooping Stranger Any Wish To Attract Gray's Attention. 
 Most Of     The     Shops In The     Narrow Lane Were Already Closed, Although The 
   
 Florist's At The     Corner Remained Open, But Of     The     Shadow Which Lay Along 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 25 
 The Greater Part Of     The     Arcade This Alert Watcher Took Every Advantage. 
 From The     Recess Formed By A Shop Door He Peered Out At Gray, Where The 
 Light Of     A Street Lamp Fell Upon Him, Studying His Face, His Movements, 
 With Unrelaxing Vigilance. 
   
   
   
 Gray, Following Some Moments Of     Indecision, Strode Off Towards 
 Piccadilly. The     Little Man Came Out Cautiously From His Hiding-Place 
 And Looked After Him. Out Of     A Dark Porch, Ten Paces Along Bond Street, 
 Appeared A Burly Figure To Fall Into Step A Few Yards Behind Gray. The 
 Little Man Licked His Lips Appreciatively And Returned To The     Doorway 
 Below The     Premises Of     Kazmah. 
   
   
   
 Reaching Piccadilly, Gray Stood For A Time On The     Corner, Indifferent 
 To The     Jostling Of     Passers-By. Finally He Crossed, Walked Along To 
 The Prince's Restaurant, And Entered The     Lobby. He Glanced At His 
 Wrist-Watch. It Registered The     Hour Of     Seven-Twenty-Five. 
   
   
   
 He Cancelled His Order For A Table And Was Standing Staring Moodily 
 Towards The     Entrance When The     Doors Swung Open And A Man Entered Who 
 Stepped Straight Up To Him, Hand Extended, And: 
   
   
   
 "Glad To See You, Gray," He Said. "What's The     Trouble?" 
   
   
   
 Quentin Gray Stared As If Incredulous At The     Speaker, And It Was With An 
 Unmistakable Note Of     Welcome In His Voice That He Replied: 
   
   
   
 "Seton! Seton Pasha!" 
   
   
   
 The Frown Disappeared From Gray's Forehead, And He Gripped The     Other's 
 Hand In Hearty Greeting. But: 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 26 
   
 "Stick To Plain Seton!" Said The     New-Comer, Glancing Rapidly About Him. 
 "Ottoman Titles Are Not Fashionable." 
   
   
   
 The Speaker Was A Man Of     Arresting Personality. Above Medium Height, 
 Well But Leanly Built, The     Face Of     Seton "Pasha" Was Burned To A Deeper 
 Shade Than England's Wintry Sun Is Capable Of     Producing. He Wore A 
 Close-Trimmed Beard And Moustache, And The     Bronze On His Cheeks Enhanced 
 The Brightness Of     His Grey Eyes And Rendered Very Noticeable A Slight 
 Frosting Of     The     Dark Hair Above His Temples. He Had The     Indescribable 
 Air Of     A "Sure" Man, A Sound Man To Have Beside One In A Tight Place; 
 And Looking Into The     Rather Grim Face, Quentin Gray Felt Suddenly 
 Ashamed Of     Himself. From Seton Pasha He Knew That He Could Keep Nothing 
 Back. He Knew That Presently He Should Find Himself Telling This Quiet, 
 Brown-Skinned Man The     Whole Story Of     His Humiliation--And He Knew That 
 Seton Would Not Spare His Feelings. 
   
   
   
 "My Dear Fellow," He Said, "You Must Pardon Me If I Sometimes Fail To 
 Respect Your Wishes In This Matter. When I Left The     East The     Name Of 
 Seton Pasha Was On Everybody's Tongue. But Are You Alone?" 
   
   
   
 "I Am. I Only Arrived In London Tonight And In England This Morning." 
   
   
   
 "Were You Thinking Of     Dining Here?" 
   
   
   
 "No; I Saw You Through The     Doorway As I Was Passing. But This Will Do 
 As Well As Another Place. I Gather That You Are Disengaged. Perhaps You 
 Will Dine With Me?" 
   
   
   
 "Splendid!" Cried Gray. "Wait A Moment. Perhaps My Table Hasn't Gone!" 
   
   
   
 He Ran Off In His Boyish, Impetuous Fashion, And Seton Watched Him, 
   
 Smiling Quietly. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 27 
   
   
 The Table Proved To Be Available, And Ere Long The     Two Were Discussing 
 An Excellent Dinner. Gray Lost Much Of     His Irritability And Began To 
 Talk Coherently Upon Topics Of     General Interest. Presently, Following An 
 Interval During Which He Had Been Covertly Watching His Companion: 
   
   
   
 "Do You Know, Seton," He Said, "You Are The     One Man In London Whose 
 Company I Could Have Tolerated Tonight." 
   
   
   
 "My Arrival Was Peculiarly Opportune." 
   
   
   
 "Your Arrivals Are Always Peculiarly Opportune." Gray Stared At Seton 
 With An Expression Of     Puzzled Admiration. "I Don't Think I Shall Ever 
 Understand Your Turning Up Immediately Before The     Senussi Raid In Egypt. 
 Do You Remember? I Was With The     Armored Cars." 
   
   
   
 "I Remember Perfectly." 
   
   
   
 "Then You Vanished In The     Same Mysterious Fashion, And The     C. O. Was 
 A Sphinx On The     Subject. I Next Saw You Strolling Out Of     The     Gate At 
 Baghdad. How The     Devil You'd Got To Baghdad, Considering That You Didn't 
 Come With Us And That You Weren't With The     Cavalry, Heaven Only Knows!" 
   
   
   
 "No," Said Seton Judicially, Gazing Through His Uplifted Wine-Glass; 
 "When One Comes To Consider The     Matter Without Prejudice It Is Certainly 
 Odd. But Do I Know The     Lady To Whose Non-Appearance I Owe The     Pleasure 
 Of Your Company Tonight?" 
   
   
   
   
 Quentin Gray Stared At Him Blankly. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 28 
   
   
 "Really, Seton, You Amaze Me. Did I Say That I Had An Appointment With A 
 Lady?" 
   
   
   
 "My Dear Gray, When I See A Man Standing Biting His Nails And Glaring 
 Out Into Piccadilly From A Restaurant Entrance I Ask Myself A Question. 
 When I Learn That He Has Just Cancelled An Order For A Table For Two I 
 Answer It." 
   
   
   
 Gray Laughed. "You Always Make Me Feel So Infernally Young, Seton." 
   
   
   
 "Good!" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, It's Good To Feel Young, But Bad To Feel A Young Fool; And That's 
 What I Feel--And What I Am. Listen!" 
   
   
   
 Leaning Across The     Table So That The     Light Of     The     Shaded Lamp Fell Fully 
 Upon His Flushed, Eager Face, Gray, Not Without Embarrassment, Told His 
 Companion Of     The     "Dirty Trick"--So He Phrased It--Which Sir Lucien Pyne 
 Had Played Upon Him. In Conclusion: 
   
   
   
 "What Would You Do, Seton?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
 Seton Sat Regarding Him In Silence With A Cool, Calculating Stare Which 
 Some Men Had Termed Insolent, Absently Tapping His Teeth With The     Gold 
 Rim Of     A Monocle Which He Carried But Apparently Never Used For Any 
 Other Purpose; And It Was At About This Time That A Long Low Car 
 Passed Near The     Door Of     The     Restaurant, Crossing The     Traffic Stream Of 
 Piccadilly To Draw Up At The     Corner Of     Old Bond Street. 
   
   
   
   
 From The     Car Monte Irvin Alighted And, Telling The     Man To Wait, Set Out 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 29 
 On Foot. Ten Paces Along Bond Street He Encountered A Small, Stooping 
 Figure Which Became Detached From The     Shadows Of     A Shop Door. The     Light 
 Of A Street Lamp Shone Down Upon The     Sharp, Hooked Nose And Into The 
 Cunning Little Brown Eyes Of     Brisley, Of     Spinker's Detective Agency. 
 Monte Irvin Started. 
   
   
   
 "Ah, Brisley!" He Said, "I Was Looking For You. Are They Still There?" 
   
   
   
 "Probably, Sir." Brisley Licked His Lips. "My Colleague, Gunn, Reports 
 No One Came Out Whilst I Was Away 'Phoning." 
   
   
   
 "But The     Whole Thing Seems Preposterous. Are There No Other Offices In 
 The Block Where They Might Be?" 
   
   
   
 "I Personally Saw Mr. Gray, Sir Lucien Pyne And The     Lady Go Into 
 Kazmah's. At That Time--Roughly, Ten To Seven--All The     Other Offices Had 
 Been Closed, Approximately, One Hour." 
   
   
   
 "There Is Absolutely No Possibility That They Might Have Come Out Unseen 
 By You?" 
   
   
   
 "None, Sir. I Should Not Have Troubled A Client If In Doubt. Here's 
 Gunn." 
   
   
   
 Old Bond Street Now Was Darkened And Deserted; The     Yellow Mist Had 
 Turned To Fine Rain, And Gunn, His Hands Thrust In His Pockets, Was 
 Sheltering Under The     Porch Of     The     Arcade. Gunn Possessed A Purple 
 Complexion Which Attained To Full Vigor Of     Coloring In The     Nasal Region. 
 His Moustache Of     Dirty Grey Was Stained Brown In The     Centre As If By 
 Frequent Potations Of     Stout, And His Bulky Figure Was Artificially 
 Enlarged By The     Presence Of     Two Overcoats, The     Outer Of     Which Was A 
   
 Waterproof And The     Inner A Blue Garment Appreciably Longer Both In 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 30 
 Sleeve And Skirt Than The     Former. The     Effect Produced Was One Of     Great 
 Novelty. Gunn Touched The     Brim Of     His Soft Felt Hat, Which He Wore 
 Turned Down All Round Apparently In Imitation Of     A Flower-Pot. 
   
   
   
 "All Snug, Sir," He Said, Hoarsely And Confidentially, Bending Forward 
 And Breathing The     Words Into Irvin's Ear. "Snug As A Bee In A Hive. 
 You're As Good As A Bachelor Again." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Mentally Recoiled. 
   
   
   
 "Lead The     Way To The     Door Of     This Place," He Said Tersely. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sir, This Way, Sir. Be Careful Of     The     Step There. You May Remark 
 That The     Outer Door Is Not Yet Closed. I Am Informed Upon Reliable 
 Authority As The     Last To Go Locks The     Door. Hence We Perceive That The 
 Last Has Not Yet Gone. It Is Likewise Opened By The     First To Come Of     A 
 Mornin'. Here We Are, Sir; Door On The     Right." 
   
   
   
 The Landing Was In Darkness, But As Gunn Spoke He Directed The     Ray Of     A 
 Pocket Lamp Upon A Bronze Plate Bearing The     Name "Kazmah." He Rested One 
 Hand Upon His Hip. 
   
   
   
 "All Snug," He Repeated; "As Snug As A Eel In Mud. The     Decree Nisi Is 
 Yours, Sir. As An Alderman Of     The     City Of     London And A Justice Of     The 
 Peace You Are Entitled To Call A Police Officer--" 
   
   
   
 "Hold Your Tongue!" Rapped Irvin. "You've Been Drinking: And I Place No 
 Reliance Whatever In Your Evidence. I Do Not Believe That My Wife Or Any 
 One Else But Ourselves Is Upon These Premises." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 4 (Closed Door ) Pg 31 
 The Watery Eyes Of     The     Insulted Man Protruded Unnaturally. "Drinkin'!" 
 He Whispered, "Drink--" 
   
   
   
 But Indignation Now Deprived Gunn Of     Speech And: 
   
   
   
 "Excuse Me, Sir," Interrupted The     Nasal Voice Of     Brisley, "But I Can 
 Absolutely Answer For Gunn. Reputation Of     The     Agency At Stake. Worked 
 With Us For Three Years. Parties Undoubtedly On The     Premises As 
 Reported." 
   
   
   
 "Drink--" Whispered Gunn. 
   
   
   
 "I Shall Be Glad," Said Monte Irvin, And His Voice Shook Emotionally, 
 "If You Will Lend Me Your Pocket Lamp. I Am Naturally Upset. Will You 
 Kindly Both Go Downstairs. I Will Call If I Want You." 
   
   
   
 The Two Men Obeyed, Gunn Muttering Hoarsely To Brisley; And Monte Irvin 
 Was Left Standing On The     Landing, The     Lamp In His Hand. He Waited Until 
 He Knew From The     Sound Of     Their Footsteps That The     Pair Had Regained The 
 Street, Then, Resting His Arm Against The     Closed Door, And Pressing 
 His Forehead To The     Damp Sleeve Of     His Coat, He Stood Awhile, The     Lamp, 
 Which He Held Limply, Shining Down Upon The     Floor. 
   
   
   
 His Lips Moved, And Almost Inaudibly He Murmured His Wife's Name. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 32 
 Quentin Gray And Seton Strolled Out Of     Prince's And Both Paused Whilst 
 Seton Lighted A Long Black Cheroot. 
   
   
   
 "It Seems A Pity To Waste That Box," Said Gray. "Suppose We Look In At 
 The Gaiety For An Hour?" 
   
   
   
 His Humor Was Vastly Improved, And He Watched The     Passing Throngs With 
 An Expression More Suited To His Boyish Good Looks Than That Of     Anger 
 And Mortification Which Had Rested Upon Him An Hour Earlier. 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Tossed A Match Into The     Road. 
   
   
   
 "My Official Business Is Finished For The     Day," He Replied. "I Place 
 Myself Unreservedly In Your Hands." 
   
   
   
 "Well, Then," Began Gray--And Paused. 
   
   
   
 A Long, Low Car, The     Chauffeur Temporarily Detained By The     Stoppage Of     A 
 Motorbus Ahead, Had Slowed Up Within Three Yards Of     The     Spot Where They 
 Were Standing. Gray Seized Seton's Arm In A Fierce Grip. 
   
   
   
 "Seton," He Said, His Voice Betraying Intense Excitement, "Look! There 
 Is Monte Irvin!" 
   
   
   
 "In The     Car?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Yes! But--He Has Two Police With Him! Seton, What Can It Mean?" 
   
   
   
   
 The Car Moved Away, Swinging To The     Right Across The     Traffic Stream 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 33 
 And Clearly Heading For Old Bond Street. Quentin Gray's Mercurial Color 
 Deserted Him, And He Turned To Seton A Face Grown Suddenly Pale. 
   
   
   
 "Good God," He Whispered, "Something Has Happened To Rita!" 
   
   
   
 Neglectful Of     His Personal Safety, He Plunged Out Into The     Traffic, 
 Dodging This Way And That, And Making After Monte Irvin's Car. Of     The 
 Fact That His Friend Was Close Beside Him He Remained Unaware Until, On 
 The Corner Of     Old Bond Street, A Firm Grip Settled Upon His Shoulder. 
 Gray Turned Angrily. But The     Grip Was Immovable, And He Found Himself 
 Staring Into The     Unemotional Face Of     Seton Pasha. 
   
   
   
 "Seton, For God's Sake, Don't Detain Me! I Must Learn What's Wrong." 
   
   
   
 "Pull Up, Gray." 
   
   
   
 Quentin Gray Clenched His Teeth. 
   
   
   
 "Listen To Me, Seton. This Is No Time For Interference. I--" 
   
   
   
 "You Are About To Become Involved In Some Very Unsavory Business; And I 
 Repeat--Pull Up. In A Moment We Shall Learn All There Is To Be Learned. 
 But Are You Determined Openly To Thrust Yourself Into The     Family Affairs 
 Of Mr. Monte Irvin?" 
   
   
   
 "If Anything Has Happened To Rita I'll Kill That Damned Cur Pyne!" 
   
   
   
 "You Are Determined To Intrude Upon This Man In Your Present Frame Of 
 Mind At A Time Of     Evident Trouble?" 
   
   
   
   
 But Gray Was Deaf To The     Promptings Of     Prudence And Good Taste Alike. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 34 
   
   
   
 "I'm Going To See The     Thing Through," He Said Hoarsely. 
   
   
   
 "Quite So. Rely Upon Me. But Endeavor To Behave More Like A Man Of 
 The World And Less Like A Dangerous Lunatic, Or We Shall Quarrel 
 Atrociously." 
   
   
   
 Quentin Gray Audibly Gnashed His Teeth, But The     Cool Stare Of     The 
 Other's Eyes Was Quelling, And Now As Their Glances Met And Clashed, A 
 Sympathetic Smile Softened The     Lines Of     Seton's Grim Mouth, And: 
   
   
   
 "I Quite Understand, Old Chap," He Said, Linking His Arm In Gray's. "But 
 Can't You See How Important It Is, For Everybody's Sake, That We Should 
 Tackle The     Thing Coolly?" 
   
   
   
 "Seton"--Gray's Voice Broke--"I'm Sorry. I Know I'm Mad; But I Was With 
 Her Only An Hour Ago, And Now--" 
   
   
   
 "And Now 'Her' Husband Appears On The     Scene Accompanied By A Police 
 Inspector And A Sergeant. What Are Your Relations With Mr. Monte Irvin?" 
   
   
   
 They Were Walking Rapidly Again Along Bond Street. 
   
   
   
 "What Do You Mean, Seton?" Asked Gray. 
   
   
   
 "I Mean Does He Approve Of     Your Friendship With His Wife, Or Is It A 
 Clandestine Affair?" 
   
   
   
 "Clandestine?--Certainly Not. I Was On My Way To Call At The     House When 
 I Met Her With Pyne This Evening." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 35 
 That Is What I Wanted To Know. Very Well; Since You Intend To Follow 
 The Thing Up, It Simplifies Matters Somewhat. Here Is The     Car." 
   
   
   
 "At Kazmah's Door! What In Heaven's Name Does It Mean?" 
   
   
   
 "It Means That We Shall Get A Very Poor Reception If We Intrude. 
 Question The     Chauffeur." 
   
   
   
 But Gray Had Already Approached The     Man, Who Touched His Cap In 
 Recognition. 
   
   
   
 "What's The     Trouble, Pattison?" He Demanded Breathlessly. "I Saw Police 
 In The     Car A Moment Ago." 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sir. I Don't Rightly Know, Sir, What's Happened. But Mr. Irvin 
 Drove From Home To The     Corner Of     Old Bond Street A Quarter Of     An Hour 
 Ago And Told Me To Wait, Then Came Back Again And Drove Round To Vine 
 Street To Fetch The     Police. They're Inside Now." 
   
   
   
 Even As He Spoke, With Excitement Ill-Concealed, A Police-Sergeant Came 
 Out Of     The     Doorway, And: 
   
   
   
 "Move On, There," He Said To Seton And Gray. "You Mustn't Hang About 
 This Door." 
   
   
   
 "Excuse Me, Sergeant," Cried Gray, "But If The     Matter Concerns Mrs. 
 Monte Irvin I Can Probably Supply Information." 
   
   
   
 The Sergeant Stared At Him Hard, Saw That Both He And His Friend Wore 
 Evening Dress, And Grew Proportionately Respectful. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 36 
 "What Is Your Name, Sir?" He Asked. "I'll Mention It To The     Officer In 
 Charge." 
   
   
   
 "Quentin Gray. Inform Mr. Monte Irvin That I Wish To Speak To Him." 
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir." He Turned To The     Chauffeur. "Hand Me Out The     Bag I 
 Gave You At Vine Street." Pattison Leaned Over The     Door At The     Front 
 Of The     Car, And Brought Out A Big Leather Grip. With This In Hand The 
 Police-Sergeant Returned Into The     Doorway. 
   
   
   
 "We're In For It Now," Said Seton Grimly, "Whatever It Is." 
   
   
   
 Gray Returned No Answer, Moving Restlessly Up And Down Before The     Door 
 In A Fever Of     Excitement And Dread. Presently The     Sergeant Reappeared. 
   
   
   
 "Step This Way, Please," He Said. 
   
   
   
 Followed By Seton And Gray He Led The     Way Up To The     Landing Before 
 Kazmah's Apartments. It Was Vaguely Lighted By Two Police-Lanterns. Four 
 Men Were Standing There, And Four Pairs Of     Eyes Were Focussed Upon The 
 Stair-Head. 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin, His Features A Distressing Ashen Color, Spoke. 
   
   
   
 "That You, Gray?" Quentin Gray Would Not Have Recognized The     Voice. 
 "Thanks For Offering Your Help. God Knows I Need All I Can Get. You Were 
 With Rita Tonight. What Happened? Where Is She?" 
   
   
   
   
 "Heaven Knows Where She Is!" Cried Gray. "I Left Her Here With Pyne 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 37 
 Shortly After Seven O'clock." 
   
   
   
 He Paused, Fixing His Gaze Upon The     Face Of     Brisley, Whose Shifty Eyes 
 Avoided Him And Who Was Licking His Lips In The     Manner Of     A Dog Who Has 
 Seen The     Whip. 
   
   
   
 "Why," Said Gray, "I Believe You Are The     Fellow Who Has Been Following 
 Me All Night For Some Reason." 
   
   
   
 He Stepped Toward The     Foxy Little Man But: 
   
   
   
 "Never Mind, Gray," Interrupted Irvin. "I Was To Blame. But He Was 
 Following My Wife, Not You. Tell Me Quickly: Why Did She Come Here?" 
   
   
   
 Gray Raised His Hand To His Brow With A Gesture Of     Bewilderment. 
   
   
   
 "To Consult This Man, Kazmah. I Actually Saw Her Enter The     Inner Room, I 
 Went To Get A Cab, And When I Returned The     Door Was Locked." 
   
   
   
 "You Knocked?" 
   
   
   
 "Of Course. I Made No End Of     A Row. But I Could Get No Reply And Went 
 Away." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Turned, A Pathetic Figure, To The     Inspector Who Stood Beside 
 Him. 
   
   
   
 "We May As Well Proceed, Inspector Whiteleaf," He Said. "Mr. Gray's 
   
 Evidence Throws No Light On The     Matter At All." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 38 
   
   
 "Very Well, Sir," Was The     Reply; "We Have The     Warrant, And Have Given 
 The Usual Notice To Whoever May Be Hiding Inside. Burton!" 
   
   
   
 The Sergeant Stepped Forward, Placed The     Leather Bag On The     Floor, 
 And Stooping, Opened It, Revealing A Number Of     Burglarious-Looking 
 Instruments. 
   
   
   
 "Shall I Try To Cut Through The     Panel?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
 "No, No!" Cried Monte Irvin. "Waste No Time. You Have A Crowbar There. 
 Force The     Door From Its Hinges. Hurry, Man!" 
   
   
   
 "It Doesn't Work On Hinges!" Gray Interrupted Excitedly. "It Slides To 
 The Right By Means Of     Some Arrangement Concealed Under The     Mat." 
   
   
   
 "Pass That Lantern," Directed Burton, Glancing Over His Shoulder To 
 Gunn. 
   
   
   
 Setting It Beside Him, The     Sergeant Knelt And Examined The     Threshold Of 
 The Door. 
   
   
   
 "A Metal Plate," He Said. "The Weight Moves A Lever, I Suppose, Which 
 Opens The     Door If It Isn't Locked. The     Lock Will Be On The     Left Of     The 
 Door As It Opens To The     Right. Let's See What We Can Do." 
   
   
   
 He Stood Up, Crowbar In Hand, And Inserted The     Chisel Blade Of     The 
 Implement Between The     Edge Of     The     Door And The     Doorcase. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 39 
 "Hold Steady!" Said The     Inspector, Standing At His Elbow. 
   
   
   
 The Dull Metallic Sound Of     Hammer Blows On Steel Echoed Queerly Around 
 The Well Of     The     Staircase. Brisley And Gunn, Standing Very Close 
 Together On The     Bottom Step Of     The     Stair To The     Third Floor, Watched The 
 Police Furtively. Irvin And Gray Found A Common Fascination In The     Door 
 Itself, And Seton, Cheroot In Mouth, Looked From Group To Group With 
 Quiet Interest. 
   
   
   
 "Right!" Cried The     Sergeant. 
   
   
   
 The Blows Ceased. 
   
   
   
 Firmly Grasping The     Bar, Burton Brought All His Weight To Bear Upon It. 
 There Was A Dull, Cracking Sound And A Sort Of     Rasping. The     Door Moved 
 Slightly. 
   
   
   
 "There's Where It Locks!" Said The     Inspector, Directing The     Light Of 
 A Lantern Upon The     Crevice Created. "Three Inches Lower. But It May Be 
 Bolted As Well." 
   
   
   
 "We'll Soon Get At The     Bolts," Replied Burton, The     Lust Of     Destruction 
 Now Strong Upon Him. 
   
   
   
 Wrenching The     Crowbar From Its Place He Attacked The     Lower Panel Of     The 
 Door, And Amid A Loud Splintering And Crashing Created A Hole Big Enough 
 To Allow Of     The     Passage Of     A Hand And Arm. 
   
   
   
   
 The Inspector Reached In, Groped About, And Then Uttered An Exclamation 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 40 
 Of Triumph. 
   
   
   
 "I've Unfastened The     Bolt," He Said. "If There Isn't Another At The     Top 
 You Ought To Be Able To Force The     Door Now, Burton." 
   
   
   
 The Jimmy Was Thrust Back Into Position, And: 
   
   
   
 "Stand Clear!" Cried Burton. 
   
   
   
 Again He Threw His Weight Upon The     Bar--And Again. 
   
   
   
 "Drive It Further In!" Said Monte Irvin; And Snatching Up The     Heavy 
 Hammer, He Rained Blows Upon The     Steel Butt. "Now Try." 
   
   
   
 Burton Exerted Himself To The     Utmost. 
   
   
   
 "Take Hold Up Here, Someone!" He Panted. "Two Of     Us Can Pull." 
   
   
   
 Gray Leapt Forward, And The     Pair Of     Them Bent To The     Task. 
   
   
   
 There Came A Dull Report Of     Parting Mechanism, More Sounds Of 
 Splintering Wood... And The     Door Rolled Open! 
   
   
   
 A Moment Of     Tense Silence, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Is Anyone Inside There?" Cried The     Inspector Loudly. 
   
   
   
 Not A Sound Came From The     Dark Interior. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 41 
   
   
 "The Lantern!" Whispered Monte Irvin. 
   
   
   
 He Stumbled Into The     Room, From Which A Heavy Smell Of     Perfume Swept Out 
 Upon The     Landing. Quentin Gray, Snatching The     Lantern From The     Floor, 
 Where It Had Been Replaced, Was The     Next To Enter. 
   
   
   
 "Look For The     Switch, And Turn The     Lights On!" Called The     Inspector, 
 Following. 
   
   
   
 Even As He Spoke, Gray Had Found The     Switch, And The     Apartment Of     Kazmah 
 Became Flooded With Subdued Light. 
   
   
   
 A Glance Showed It To Be Unoccupied. 
   
   
   
 Gray Ran Across To The     Mushrabiyeh Cabinet And Jerked The     Curtains 
 Aside. There Was No One In The     Cabinet. It Contained A Chair And A 
 Table. Upon The     Latter Was A Telephone And Some Papers And Books. "This 
 Way!" He Cried, His Voice High Pitched And Unnatural. 
   
   
   
 He Burst Through The     Doorway Into The     Inner Room Which He Had Seen Mrs. 
 Irvin Enter. The     Air Was Laden With The     Smell Of     Frankincense. 
   
   
   
 "A Lantern!" He Called. "I Left One On The     Divan." 
   
   
   
 But Monte Irvin Had Caught It Up And Was Already At His Elbow. His Hand 
 Was Shaking So That The     Light Danced Wildly Now Upon The     Carpet, Now 
   
 Upon The     Green Walls. This Room Also Was Deserted. A Black Gap In The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 42 
 Curtain Showed Where The     Material Had Been Roughly Torn. Suddenly: 
   
   
   
 "My God, Look!" Muttered The     Inspector, Who, With The     Others, Now Stood 
 In The     Curious Draped Apartment. 
   
   
   
 A Thin Stream Of     Blood Was Trickling Out From Beneath The     Torn Hangings! 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Staggered And Fell Back Against The     Inspector, Clutching At 
 Him For Support. But Sergeant Burton, Who Carried The     Second Lantern, 
 Crossed The     Room And Wrenched The     Green Draperies Bodily From Their 
 Fastenings. 
   
   
   
 They Had Masked A Wooden Partition Or Stout Screen, Having An Aperture 
 In The     Centre Which Could Be Closed By Means Of     Another Of     The     Sliding 
 Doors. A Space Some Five Feet Deep Was Thus Walled Off From This Second 
 Room. It Contained A Massive Ebony Chair. Behind The     Chair, And Dividing 
 The Second Room Into Yet A Third Section, Extended Another Wooden 
 Partition In One End Of     Which Was An Ordinary Office Door; And 
 Immediately At The     Back Of     The     Chair Appeared A Little Opening Or 
 Window, Some Three Feet Up From The     Floor. The     Sound Of     A Groan, 
 Followed By That Of     A Dull Thud, Came From The     Outer Room. 
   
   
   
 "Hullo!" Cried Inspector Whiteleaf. "Mr. Irvin Has Fainted. Lend A 
 Hand." 
   
   
   
 "I Am Here," Replied The     Quiet Voice Of     Seton Pasha. 
   
   
   
 "My God!" Whispered Gray. "Seton! Seton!" 
   
   
   
   
 "Touch Nothing," Cried The     Inspector From Outside, "Until I Come!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5 (The  Door Is Opened) Pg 43 
   
   
   
 And Now The     Narrow Apartment Became Filled With All The     Awe-Stricken 
 Company, Only Excepting Monte Irvin, And Brisley, Who Was Attending To 
 The Swooning Man. 
   
   
   
 Flat Upon The     Floor, Between The     Door And The     Ebony Chair, Arms Extended 
 And Eyes Staring Upward At The     Ceiling, Lay Sir Lucien Pyne, His White 
 Shirt Front Redly Dyed. In The     Hush Which Had Fallen, The     Footsteps 
 Of Inspector Whiteleaf Sounded Loudly As He Opened The     Final Door, And 
 Swept The     Interior Of     An Inner Room With The     Rays Of     The     Lantern. 
   
   
   
 The Room Was Barely Furnished As An Office. There Was Another 
 Half-Glazed Door Opening On To A Narrow Corridor. This Door Was Locked. 
   
   
   
 "Pyne!" Whispered Gray, Pale Now To The     Lips. "Do You Understand, Seton? 
 It's Pyne! Look! He Has Been Stabbed!" 
   
   
   
 Sergeant Burton Knelt Down And Gingerly Laid His Hand Upon The     Stained 
 Linen Over The     Breast Of     Sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 "Dead?" Asked The     Inspector, Speaking From The     Inner Doorway. 
   
   
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
   
 "You Say, Sir," Turning To Quentin Gray, "That This Is Sir Lucien Pyne?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 5  Pg 44 
   
   
 Inspector Whiteleaf Rather Clumsily Removed His Cap. The     Odor Of     Seton's 
 Cheroot Announced Itself Above The     Oriental Perfume With Which The     Place 
 Was Laden. 
   
   
   
 "Burton!" 
   
   
   
 "Yes?" 
   
   
   
 "See If This Telephone In The     Office Is In Order. It Appears To Be An 
 Extension From The     Outer Room." 
   
   
   
 While The     Others Stood Grouped About That Still Figure On The     Floor, 
 Sergeant Burton Entered The     Little Office. 
   
   
   
 "Hello!" He Cried. "Yes?" A Momentary Interval, Then: "It's All Right, 
 Sir. What Number?" 
   
   
   
 "Gentlemen," Said The     Inspector, Firmly And Authoritatively, "I Am About 
 To Telephone To Vine Street For Instructions. No One Will Leave The 
 Premises." 
   
   
   
 Amid An Intense Hush: 
   
   
   
 "Regent 201," Called Sergeant Burton. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 Red kerry Pg 45 
 Chief Inspector Kerry, Of     The     Criminal Investigation Department, Stood 
 Before The     Empty Grate Of     His Cheerless Office In New Scotland Yard, 
 One Hand Thrust Into The     Pocket Of     His Blue Reefer Jacket And The     Other 
 Twirling A Malacca Cane, Which Was Heavily Silver-Mounted And Which 
 Must Have Excited The     Envy Of     Every Sergeant-Major Beholding It. Chief 
 Inspector Kerry Wore A Very Narrow-Brimmed Bowler Hat, Having Two 
 Ventilation Holes Conspicuously Placed Immediately Above The     Band. He 
 Wore This Hat Tilted Forward And To The     Right. 
   
   
   
 "Red Kerry" Wholly Merited His Sobriquet, For The     Man Was As Red 
 As Fire. His Hair, Which He Wore Cropped Close As A Pugilist's, Was 
 Brilliantly Red, And So Was His Short, Wiry, Aggressive Moustache. 
 His Complexion Was Red, And From Beneath His Straight Red Eyebrows He 
 Surveyed The     World With A Pair Of     Unblinking, Intolerant Steel-Blue 
 Eyes. He Never Smoked In Public, As His Taste Inclined Towards 
 Irish Twist And A Short Clay Pipe; But He Was Addicted To The     Use Of 
 Chewing-Gum, And As He Chewed--And He Chewed Incessantly--He Revealed A 
 Perfect Row Of     Large, White, And Positively Savage-Looking Teeth. High 
 Cheek Bones And Prominent Maxillary Muscles Enhanced The     Truculence 
 Indicated By His Chin. 
   
   
   
 But, Next To This Truculence, Which Was The     First And Most Alarming 
 Trait To Intrude Itself Upon The     Observer's Attention, The     Outstanding 
 Characteristic Of     Chief Inspector Kerry Was His Compact Neatness. Of     No 
 More Than Medium Height But With Shoulders Like An Acrobat, He Had Slim, 
 Straight Legs And The     Feet Of     A Dancing Master. His Attire, From The 
 Square-Pointed Collar Down To The     Neat Black Brogues, Was Spotless. 
 His Reefer Jacket Fitted Him Faultlessly, But His Trousers Were Cut So 
 Unfashionably Narrow That The     Protuberant Thigh Muscles And The     Line 
 Of A Highly Developed Calf Could Quite Easily Be Discerned. The     Hand 
 Twirling The     Cane Was Small But Also Muscular, Freckled And Covered With 
 Light Down. Red Kerry Was Built On The     Lines Of     A Whippet, But Carried 
 The Equipment Of     An Irish Terrier. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red kerry) Pg 46 
   
 The Telephone Bell Rang. Inspector Kerry Moved His Square Shoulders In 
 A Manner Oddly Suggestive Of     A Wrestler, Laid The     Malacca Cane On The 
 Mantleshelf, And Crossed To The     Table. Taking Up The     Telephone: 
   
   
   
 "Yes?" He Said, And His Voice Was High-Pitched And Imperious. 
   
   
   
 He Listened For A Moment. 
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir." 
   
   
   
 He Replaced The     Receiver, Took Up A Wet Oilskin Overall From The     Back Of 
 A Chair And The     Cane From The     Mantleshelf. Then Rolling Chewing-Gum 
 From One Corner Of     His Mouth Into The     Other, He Snapped Off The     Electric 
 Light And Walked From The     Room. 
   
   
   
 Along The     Corridor He Went With A Lithe, Silent Step, Moving From The 
 Hips And Swinging His Shoulders. Before A Door Marked "Private" He 
 Paused. From His Waistcoat Pocket He Took A Little Silver Convex Mirror 
 And Surveyed Himself Critically Therein. He Adjusted His Neat Tie, 
 Replaced The     Mirror, Knocked At The     Door And Entered The     Room Of     The 
 Assistant Commissioner. 
   
   
   
 This Important Official Was A Man Constructed On Huge Principles, A 
 Man Of     Military Bearing, Having Tired Eyes And A Bewildered Manner. 
 He Conveyed The     Impression That The     Collection Of     Documents, Books, 
 Telephones, And Other Paraphernalia Bestrewing His Table Had Reduced Him 
 To A State Of     Stupor. He Looked Up Wearily And Met The     Fierce Gaze Of 
 The Chief Inspector With A Glance Almost Apologetic. 
   
   
   
 "Ah, Chief Inspector Kerry?" He Said, With Vague Surprise. "Yes. I Told 
   
 You To Come. Really, I Ought To Have Been At Home Hours Ago. It's 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red kerry) Pg 47 
 Most Unfortunate. I Have To Do The     Work Of     Three Men. This Is Your 
 Department, Is It Not, Chief Inspector?" 
   
   
   
 He Handed Kerry A Slip Of     Paper, At Which The     Chief Inspector Stared 
 Fiercely. 
   
   
   
 "Murder!" Rapped Kerry. "Sir Lucien Pyne. Yes, Sir, I Am Still On Duty." 
   
   
   
 His Speech, In Moments Of     Interest, Must Have Suggested To One 
 Overhearing Him From An Adjoining Room, For Instance, The     Operation Of     A 
 Telegraphic Instrument. He Gave To Every Syllable The     Value Of     A Rap And 
 Certain Words He Terminated With An Audible Snap Of     His Teeth. 
   
   
   
 "Ah," Murmured The     Assistant Commissioner. "Yes. Divisional 
 Inspector--Somebody (I Cannot Read The     Name) Has Detained All The 
 Parties. But You Had Better Report At Vine Street. It Appears To Be A 
 Big Case." 
   
   
   
 He Sighed Wearily. 
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir. With Your Permission I Will Glance At Sir Lucien's 
 Pedigree." 
   
   
   
 "Certainly--Certainly," Said The     Assistant Commissioner, Waving One 
 Large Hand In The     Direction Of     A Bookshelf. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Crossed The     Room, Laid His Oilskin And Cane Upon A Chair, And 
 From The     Shelf Where It Reposed Took A Squat Volume. The     Assistant 
 Commissioner, Hand Pressed To Brow, Began To Study A Document Which Lay 
 Before Him. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 48 
 "Here We Are," Said Kerry, Sotto Voce. "Pyne, Sir Lucien St. Aubyn, 
 Fourth Baronet, Son Of     General Sir Christian Pyne, K.C.B. H'm! Born 
 Malta.... Oriel College; First In Classics.... H'm. Blue.... India, 
 Burma.... Contested Wigan.... Attached British Legation. ... H'm!..." 
   
   
   
 He Returned The     Book To Its Place, Took Up His Overall And Cane, And: 
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir," He Said. "I Will Proceed To Vine Street." 
   
   
   
 "Certainly--Certainly," Murmured The     Assistant Commissioner, Glancing Up 
 Absently. "Good Night." 
   
   
   
 "Good Night, Sir." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Chief Inspector!" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Turned, His Hand On The     Door-Knob. 
   
   
   
 "Sir?" 
   
   
   
 "I--Er--What Was I Going To Say? Oh, Yes! The     Social Importance Of 
 The Murdered Man Raises The     Case From The--Er--You Follow Me? Public 
 Interest Will Become Acute, No Doubt. I Have Therefore Selected You 
 For Your Well Known Discretion. I Met Sir Lucien Once. Very Sad. Good 
 Night." 
   
   
   
 "Good Night, Sir." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Passed Out Into The     Corridor, Closing The     Door Quietly. The 
 Assistant Commissioner Was A Man For Whom He Entertained The     Highest 
   
 Respect. Despite The     Bewildered Air And Wandering Manner, He Knew This 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 49 
 Big, Tired-Looking Soldier For An Administrator Of     Infinite Capacity And 
 Inexhaustive Energy. 
   
   
   
 Proceeding To A Room Further Along The     Corridor, Chief Inspector Kerry 
 Opened The     Door And Looked In. 
   
   
   
 "Detective-Sergeant Coombes." He Snapped, And Rolled Chewing-Gum From 
 Side To Side Of     His Mouth. 
   
   
   
 Detective-Sergeant Coombes, A Plump, Short Man Having Lank Black Hair 
 And A Smile Of     Sly Contentment Perpetually Adorning His Round Face, Rose 
 Hurriedly From The     Chair Upon Which He Had Been Seated. Another Man Who 
 Was In The     Room Rose Also, As If Galvanized By The     Glare Of     The     Fierce 
 Blue Eyes. 
   
   
   
 "I'm Going To Vine Street," Said Kerry Succinctly; "You're Coming With 
 Me," Turned, And Went On His Way. 
   
   
   
 Two Taxicabs Were Standing In The     Yard, And Into The     First Of     These 
 Inspector Kerry Stepped, Followed By Coombes, The     Latter Breathing 
 Heavily And Carrying His Hat In His Hand, Since He Had Not Yet Found 
 Time To Put It On. 
   
   
   
 "Vine Street," Shouted Kerry. "Brisk." 
   
   
   
 He Leaned Back In The     Cab, Chewing Industriously. Coombes, Having 
 Somewhat Recovered His Breath, Essayed Speech. 
   
   
   
 "Is It Something Big?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 50 
 "Sure," Snapped Kerry. "Do They Send Me To Stop Dog-Fights?" 
   
   
   
 Knowing The     Man And Recognizing The     Mood, Coombes Became Silent, 
 And This Silence He Did Not Break All The     Way To Vine Street. At The 
 Station: 
   
   
   
 "Wait," Said Chief Inspector Kerry, And Went Swinging In, Carrying His 
 Overall And Having The     Malacca Cane Tucked Under His Arm. 
   
   
   
 A Few Minutes Later He Came Out Again And Reentered The     Cab. 
   
   
   
 "Piccadilly Corner Of     Old Bond Street," He Directed The     Man. 
   
   
   
 "Is It Burglary?" Asked Detective-Sergeant Coombes With Interest. 
   
   
   
 "No," Said Kerry. "It's Murder; And There Seems To Be Stacks Of 
 Evidence. Sharpen Your Pencil." 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Murmured Coombes. 
   
   
   
 They Were Almost Immediately At Their Destination, And Chief Inspector 
 Kerry, Dismissing The     Cabman, Set Off Along Bond Street With His Lithe, 
 Swinging Gait, Looking All About Him Intently. Rain Had Ceased, But The 
 Air Was Damp And Chilly, And Few Pedestrians Were To Be Seen. 
   
   
   
 A Car Was Standing Before Kazmah's Premises, The     Chauffeur Walking Up 
 And Down On The     Pavement And Flapping His Hands Across His Chest In 
 Order To Restore Circulation. The     Chief Inspector Stopped, "Hi, My Man!" 
 He Said. 
   
   
   
 The Chauffeur Stood Still. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 51 
   
 "Whose Car?" 
   
   
   
 "Mr. Monte Irvin'S." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Turned on His Heel And Stepped to The     Office Door. It Was Ajar, 
 And Kerry, Taking an Electric Torch From His Overall Pocket, Flashed the 
 Light Upon The     Name-Plate. He Stood For A Moment, Chewing and Looking up 
 The Darkened stairs. Then, Torch In hand He Ascended. 
   
   
   
 Kazmah'S Door Was Closed, And The     Chief Inspector Rapped loudly. It 
 Was Opened at Once By Sergeant Burton, And Kerry Entered, Followed by 
 Coombes. 
   
   
   
 The Room At First Sight Seemed to Be Extremely Crowded. Monte Irvin, 
 Very Pale And Haggard, Sat Upon The     Divan Beside Quentin Gray. Seton 
 Was Standing near The     Cabinet, Smoking. These Three Had Evidently Been 
 Conversing at The     Time Of     The     Detective'S Arrival With An Alert-Looking, 
 Clean-Shaven Man Whose Bag, Umbrella, And Silk Hat Stood Upon One Of     The 
 Little Inlaid Tables. Just Inside The     Second Door Were Brisley And Gunn, 
 Both Palpably Ill At Ease, And Glancing at Inspector Whiteleaf, Who Had 
 Been Interrogating them. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Chewed silently For A Moment, Bestowing a Fierce Stare Upon Each 
 Face In turn, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Who'S In charge?" He Snapped. 
   
   
   
 "I Am," Replied whiteleaf. 
   
   
   
 "Why Is The     Lower Door Open?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 52 
   
   
 "I Thought--" 
   
   
   
 "Don'T Think. Shut The     Door. Post Your Sergeant Inside. No One Is To Go 
 Out. Grab Anybody Who Comes In. Where'S The     Body?" 
   
   
   
 "This Way," Said Inspector Whiteleaf Hurriedly; Then, Over His Shoulder: 
 "Go Down To The     Door, Burton." 
   
   
   
 He Led kerry Towards The     Inner Room, Coombes At His Heels. Brisley And 
 Gunn Stood Aside To Give Them Passage; Gray And Monte Irvin Prepared to 
 Follow. At The     Doorway Kerry Turned. 
   
   
   
 "You Will All Be Good Enough To Stay Where You Are," He Said. He 
 Directed the     Aggressive Stare In seton'S Direction. "And If The 
 Gentleman Smoking a Cheroot Is Not Satisfied that He Has Quite Destroyed 
 Any Clue Perceptible By The     Sense Of     Smell I Should Be Glad To Send Out 
 For Some Fireworks." 
   
   
   
 He Tossed his Oilskin And His Cane On The     Divan And Went Into The     Room 
 Of Seance, Savagely Biting at A Piece Of     Apparently Indestructible 
 Chewing-Gum. 
   
   
   
 The Torn Green Curtain Had Been Laid Aside And The     Electric Lights 
 Turned on In the     Inside Rooms. Pallid, Sir Lucien Pyne Lay By The     Ebony 
 Chair Glaring horribly Upward. 
   
   
   
 Always With The     Keen Eyes Glancing this Way And That, Inspector Kerry 
 Crossed the     Little Audience Room And Entered the     Enclosure Contained 
 Between The     Two Screens. By The     Side Of     The     Dead Man He Stood, Looking 
 Down Silently. Then He Dropped upon One Knee And Peered closely Into The 
   
 White Face. He Looked up. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 53 
   
   
 "He Has Not Been Moved?" 
   
   
   
 "No." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Bent Yet Lower, Staring closely At A Discolored abrasion On Sir 
 Lucien'S Forehead. His Glance Wandered from Thence To The     Carved ebony 
 Chair. Still Kneeling, He Drew From His Waistcoat Pocket A Powerful Lens 
 Contained in a Washleather Bag. He Began To Examine The     Back And Sides 
 Of The     Chair. Once He Laid His Finger Lightly On A Protruding point 
 Of The     Carving, And Then Scrutinised his Finger Through The     Glass. He 
 Examined the     Dead Man'S Hands, His Nails, His Garments. Then He Crawled 
 About, Peering closely At The     Carpet. 
   
   
   
 He Stood Up Suddenly. "The Doctor," He Snapped. 
   
   
   
 Inspector Whiteleaf Retired, But Returned immediately With The 
 Clean-Shaven Man To Whom Monte Irvin Had Been Talking when Kerry 
 Arrived. 
   
   
   
 "Good Evening, Doctor," Said Kerry. "Do I Know Your Name? Start Your 
 Notes, Coombes." 
   
   
   
 "My Name Is Dr. Wilbur Weston, And I Live In albemarle Street." 
   
   
   
 "Who Called you?" 
   
   
   
 "Inspector Whiteleaf Telephoned to Me About Half An Hour Ago." 
   
   
   
   
 "You Examined the     Dead Man?" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 54 
   
   
   
 "I Did." 
   
   
   
 "You Avoided moving him?" 
   
   
   
 "It Was Unnecessary To Move Him. He Was Dead, And The     Wound Was In the 
 Left Shoulder. I Pulled his Coat Open And Unbuttoned his Shirt. That Was 
 All." 
   
   
   
 "How Long Dead?" 
   
   
   
 "I Should Say He Had Been Dead Not More Than An Hour When I Saw Him." 
   
   
   
 "What Had Caused death?" 
   
   
   
 "The Stab Of     Some Long, Narrow-Bladed weapon, Such As A Stiletto." 
   
   
   
 "Why A Stiletto?" Kerry'S Fierce Eyes Challenged him. "Did You Ever See 
 A Wound Made By A Stiletto?" 
   
   
   
 "Several--In Italy, And One At Saffron Hill. They Are Characterised by 
 Very Little External Bleeding." 
   
   
   
 "Right, Doctor. It Had Reached his Heart?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. The     Blow Was Delivered from Behind." 
   
   
   
 "How Do You Know?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 55 
   
   
 "The Direction Of     The     Wound Is Forward. I Have Seen An Almost Identical 
 Wound In the     Case Of     An Italian Woman Stabbed by A Jealous Rival." 
   
   
   
 "He Would Fall On His Back." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, No. He Would Fall On His Face, Almost Certainly." 
   
   
   
 "But He Lies On His Back." 
   
   
   
 "In My Opinion He Had Been Moved." 
   
   
   
 "Right. I Know He Had. Good Night, Doctor. See Him Out, Inspector." 
   
   
   
 Dr. Weston Seemed rather Startled by This Abrupt Dismissal, But The 
 Steel-Blue Eyes Of     Inspector Kerry Were Already Bent Again Upon The 
 Dead Man, And, Murmuring "Good Night," The     Doctor Took His Departure, 
 Followed by Whiteleaf. 
   
   
   
 "Shut This Door," Snapped kerry After The     Inspector. "I Will Call When I 
 Want You. You Stay, Coombes. Got It All Down?" 
   
   
   
 Sergeant Coombes Scratched his Head With The     End Of     A Pencil, And: 
   
   
   
 "Yes," He Said, With Hesitancy. "That Is, Except The     Word After 
 'Narrow-Bladed weapon Such As A' I'Ve Got What Looks Like 'Steelhatto.'" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Glared. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 56 
   
   
 "Try Taking the     Cotton-Wool Out Of     Your Ears," He Suggested. "The Word 
 Was Stiletto, S-T-I-L-E-T-T-O--Stiletto." 
   
   
   
 "Oh," Said Coombes, "Thanks." 
   
   
   
 Silence Fell Between The     Two Men From Scotland Yard. Kerry Stood Awhile, 
 Chewing and Staring at The     Ghastly Face Of     Sir Lucien. Then: 
   
   
   
 "Go Through All Pockets," He Directed. 
   
   
   
 Sergeant Coombes Placed his Notebook And Pencil Upon The     Seat Of     The 
 Chair And Set To Work. Kerry Entered the     Inside Room Or Office. It 
 Contained a Writing-Table (Upon Which Was A Telephone And A Pile Of     Old 
 Newspapers), A Cabinet, And Two Chairs. Upon One Of     The     Chairs Lay 
 A Crush-Hat, A Cane, And An Overcoat. He Glanced at Some Of     The 
 Newspapers, Then Opened the     Drawers Of     The     Writing-Table. They Were 
 Empty. The     Cabinet Proved to Be Locked, And A Door Which He Saw Must 
 Open Upon A Narrow Passage Running beside The     Suite Of     Rooms Was Locked 
 Also. There Was Nothing in the     Pockets Of     The     Overcoat, But Inside The 
 Hat He Found Pasted the     Initials L. P. He Rolled chewing-Gum, Stared 
 Reflectively At The     Little Window Immediately Above The     Table, Through 
 Which A Glimpse Might Be Obtained of     The     Ebony Chair, And Went Out 
 Again. 
   
   
   
 "Nothing," Reported coombes. 
   
   
   
 "What Do You Mean--Nothing?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 57 
 His Pockets Are Empty!" 
   
   
   
 "All Of     Them?" 
   
   
   
 "Every One." 
   
   
   
 "Good," Said Kerry. "Make A Note Of     It. He Wears A Real Pearl Stud And A 
 Good Signet Ring; Also A Gold Wrist Watch, Face Broken And Hands Stopped 
 At Seven-Fifteen. That Was The     Time He Died. He Was Stabbed from Behind 
 As He Stood Where I'M Standing now, Fell Forward, Struck His Head On The 
 Leg Of     The     Chair, And Lay Face Downwards." 
   
   
   
 "I'Ve Got That," Muttered coombes. "What Stopped the     Watch?" 
   
   
   
 "Broken As He Fell. There Are Tiny Fragments Of     Glass Stuck In the 
 Carpet, Showing the     Exact Position In which His Body Originally Lay; And 
 For God'S Sake Stop Smiling." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Threw Open The     Door. 
   
   
   
 "Who First Found The     Body?" He Demanded of     The     Silent Company. 
   
   
   
 "I Did," Cried quentin Gray, Coming forward. "I And Seton Pasha." 
   
   
   
 "Seton Pasha!" Kerry'S Teeth Snapped together, So That He Seemed to Bite 
 Off The     Words. "I Don'T See A Turk Present." 
   
   
   
 Seton Smiled quietly. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 58 
   
 "My Friend Uses A Title Which Was Conferred upon Me Some Years Ago By 
 The Ex-Khedive," He Said. "My Name Is Greville Seton." 
   
   
   
 Inspector Kerry Glanced back Across His Shoulder. 
   
   
   
 "Notes," He Said. "Unlock Your Ears, Coombes." He Looked at Gray. "What 
 Is Your Name?" 
   
   
   
 "Quentin Gray." 
   
   
   
 "Who Are You, And In what Way Are You Concerned in this Case?" 
   
   
   
 "I Am The     Son Of     Lord Wrexborough, And I--" 
   
   
   
 He Paused, Glancing helplessly At Seton. He Had Recognized that The 
 First Mention Of     Rita Irvin'S Name In the     Police Evidence Must Be Made 
 By Himself. 
   
   
   
 "Speak Up, Sir," Snapped kerry. "Sergeant Coombes Is Deaf." 
   
   
   
 Gray'S Face Flushed, And His Eyes Gleamed angrily. 
   
   
   
 "I Should Be Glad, Inspector," He Said, "If You Would Remember That 
 The Dead Man Was A Personal Acquaintance And That Other Friends Are 
 Concerned in this Ghastly Affair." 
   
   
   
 "Coombes Will Remember It," Replied kerry Frigidly. "He'S Taking notes." 
   
   
   
 "Look Here--" Began Gray. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 6 (Red Kerry) Pg 59 
   
   
 Seton Laid His Hand Upon The     Angry Man'S Shoulder. 
   
   
   
 "Pull Up, Gray," He Said Quietly. "Pull Up, Old Chap." He Turned his 
 Cool Regard Upon Chief Inspector Kerry, Twirling the     Cord Of     His Monocle 
 About One Finger. "I May Remark, Inspector Kerry--For I Understand 
 This To Be Your Name--That Your Conduct Of     The     Inquiry Is Not Always 
 Characterised by The     Best Possible Taste." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Rolled chewing-Gum, Meeting seton'S Gaze With A Stare Intolerant 
 And Aggressive. He Imparted that Odd Writhing movement To His Shoulders. 
   
   
   
 "For My Conduct I Am Responsible To The     Commissioner," He Replied. "And 
 If He'S Not Satisfied the     Commissioner Can Have My Written Resignation 
 At Any Hour In the     Twenty-Four That He'S Short Of     A Pipe-Lighter. If 
 It Would Not Inconvenience You To Keep Quiet For Two Minutes I Will 
 Continue My Examination Of     This Witness." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 7 (Further Evidence) Pg 60 
   
 The Examination Of     Quentin Gray Was Three Times Interrupted by Telephone 
 Messages From Vine Street; And To The     Unsatisfactory Character Of     These 
 The Growing irascibility Of     Chief Inspector Kerry Bore Testimony. Then 
 The Divisional Surgeon Arrived, And Burton Incurred the     Wrath Of     The 
 Chief Inspector By Deserting his Post To Show The     Doctor Upstairs. 
   
   
   
 "If Inspired idiocy Can Help The     Law," Shouted kerry, "The Man Who 
 Did This Job Is As Good As Dead!" He Turned his Fierce Gaze In gray'S 
 Direction. "Thank You, Sir. I Need trouble You No Further." 
   
   
   
 "Do You Wish Me To Remain?" 
   
   
   
 "No. Inspector Whiteleaf, See These Two Gentlemen Past The     Sergeant On 
 Duty." 
   
   
   
 "But Damn It All!" Cried gray, His Pent-Up Emotions At Last Demanding an 
 Outlet, "I Won'T Submit To Your Infernal Dragooning! Do You Realize 
 That While You'Re Standing here, Doing nothing--Absolutely Nothing--An 
 Unhappy Woman Is--" 
   
   
   
 "I Realize," Snapped kerry, Showing his Teeth In canine Fashion, "That 
 If You'Re Not Outside In ten Seconds There'S Going to Be A Cloud Of     Dust 
 On The     Stairs!" 
   
   
   
 White With Passion, Gray Was On The     Point Of     Uttering other Angry And 
 Provocative Words When Seton Took His Arm In a Firm Grip. "Gray!" He 
 Said Sharply. "You Leave With Me Now Or I Leave Alone." 
   
   
   
 The Two Walked from The     Room, Followed by Whiteleaf. As They 
 Disappeared: 
   
   
   
 "Read Out All The     Times Mentioned in the     Last Witness'S Evidence," 
 Directed kerry, Undisturbed by The     Rencontre. 
   
   
   
 Sergeant Coombes Smiled rather Uneasily, Consulting his Notebook. 
   
   
   
 "'At About Half-Past Six I Drove To Bond Street,'" He Began. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 7(Further Evidence) Pg 61 
 "I Said The     Times," Rapped kerry. "I Know To What They Refer. Just Give 
 Me The     Times As Mentioned." 
   
   
   
 "Oh," Murmured coombes, "Yes. 'About Half-Past Six.'" He Ran His Finger 
 Down The     Page. "'A Quarter To Seven.' 'Seven O'Clock.' 'Twenty-Five 
 Minutes Past Seven.' 'Eight O'Clock.'" 
   
   
   
 "Stop!" Said Kerry. "That'S Enough." He Fixed a Baleful Glance Upon 
 Gunn, Who From A Point Of     The     Room Discreetly Distant From The     Terrible 
 Red man Was Watching with Watery Eyes. "Who'S The     Smart In all The 
 Overcoats?" He Demanded. 
   
   
   
 "My Name Is James Gunn," Replied this Greatly Insulted man In a Husky 
 Voice. 
   
   
   
 "Who Are You? What Are You? What Are You Doing here?" 
   
   
   
 "I'M Employed by Spinker'S Agency, And--" 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Shouted kerry, Moving his Shoulders. He Approached the     Speaker And 
 Glared menacingly Into His Purple Face. "Ho, Ho! So You'Re One Of     The 
 Queer Birds Out Of     That Roost, Are You? Spinker'S Agency! Ah, Yes!" He 
 Fixed his Gaze Now Upon The     Pale Features Of     Brisley. "I'Ve Seen You 
 Before, Haven'T I?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Chief Inspector," Said Brisley, Licking his Lips. "Hayward'S 
 Heath. We Have Been Retained by--" 
   
   
   
 "You Have Been Retained!" Shouted kerry. "You Have!" 
   
   
   
   
 He Twisted round Upon His Heel, Facing monte Irvin. Angry Words Trembled 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 7 (Further Evidence)Pg 62 
 He Twisted round Upon His Heel, Facing monte Irvin. Angry Words Trembled 
 On His Tongue. But At Sight Of     The     Broken Man Who Sat There Alone, 
 Haggard, A Subtle Change Of     Expression Crept Into His Fierce Eyes, And 
 When He Spoke Again The     High-Pitched voice Was Almost Gentle. "You Had 
 Employed these Men, Sir, To Watch--" 
   
   
   
 He Paused, Glancing towards Whiteleaf, Who Had Just Entered again, And 
 Then In the     Direction Of     The     Inner Room Where The     Divisional Surgeon Was 
 At Work. 
   
   
   
 "To Watch My Wife, Inspector. Thank You, But All The     World Will Know 
 Tomorrow. I Might As Well Get Used to It." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin'S Pallor Grew Positively Alarming. He Swayed suddenly 
 And Extended his Hands In a Significant Groping fashion. Kerry Sprang 
 Forward And Supported him. 
   
   
   
 "All Right, Inspector--All Right," Muttered irvin. "Thank You. It Has 
 Been A Great Shock. At First I Feared--" 
   
   
   
 "You Thought Your Wife Had Been Attacked, I Understand? Well--It'S Not 
 So Bad As That, Sir. I Am Going to Walk Downstairs To The     Car With You." 
   
   
   
 "But There Is So Much You Will Want To Know--" 
   
   
   
 "It Can Keep Until Tomorrow. I'Ve Enough Work In this Peep-Show Here To 
 Have Me Busy All Night. Come Along. Lean On My Arm." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Rose Unsteadily. He Knew That There Was Cardiac Trouble 
 In His Family, But He Had Never Realized before The     Meaning of     His 
 Heritage. He Felt Physically Ill. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 7 (Further Evidence) Pg 63 
   
 "Inspector"--His Voice Was A Mere Whisper--"Have You Any Theory To 
 Explain--" 
   
   
   
 "Mrs. Irvin'S Disappearance? Don'T Worry, Sir. Without Exactly Having a 
 Theory I Think I May Say That In my Opinion She Will Turn Up Presently." 
   
   
   
 "God Bless You," Murmured irvin, As Kerry Assisted him Out On To The 
 Landing. 
   
   
   
 Inspector Whiteleaf Held Back The     Sliding door, The     Mechanism Of     Which 
 Had Been Broken So That The     Door Now Automatically Remained half Closed. 
   
   
   
 "Funny, Isn'T It," Said Gunn, As The     Two Disappeared and Inspector 
 Whiteleaf Re-Entered, "That A Man Should Be So Upset About The 
 Disappearance Of     A Woman He Was Going to Divorce?" 
   
   
   
 "Damn Funny!" Said Whiteleaf, Whose Temper Was Badly Frayed by Contact 
 With Kerry. "I Should Have A Good Laugh If I Were You." 
   
   
   
 He Crossed the     Room, Going in to Where The     Surgeon Was Examining the 
 Victim Of     This Mysterious Crime. Gunn Stared after Him Dismally. 
   
   
   
 "A Person Doesn'T Get Much Sympathy From The     Police, Brisley," He 
 Declared. "That One'S Almost As Bad As Him," Jerking his Thumb In the 
 Direction Of     The     Landing. 
   
   
   
 Brisley Smiled in a Somewhat Sickly Manner. 
   
   
   
 "Red kerry Is A Holy Terror," He Agreed, Sotto Voce, Glancing aside To 
 Where Coombes Was Checking his Notes. "Look Out! Here He Comes." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 7(Further Evidence) Pg 64 
   
 "Now," Cried kerry, Swinging into The     Room, "What'S The     Game? Plotting 
 To Defeat The     Ends Of     Justice?" 
   
   
   
 He Stood With Hands Thrust In reefer Pockets, Feet Wide Apart, Glancing 
 Fiercely From Brisley To Gunn, And From Gunn Back Again To Brisley. 
 Neither Of     The     Representatives Of     Spinker'S Agency Ventured any Remark, 
 And: 
   
   
   
 "How Long Have You Been Watching mrs. Monte Irvin?" Demanded kerry. 
   
   
   
 "Nearly A Fortnight," Replied brisley. 
   
   
   
 "Got Your Evidence In writing?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
   
 "Up To Tonight?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
   
 "Dictate To Sergeant Coombes." 
   
   
   
 He Turned on His Heel And Crossed to The     Divan Upon Which His Oilskin 
 Overall Was Lying. Rapidly He Removed his Reefer And His Waistcoat, 
 Folded them, And Placed them Neatly Beside His Overall. He Retained his 
 Bowler At Its Jaunty Angle. 
   
   
   
 A Cud Of     Presumably Flavorless Chewing-Gum He Deposited in a Brass Bowl, 
   
 And From A Little Packet Which He Had Taken Out Of     His Jacket Pocket He 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 7 (Further Evidence) Pg 65 
 Drew A Fresh Piece, Redolent Of     Mint. This He Put Into His Mouth, And 
 Returned the     Packet To Its Resting-Place. A Slim, Trim Figure, He Stood 
 Looking round Him Reflectively. 
   
   
   
 "Now," He Muttered, "What About It?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8 (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 66 
 The Clock Of     Brixton Town Hall Was Striking the     Hour Of     1 A.M. As Chief 
 Inspector Kerry Inserted his Key In the     Lock Of     The     Door Of     His House In 
 Spenser Road. 
   
   
   
 A Light Was Burning in the     Hallway, And From The     Little Dining-Room On 
 The Left The     Reflection Of     A Cheerful Fire Danced upon The     White Paint 
 Of The     Half-Open Door. Kerry Deposited his Hat, Cane, And Overall Upon 
 The Rack, And Moving very Quietly Entered the     Room And Turned on 
 The Light. A Modestly Furnished and Scrupulously Neat Apartment Was 
 Revealed. On The     Sheepskin Rug Before The     Fire A Manx Cat Was Dozing 
 Beside A Pair Of     Carpet Slippers. On The     Table Some Kind Of     Cold Repast 
 Was Laid, The     Viands Concealed under China Covers. At A Large Bottle Of 
 Guinness'S Extra Stout Kerry Looked with Particular Appreciation. 
   
   
   
 He Heaved a Long Sigh Of     Contentment, And Opened the     Bottle Of     Stout. 
 Having poured out A Glass Of     The     Black And Foaming liquid And Satisfied 
 An Evidently Urgent Thirst, He Explored beneath The     Covers, And 
 Presently Was Seated before A Spread Of     Ham And Tongue, Tomatoes, And 
 Bread And Butter. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8 (Kerry Consults The     Oracle)Pg 67 
   
 A Door Opened somewhere Upstairs, And: 
   
   
   
 "Is That Yoursel', Dan?" Inquired a Deep But Musical Female Voice. 
   
   
   
 "Sure It Is," Replied kerry; And No One Who Had Heard The     High Official 
 Tones Of     The     Imperious Chief Inspector Would Have Supposed that They 
 Could Be So Softened and Modulated. "You Should Have Been Asleep Hours 
 Ago, Mary." 
   
   
   
 "Have Ye To Go Out Again?" 
   
   
   
 "I Have, Bad Luck; But Don'T Trouble To Come Down. I'Ve All I Want And 
 More." 
   
   
   
 "If 'Tis A New Case I'Ll Come Down." 
   
   
   
 "It'S The     Devil'S Own Case; But You'Ll Get Your Death Of     Cold." 
   
   
   
 Sounds Of     Movement In the     Room Above Followed, And Presently Footsteps 
 On The     Stairs. Mrs. Kerry, Enveloped in a Woollen Dressing-Gown, Which 
 Obviously Belonged to The     Inspector, Came Into The     Room. Upon Her Kerry 
 Directed a Look From Which All Fierceness Had Been Effaced, And Which 
 Expressed only An Undying admiration. And, Indeed, Mary Kerry Was In 
 Many Respects A Remarkable Character. Half An Inch Taller Than Kerry, 
 She Fully Merited the     Compliment Designed by That Trite Apothegm, "A 
 Fine Woman." Large-Boned but Shapely, As She Came In with Her Long Dark 
 Hair Neatly Plaited, It Seemed to Her Husband--Who Had Remained her 
 Lover--That He Saw Before Him The     Rosy-Cheeked lass Whom Ten Years 
 Before He Had Met And Claimed on The     Chilly Shores Of     Loch Broom. By All 
 Her Neighbors Mrs. Kerry Was Looked upon As A Proud, Reserved person, 
 Who Had Held Herself Much Aloof Since Her Husband Had Become Chief 
 Inspector; And The     Reputation Enjoyed by Red kerry Was That Of     An 
   
 Aggressive And Uncompanionable Man. Now Here Was A Lover'S Meeting, Not 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8 (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 68 
 Lacking the     Shy, Downward Glance Of     Dark Eyes As Steel-Blue Eyes Flashed 
 Frank Admiration. 
   
   
   
 Kerry, Who Quarrelled with Everybody Except The     Assistant Commissioner, 
 Had Only Found One Cause Of     Quarrel With Mary. He Was A Devout Roman 
 Catholic, And For Five Years He Had Clung With The     Bull-Dog Tenacity 
 Which Was His To The     Belief That He Could Convert His Wife To The 
 Faith Of     Rome. She Remained true To The     Scottish Free Church, In whose 
 Precepts She Had Been Reared, And At The     End Of     The     Five Years Kerry 
 Gave It Up And Admired her All The     More For Her Caledonian Strength Of 
 Mind. Many And Heated were The     Debates He Had Held With Worthy Father 
 O'Callaghan Respecting the     Validity Of     A Marriage Not Solemnized by A 
 Priest, But Of     Late Years He Had Grown Reconciled to The     Parting of 
 The Ways On Sunday Morning; And As The     Early Mass Was Over Before 
 The Scottish Service He Was Regularly To Be Seen Outside A Certain 
 Presbyterian Chapel Waiting for His Heretical Spouse. 
   
   
   
 He Pulled her Down On To His Knee And Kissed her. 
   
   
   
 "It'S Twelve Hours Since I Saw You," He Said. 
   
   
   
 She Rested her Arm On The     Back Of     The     Saddle-Back Chair, And Her Dark 
 Head Close Beside Kerry'S Fiery Red one. 
   
   
   
 "I Kenned ye Had A New Case On," She Said, "When It Grew So Late. How 
 Long Can Ye Stay?" 
   
   
   
 "An Hour. No More. There'S A Lot To Do Before The     Papers Come Out In 
 The Morning. By Breakfast Time All England, Including the     Murderer, Will 
 Know I'M In charge Of     The     Case. I Wish I Could Muzzle The     Press." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle)Pg 69 
   
 "'Tis A Murder, Then? The     Lord Gi'E Us Grace. Ye'Ll Be Wishin' To Tell 
 Me?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. I'M Stumped!" 
   
   
   
 "Ye'Ve Time For A Rest An' A Smoke. Put Ye'Re Slippers On." 
   
   
   
 "I'Ve No Time For That, Mary." 
   
   
   
 She Stood Up And Took The     Slippers From The     Hearth. 
   
   
   
 "Put Ye'Re Slippers On," She Repeated firmly. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stooped without Another Word And Began To Unlace His Brogues. 
 Meanwhile From A Side-Table His Wife Brought A Silver Tobacco-Box And 
 A Stumpy Irish Clay. The     Slippers Substituted for His Shoes, Kerry 
 Lovingly Filled the     Cracked and Blackened bowl With Strong Irish Twist, 
 Which He First Teased carefully In his Palm. The     Bowl Rested almost 
 Under His Nostrils When He Put The     Pipe In his Mouth, And How He 
 Contrived to Light It Without Burning his Moustache Was Not Readily 
 Apparent. He Succeeded, However, And Soon Was Puffing clouds Of     Pungent 
 Smoke Into The     Air With The     Utmost Contentment. 
   
   
   
 "Now," Said His Wife, Seating herself Upon The     Arm Of     The     Chair, "Tell 
 Me, Dan." 
   
   
   
 Thereupon Began A Procedure Identical To That Which Had Characterized 
 The Outset Of     Every Successful Case Of     The     Chief Inspector. He Rapidly 
 Outlined the     Complexities Of     The     Affair In old Bond Street, And Mary 
   
 Kerry Surveyed the     Problem With A Curious And Almost Fey Detachment Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 70 
 Mind, Which Enabled her To See Light Where All Was Darkness To The     Man 
 On The     Spot. With The     Clarity Of     A Trained observer Kerry Described the 
 Apartments Of     Kazmah, The     Exact Place Where The     Murdered man Had Been 
 Found, And The     Construction Of     The     Rooms. He Gave The     Essential Points 
 From The     Evidence Of     The     Several Witnesses, Quoting the     Exact Times At 
 Which Various Episodes Had Taken Place. Mary Kerry, Looking straightly 
 Before Her With Unseeing eyes, Listened in silence Until He Ceased 
 Speaking; Then: 
   
   
   
 "There Are Really But Twa Rooms," She Said, In a Faraway Voice, "But The 
 Second O' These Is Parteetioned into Three Parts?" 
   
   
   
 "That'S It." 
   
   
   
 "A Door Free The     Landing opens Upon The     Fairst Room, A Door Free A 
 Passage Opens Upon The     Second. Where Does Yon Passage Lead?" 
   
   
   
 "From The     Main Stair Along Beside Kazmah'S Rooms To A Small Back Stair. 
 This Back Stair Goes From Top To Bottom Of     The     Building, From The     End Of 
 The Same Hallway As The     Main Stair." 
   
   
   
 "There Is Na Either Way Out But By The     Front Door?" 
   
   
   
 "No." 
   
   
   
 "Then If The     Evidence O' The     Spinker Man Is Above Suspeecion, Mrs. Irvin 
 And This Kazmah Were Still On The     Premises When Ye Arrived?" 
   
   
   
   
 "Exactly. I Gathered that Much At Vine Street Before I Went On To Bond 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 71 
 Street. The     Whole Block Was Surrounded five Minutes After My Arrival, 
 And It Still Is." 
   
   
   
 "What Ither Offices Are In this Passage?" 
   
   
   
 "None. It'S A Blank Wall On The     Left, And One Door On The     Right--The 
 One Opening into The     Kazmah Office. There Are Other Premises On The     Same 
 Floor, But They Are Across The     Landing." 
   
   
   
 "What Premises?" 
   
   
   
 "A Solicitor And A Commission Agent." 
   
   
   
 "The Floor Below?" 
   
   
   
 "It'S All Occupied by A Modiste, Renan." 
   
   
   
 "The Top Floor?" 
   
   
   
 "Cubanis Cigarette Company, A Servants' And An Electrician." 
   
   
   
 "Nae More?" 
   
   
   
 "No More." 
   
   
   
 "Where Does Yon Back Stair Open On The     Topmaist Floor?" 
   
   
   
 "In A Corridor Similar To That Alongside Kazmah'S. It Has Two Windows 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 72 
 On The     Right Overlooking a Narrow Roof And The     Top Of     The     Arcade, And On 
 The Left Is The     Cubanis Cigarette Company. The     Other Offices Are Across 
 The Landing." 
   
   
   
 Mary Kerry Stared into Space Awhile. 
   
   
   
 "Kazmah And Mrs. Irvin Could Ha' Come Down To The     Fairst Floor, Or Gene 
 Up To The     Thaird Floor Unseen By The     Spinker Man," She Said Dreamily. 
   
   
   
 "But They Couldn'T Have Reached the     Street, My Dear!" Cried kerry. 
   
   
   
 "No--They Couldn'A Ha' Gained the     Street." 
   
   
   
 She Became Silent Again, Her Husband Watching her Expectantly. Then: 
   
   
   
 "If Puir Sir Lucien Pyne Was Killed at A Quarter After Seven--The Time 
 His Watch Was Broken--The Native Sairvent Did No' Kill Him. Frae The 
 Spinker'S Evidence The     Black Man Went Awe' Before Then," She Said. "Mrs. 
 Irvin?" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Shook His Head. 
   
   
   
 "From All Accounts A Slip Of     A Woman," He Replied. "It Was A Strong Hand 
 That Struck The     Blow." 
   
   
   
 "Kazmah?" 
   
   
   
   
 "Probably." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 73 
   
   
   
 "Mr. Quentin Gray Came Back Wi' A Cab And Went Upstairs, Free The 
 Spinker'S Evidence, At Aboot A Quarter After Seven, And Came Doon Five 
 Meenites Later Sair Pale An' Fretful." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Surrounded himself And The     Speaker With Wreaths Of     Stifling smoke. 
   
   
   
 "We Have Only The     Bare Word Of     Mr. Gray That He Didn'T Go In again, 
 Mary; But I Believe Him. He'S A Hot-Headed fool, But Square." 
   
   
   
 "Then 'Twas Yon Kazmah," Announced mrs. Kerry. "Who Is Kazmah?" 
   
   
   
 Her Husband Laughed shortly. 
   
   
   
 "That'S The     Point At Which I Got Stumped," He Replied. "We'Ve Heard Of 
 Him At The     Yard, Of     Course, And We Know That Under The     Cloak Of     A Dealer 
 In Eastern Perfumes He Carried on A Fortune-Telling business. He Managed 
 To Avoid Prosecution, Though. It Took Me Over An Hour Tonight To Explore 
 The Thought-Reading mechanism; It'S A Sort Of     Maskelyne'S Mysteries 
 Worked from The     Inside Room. But Who Kazmah Is Or What'S His Nationality 
 I Know No More Than The     Man In the     Moon." 
   
   
   
 "Pairfume?" Queried the     Far-Away Voice. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Mary. The     First Room Is A Sort Of     Miniature Scent Bazaar. There 
 Are Funny Little Imitation Antique Flasks Of     Kazmah Preparations, 
 Creams, Perfumes And Incense, Also Small Square Wooden Boxes Of     A Kind 
 Of Turkish Delight, And A Stock Of     Egyptian Mummy-Beads, Statuettes, And 
 The Like, Which May Be Genuine For All I Know." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 74 
   
   
 "Nae Books Or Letters?" 
   
   
   
 "Not A Thing, Except His Own Advertisements, A Telephone Directory, And 
 So On." 
   
   
   
 "The Inside Office Bureau?" 
   
   
   
 "Empty As Mother Hubbard'S Cupboard!" 
   
   
   
 "The Place Was Ransacked by The     Same Folk That Emptied the     Dead Man'S 
 Pockets So As Tee Leave Nae Clue," Pronounced the     Sibyl-Like Voice. "Mr. 
 Gray Said He Had Choc'Lates Wi' Him. Where Did He Leave Them?" 
   
   
   
 "Mary, You'Re A Wonder!" Exclaimed the     Admiring kerry. "The Box Was 
 Lying on The     Divan In the     First Room Where He Said He Had Left It On 
 Going out For A Cab." 
   
   
   
 "Does Nane O' The     Evidence Show If Mrs. Irvin Had Been To Kazmah'S 
 Before?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. She Went There Fairly Regularly To Buy Perfume." 
   
   
   
 "No' For The     Fortune-Tellin'?" 
   
   
   
 "No. According to Mr. Gray, To Buy Perfume." 
   
   
   
 "Had Mr. Gray Been There Wi' Her Before?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 75 
   
 "No. Sir Lucien Pyne Seems To Have Been Her Pretty Constant Companion." 
   
   
   
 "Do Ye Suspect She Was His Lady-Love?" 
   
   
   
 "I Believe Mr. Gray Suspects Something of     The     Kind." 
   
   
   
 "And Mr. Gray?" 
   
   
   
 "He Is Not Such An Old Friend As Sir Lucien Was. But I Fancy 
 Nevertheless It Was Mr. Gray That Her Husband Doubted." 
   
   
   
 "Do Ye Suspect The     Puir Soul Had Cause, Dan?" 
   
   
   
 "No," Replied kerry Promptly; "I Don'T. The     Boy Is Mad About Her, But I 
 Fancy She Just Liked his Company. He'S The     Heir Of     Lord Wrexborough, And 
 Mrs. Irvin Used to Be A Stage Beauty. It'S A Usual State Of     Affairs, And 
 More Often Than Not Means Nothing." 
   
   
   
 "I Dinna Ken Sich Folk," Declared mary Kerry. "They A'Most Desairve All 
 They Get. They Are Bound Tee Come Tee Nae Guid End. Where Did Ye Say Sir 
 Lucien Lived?" 
   
   
   
 "Albemarle Street; Just Round The     Corner." 
   
   
   
 "Ye Told Me That He Only Kepit Twa Sairvents: A Cook, Hoosekeper, Who 
 Lived awe', An' A Man--A Foreigner?" 
   
   
   
 "A Kind Of     Half-Baked dago, Named juan Mareno. A Citizen Of     The     United 
   
 States According to His Own Account." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 76 
   
   
   
 "Ye Dinna Like Juan Mareno?" 
   
   
   
 "He'S A Hateful Swine!" Flashed kerry, With Sudden Venom. "I'M Watching 
 Mareno Very Closely. Coombes Is At Work Upon Sir Lucien'S Papers. His 
 Life Was A Bit Of     A Mystery. He Seems To Have Had No Relations Living, 
 And I Can'T Find That He Even Employed a Solicitor." 
   
   
   
 "Ye'Ll Be Sairchin' For Yon Egyptian?" 
   
   
   
 "The Servant? Yes. We'Ll Have Him By The     Morning, And Then We Shall Know 
 Who Kazmah Is. Meanwhile, In which Of     The     Offices Is Kazmah Hiding?" 
   
   
   
 Mary Kerry Was Silent For So Long That Her Husband Repeated the 
 Question: 
   
   
   
 "In Which Of     The     Offices Is Kazmah Hiding?" 
   
   
   
 "In Nane," She Said Dreamily. "Ye Surrounded the     Buildings Too Late, I 
 Ken." 
   
   
   
 "Eh!" Cried kerry, Turning his Head Excitedly. "But The     Man Brisley Was 
 At The     Door All Night!" 
   
   
   
 "It Doesna' Matter. They Have Escapit." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Scratched his Close-Cropped head In angry Perplexity. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 77 
   
 "You'Re Always Right, Mary," He Said. "But Hang Me If--Never Mind! When 
 We Get The     Servant We'Ll Soon Get Kazmah." 
   
   
   
 "Aye," Murmured his Wife. "If Ye Hae Na' Got Kazmah The     Now." 
   
   
   
 "But--Mary! This Isn'T Helping me! It'S Mystifying me Deeper Than Ever!" 
   
   
   
 "It'S No' Clear Eno', Dan. But For Sure Behind This Mystery O' The 
 Death O' Sir Lucien There'S A Darker Mystery Still; Sair Dark. 'Tis The 
 Biggest Case Ye Ever Had. Dinna Look For Kazmah. Look Tee Find Why The 
 Woman Went Tee Him; And Try Tee Find The     Meanin' O' The     Sma' Window 
 Behind The     Big Chair.... Yes"--She Seemed to Be Staring at Some Distant 
 Visible Object--"Watch The     Man Mareno--" 
   
   
   
 "But--Mrs. Irvin--" 
   
   
   
 "Is In god'S Guid Keepin'--" 
   
   
   
 "You Don'T Think She'S Dead!" 
   
   
   
 "She Is Wairse Than Dead. Her Sins Have Found Her Out." The     Fey Light 
 Suddenly Left Her Eyes, And They Became Filled with Tears. She Turned 
 Impulsively To Her Husband. "Oh, Dan! Ye Must Find Her! Ye Must Find 
 Her! Puir Weak Hairt--Dinna Ye Ken How She Is Suffering!" 
   
   
   
 "My Dear," He Said, Putting his Arms Around Her, "What Is It? What Is 
 It?" 
   
   
   
 She Brushed the     Tears From Her Eyes And Tried to Smile. "'Tis Something 
 Like The     Second Sight, Dan," She Answered simply. "And It'S Escapit 
 Me Again. I A'Most Had The     Clue To It A' Oh, There'S Some Horrible 
   
 Wickedness In it, An' Cruelty An' Shame." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 78 
   
   
   
 The Clock On The     Mantel Shelf Began To Peal. Kerry Was Watching his 
 Wife'S Rosy Face With A Mixture Of     Loving admiration And Wonder. She 
 Looked so Very Bonny And Placid And Capable That He Was Puzzled anew At 
 The Strange Gift Which She Seemingly Inherited from Her Mother, Who Had 
 Been Equally Shrewd, Equally Comely And Similarly Endowed. 
   
   
   
 "God Bless Us All!" He Said, Kissed her Heartily, And Stood Up. "Back 
 To Bed you Go, My Dear. I Must Be Off. There'S Mr. Irvin To See In the 
 Morning, Too." 
   
   
   
 A Few Minutes Later He Was Swinging through The     Deserted streets, His 
 Mind Wholly Occupied with Lover-Like Reflections To The     Exclusion Of 
 Those Professional Matters Which Properly Should Have Been Engaging 
 His Attention. As He Passed the     End Of     A Narrow Court Near The     Railway 
 Station, The     Gleam Of     His Silver Mounted malacca Attracted the     Attention 
 Of A Couple Of     Loafers Who Were Leaning one On Either Side Of     An Iron 
 Pillar In the     Shadow Of     The     Unsavory Alley. Not Another Pedestrian Was 
 In Sight, And Only The     Remote Night-Sounds Of     London Broke The     Silence. 
   
   
   
 Twenty Paces Beyond, The     Footpads Silently Closed in upon Their Prey. 
 The Taller Of     The     Pair Reached him First, Only To Receive A Back-Handed 
 Blow Full In his Face Which Sent Him Reeling a Couple Of     Yards. 
   
   
   
 Round Leapt The     Assaulted man To Face His Second Assailant. 
   
   
   
 "If You Two Smarts Really Want Handling," He Rapped ferociously, "Say 
 The Word, And I'Ll Bash You Flat." 
   
   
   
 As He Turned, The     Light Of     A Neighboring lamp Shone Down Upon The     Savage 
 Face, And A Smothered yell Came From The     Shorter Ruffian: 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 8  (Kerry Consults The     Oracle) Pg 79 
   
 "Blimey, Bill! It'S Red kerry!" 
   
   
   
 Whereupon, As Men Pursued by Devils, The     Pair Made Off Like The     Wind! 
   
   
   
 Kerry Glared after The     Retreating figures For A Moment, And A Grin Of 
 Fierce Satisfaction Revealed his Gleaming teeth. He Turned again And 
 Swung On His Way Toward The     Main Road. The     Incident Had Done Him Good. 
 It Had Banished domestic Matters From His Mind, And He Was Become Again 
 The Highly Trained champion Of     Justice, Standing, An Unseen Buckler, 
 Between Society And The     Criminal. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 9 (A Packet Of  Cigarettes) Pg 80 
   
 Following their Dismissal By Chief Inspector Kerry, Seton And Gray 
 Walked around To The     Latter'S Chambers In piccadilly. They Proceeded in 
 Silence, Gray Too Angry For Speech, And Seton Busy With Reflections. As 
 The Man Admitted them: 
   
   
   
 "Has Anyone 'Phoned, Willis?" Asked gray. 
   
   
   
 "No One, Sir." 
   
   
   
 They Entered a Large Room Which Combined the     Characteristics Of     A 
 Library With Those Of     A Military Gymnasium. Gray Went To A Side Table 
 And Mixed drinks. Placing a Glass Before Seton, He Emptied his Own At A 
 Draught. 
   
   
   
 "If You'Ll Excuse Me For A Moment," He Said, "I Should Like To Ring up 
 And See If By Any Possible Chance There'S News Of     Rita." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 9 (A Packet Of  Cigarettes) Pg 82 
   
   
 He Walked out To The     Telephone, And Seton Heard Him Making a Call. Then: 
   
   
   
 "Hullo! Is That You, Hinkes?" He Asked.... "Yes, Speaking. Is Mrs. Irvin 
 At Home?" 
   
   
   
 A Few Moments Of     Silence Followed, And: 
   
   
   
 "Thanks! Good-Bye," Said Gray. 
   
   
   
 He Rejoined his Friend. 
   
   
   
 "Nothing," He Reported, And Made A Gesture Of     Angry Resignation. 
 "Evidently Hinkes Is Still Unaware Of     What Has Happened. Irvin Hasn'T 
 Returned yet. Seton, This Business Is Driving me Mad." 
   
   
   
 He Refilled his Glass, And Having looked in his Cigarette-Case, Began To 
 Ransack A Small Cupboard. 
   
   
   
 "Damn It All!" He Exclaimed. "I Haven'T Got A Cigarette In the     Place!" 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T Smoke Them Myself," Said Seton, "But I Can Offer You A 
 Cheroot." 
   
   
   
 "Thanks. They Are A Trifle Too Strong. Hullo! Here Are Some." 
   
   
   
 From The     Back Of     A Shelf He Produced a Small, Plain Brown Packet, And 
   
 Took Out Of     It A Cigarette At Which He Stared oddly. Seton, Smoking one 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 9 (A Packet Of  Cigarettes) Pg 83 
 Of The     Inevitable Cheroots, Watched him, Tapping his Teeth With The     Rim 
 Of His Eyeglass. 
   
   
   
 "Poor Old Pyne!" Muttered gray, And, Looking up, Met The     Inquiring 
 Glance. "Pyne Left These Here Only The     Other Day," He Explained 
 Awkwardly. "I Don'T Know Where He Got Them, But They Are Something very 
 Special. I Suppose I Might As Well." 
   
   
   
 He Lighted one, And, Uttering a Weary Sigh, Threw Himself Into A Deep 
 Leather-Covered arm-Chair. Almost Immediately He Was Up Again. The 
 Telephone Bell Had Rung. His Eyes Alight With Hope, He Ran Out, Leaving 
 The Door Open So That His Conversation Was Again Audible To The     Visitor. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Yes, Speaking. What?" His Tone Changed "Oh, It'S You, Margaret. 
 What?... Certainly, Delighted. No, There'S Nobody Here But Old Seton 
 Pasha. What? You'Ve Heard The     Fellows Talk About Him Who Were Out 
 East.... Yes, That'S The     Chap.... Come Right Along." 
   
   
   
 "You Don'T Propose To Lionise Me, I Hope, Gray?" Said Seton, As Gray 
 Returned to His Seat. 
   
   
   
 The Other Laughed. 
   
   
   
 "I Forgot You Could Hear Me," He Admitted. "It'S My Cousin, Margaret 
 Halley. You'Ll Like Her. She'S A Tip-Top Girl, But Eccentric. Goes In 
 For Pilling." 
   
   
   
 "Pilling?" Inquired seton Gravely. 
   
   
   
 "Doctoring. She'S An M.R.C.S., And Only About Twenty-Four Or So. 
 Fearfully Clever Kid; Makes Me Feel An Infant." 
   
   
   
   
 "Flat Heels, Spectacles, And A Judicial Manner?" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 9 (A Packet Of  Cigarettes) Pg 84 
   
   
 "Flat Heels, Yes. But Not The     Other. She'S Awfully Pretty, And Used to 
 Look Simply Terrific In khaki. She Was An M.O. In serbia, You Know, And 
 Afterwards At Some Nurses' Hospital In kent. She'S Started in practice 
 For Herself Now Round In dover Street. I Wonder What She Wants." 
   
   
   
 Silence Fell Between Them; For, Although Prompted by Different Reasons, 
 Both Were Undesirous Of     Discussing the     Tragedy; And This Silence 
 Prevailed until The     Ringing of     The     Doorbell Announced the     Arrival Of 
 The Girl. Willis Opening the     Door, She Entered composedly, And Gray 
 Introduced seton. 
   
   
   
 "I Am So Glad To Have Met You At Last, Mr. Seton," She Said Laughingly. 
 "From Quentin'S Many Accounts I Had Formed the     Opinion That You Were A 
 Kind Of     Arabian Nights Myth." 
   
   
   
 "I Am Glad To Disappoint You," Replied seton, Finding something very 
 Refreshing in the     Company Of     This Pretty Girl, Who Wore A Creased 
 Burberry, And Stray Locks Of     Whose Abundant Bright Hair Floated about 
 Her Face In the     Most Careless Fashion Imaginable. 
   
   
   
 She Turned to Her Cousin, Frowning in a Rather Puzzled way. 
   
   
   
 "Whatever Have You Been Burning here?" She Asked. "There Is Such A 
 Curious Smell In the     Room." 
   
   
   
 Gray Laughed more Heartily Than He Had Laughed that Night, Glancing in 
 Seton'S Direction. 
   
   
   
 "So Much For Your Taste In cigars!" He Cried 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Said Margaret, "I'M Sure It'S Not Mr. Seton'S Cigar. It Isn'T A 
 Smell Of     Tobacco." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 9 (A Packet Of  Cigarettes) Pg 85 
   
   
 "I Don'T Believe They'Re Made Of     Tobacco!" Cried gray, Laughing louder 
 Yet, Although His Merriment Was Forced. 
   
   
   
 Seton Smiled good-Naturedly At The     Joke, But He Had Perceived at The 
 Moment Of     Margaret'S Entrance The     Fact That Her Gaiety Also Was Assumed. 
 Serious Business Had Dictated her Visit, And He Wondered the     More To 
 Note How Deeply This Odor, Real Or Fancied, Seemed to Intrigue Her. 
   
   
   
 She Sat Down In the     Chair Which Gray Placed by The     Fireside, And Her 
 Cousin Unceremoniously Slid The     Brown Packet Of     Cigarettes Across The 
 Little Table In her Direction. 
   
   
   
 "Try One Of     These, Margaret," He Said. "They Are Great, And Will Quite 
 Drown The     Unpleasant Odor Of     Which You Complain." 
   
   
   
 Whereupon The     Observant Seton Saw A Quick Change Take Place In the 
 Girl'S Expression. She Had The     Same Clear Coloring as Her Cousin, And 
 Now This Freshness Deserted her Cheeks, And Her Pretty Face Became Quite 
 Pale. She Was Staring at The     Brown Packet. "Where Did You Get Them?" She 
 Asked quietly. 
   
   
   
 A Smile Faded from Gray'S Lips. Those Five Words Had Translated him 
 In Spirit To That Green-Draped room In which Sir Lucien Pyne Was Lying 
 Dead. He Glanced at Seton In the     Appealing way Which Sometimes Made Him 
 Appear So Boyish. 
   
   
   
 "Er--From Pyne," He Replied. "I Must Tell You, Margaret--" 
   
   
   
 "Sir Lucien Pyne?" She Interrupted. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 9 (A Packet Of  Cigarettes) Pg 86 
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
   
 "Not From Rita Irvin?" 
   
   
   
 Quentin Gray Started upright In his Chair. 
   
   
   
 "No! But Why Do You Mention Her?" 
   
   
   
 Margaret Bit Her Lip In sudden Perplexity. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I Don'T Know." She Glanced apologetically Toward Seton. He Rose 
 Immediately. 
   
   
   
 "My Dear Miss Halley," He Said, "I Perceive, Indeed i Had Perceived all 
 Along, That You Have Something of     A Private Nature To Communicate To 
 Your Cousin." 
   
   
   
 But Gray Stood Up, And: 
   
   
   
 "Seton!... Margaret!" He Said, Looking from One To The     Other. "I Mean 
 To Say, Margaret, If You'Ve Anything to Tell Me About Rita... Have You? 
 Have You?" 
   
   
   
 He Fixed his Gaze Eagerly Upon Her. 
   
   
   
 "I Have--Yes." 
   
   
   
 Seton Prepared to Take His Leave, But Gray Impetuously Thrust Him Back, 
 Immediately Turning again To His Cousin. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 9 (A Packet Of  Cigarettes) Pg 87 
   
 "Perhaps You Haven'T Heard, Margaret," He Began. "I Have Heard What Has 
 Happened tonight--To Sir Lucien." 
   
   
   
 Both Men Stared at Her Silently For A Moment. 
   
   
   
 "Seton Has Been With Me All The     Time," Said Gray. "If He Will Consent To 
 Stay, With Your Permission, Margaret, I Should Like Him To Do So." 
   
   
   
 "Why, Certainly," Agreed the     Girl. "In Fact, I Shall Be Glad Of     His 
 Advice." 
   
   
   
 Seton Inclined his Head, And Without Another Word Resumed his Seat. Gray 
 Was Too Excited to Sit Down Again. He Stood On The     Tiger-Skin Rug Before 
 The Fender, Watching his Cousin And Smoking furiously. 
   
   
   
 "Firstly, Then," Continued margaret, "Please Throw That Cigarette In the 
 Fire, Quentin." 
   
   
   
 Gray Removed the     Cigarette From Between His Lips, And Stared at It 
 Dazedly. He Looked at The     Girl, And The     Clear Grey Eyes Were Watching 
 Him With An Inscrutable Expression. 
   
   
   
 "Right-O!" He Said Awkwardly, And Tossed the     Cigarette In the     Fire. "You 
 Used to Smoke Like A Furnace, Margaret. Is This Some New 'Cult'?" 
   
   
   
 "I Still Smoke A Great Deal More Than Is Good For Me," She Confessed, 
 "But I Don'T Smoke Opium." 
   
   
   
   
 The Effect Of     These Words Upon The     Two Men Who Listened was Curious. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 9 (A Packet Of  Cigarettes) Pg 88 
 Gray Turned an Angry Glance Upon The     Brown Packet Lying on The     Table, 
 And "Faugh!" He Exclaimed, And Drawing a Handkerchief From His Sleeve 
 Began Disgustedly To Wipe His Lips. Seton Stared hard At The     Speaker, 
 Tossed his Cheroot Into The     Fire, And Taking up The     Packet Withdrew A 
 Cigarette And Sniffed at It Critically. Margaret Watched him. 
   
   
   
 He Tore The     Wrapping off, And Tasted a Strand Of     The     Tobacco. 
   
   
   
 "Good Heavens!" He Whispered. "Gray, These Things Are Doped!" 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 89 
   
 Old Bond Street Presented a Gloomy And Deserted prospect To Chief 
 Inspector Kerry As He Turned out Of     Piccadilly And Swung Along Toward 
 The Premises Of     Kazmah. He Glanced at The     Names On Some Of     The     Shop 
 Windows As He Passed, And Wondered if The     Furriers, Jewelers And Other 
 Merchants Dealing in costly Wares Properly Appreciated the     Services Of 
 The Metropolitan Police Force. He Thought Of     The     Peacefully Slumbering 
 Tradesmen In their Suburban Homes, The     Safety Of     Their Stocks Wholly 
 Dependent Upon The     Vigilance Of     That Unsleeping eye--For To An 
 Unsleeping eye He Mentally Compared the     Service Of     Which He Was A 
 Member. 
   
   
   
 A Constable Stood On Duty Before The     Door Of     The     Block. Red kerry Was 
 Known By Sight And Reputation To Every Member Of     The     Force, And The 
 Constable Saluted as The     Celebrated chief Inspector Appeared. 
   
   
   
 "Anything to Report, Constable?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 90 
   
   
 "Yes, Sir." 
   
   
   
 "What?" 
   
   
   
 "The Ambulance Has Been For The     Body, And Another Gentleman Has Been." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stared at The     Man. 
   
   
   
 "Another Gentleman? Who The     Devil'S The     Other Gentleman?" 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T Know, Sir. He Came With Inspector Whiteleaf, And Was Inside For 
 Nearly An Hour." 
   
   
   
 "Inspector Whiteleaf Is Off Duty. What Time Was This?" 
   
   
   
 "Twelve-Thirty, Sir." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Chewed reflectively Ere Nodding to The     Man And Passing on. 
   
   
   
 "Another Gentleman!" He Muttered, Entering the     Hallway. "Why Didn'T 
 Inspector Warley Report This? Who The     Devil--" Deep In thought He Walked 
 Upstairs, Finding his Way By The     Light Of     The     Pocket Torch Which He 
 Carried. A Second Constable Was On Duty At Kazmah'S Door. He Saluted. 
   
   
   
 "Anything to Report?" Rapped kerry. 
   
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sir. The     Body Has Been Removed, And The     Gentleman With 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 91 
 Inspector--" 
   
   
   
 "Damn That For A Tale! Describe This Gentleman." 
   
   
   
 "Rather Tall, Pale, Dark, Clean-Shaven. Wore A Fur-Collared overcoat, 
 Collar Turned up. He Was Accompanied by Inspector Whiteleaf." 
   
   
   
 "H'M. Anything else?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. About An Hour Ago I Heard A Noise On The     Next Floor--" 
   
   
   
 "Eh!" Snapped kerry, And Shone The     Light Suddenly Into The     Man'S Face So 
 That He Blinked furiously. 
   
   
   
 "Eh? What Kind Of     Noise?" 
   
   
   
 "Very Slight. Like Something moving." 
   
   
   
 "Like Something! Like What Thing? A Cat Or An Elephant?" 
   
   
   
 "More Like, Say, A Box Or A Piece Of     Furniture." 
   
   
   
 "And You Did--What?" 
   
   
   
 "I Went Up To The     Top Landing and Listened." 
   
   
   
 "What Did You Hear?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 92 
   
 "Nothing at All." 
   
   
   
 Chief Inspector Kerry Chewed audibly. 
   
   
   
 "All Quiet?" He Snapped. 
   
   
   
 "Absolutely. But I'M Certain I Heard Something all The     Same." 
   
   
   
 "How Long Had Inspector Whiteleaf And This Dark Horse In the     Fur Coat 
 Been Gone At The     Time You Heard The     Noise?" 
   
   
   
 "About Half An Hour, Sir." 
   
   
   
 "Do You Think The     Noise Came From The     Landing or From One Of     The     Offices 
 Above?" 
   
   
   
 "An Office I Should Say. It Was Very Dim." 
   
   
   
 Chief Inspector Kerry Pushed upon The     Broken Door, And Walked into The 
 Rooms Of     Kazmah. Flashing the     Ray Of     His Torch On The     Wall, He Found The 
 Switch And Snapped up The     Lights. He Removed his Overall And Tossed it 
 On A Divan With His Cane. Then, Tilting his Bowler Further Forward, He 
 Thrust His Hands Into His Reefer Pockets, And Stood Staring toward The 
 Door, Beyond Which Lay The     Room Of     The     Murder, In darkness. 
   
   
   
 "Who Is He?" He Muttered. "What'S It Mean?" 
   
   
   
   
 Taking up The     Torch, He Walked through And Turned on The     Lights In 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 93 
 The Inner Rooms. For A Long Time He Stood Staring at The     Little Square 
 Window Low Down Behind The     Ebony Chair, Striving to Imagine Uses For It 
 As His Wife Had Urged him To Do. The     Globular Green Lamp In the     Second 
 Apartment Was Worked by Three Switches Situated in the     Inside Room, 
 And He Had Discovered that In this Way The     Visitor Who Came To Consult 
 Kazmah Was Treated to The     Illusion Of     A Gradually Falling darkness. 
 Then, The     Door In the     First Partition Being opened, Whoever Sat In the 
 Ebony Chair Would Become Visible By The     Gradual Uncovering of     A Light 
 Situated above The     Chair. On This Light Being covered again The     Figure 
 Would Apparently Fade Away. 
   
   
   
 It Was Ingenious, And, So Far, Quite Clear. But Two Things Badly Puzzled 
 The Inquirer; The     Little Window Down Behind The     Chair, And The     Fact That 
 All The     Arrangements For Raising and Lowering the     Lights Were Situated 
 Not In the     Narrow Chamber In which Kazmah'S Chair Stood, And In which 
 Sir Lucien Had Been Found, But In the     Room Behind It--The Room With 
 Which The     Little Window Communicated. 
   
   
   
 The Table Upon Which The     Telephone Rested was Set Immediately Under This 
 Mysterious Window, The     Window Was Provided with A Green Blind, And The 
 Switchboard Controlling the     Complicated lighting scheme Was Also Within 
 Reach Of     Anyone Seated at The     Table. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Rolled mint Gum From Side To Side Of     His Mouth, And Absently Tried 
 The Handle Of     The     Door Opening out From This Interior Room--Evidently 
 The Office Of     The     Establishment--Into The     Corridor. He Knew It To Be 
 Locked. Turning, He Walked through The     Suite And Out On To The     Landing, 
 Passing the     Constable And Going upstairs To The     Top Floor, Torch In 
   
 Hand. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 94 
   
   
 From The     Main Landing he Walked along The     Narrow Corridor Until He Stood 
 At The     Head Of     The     Back Stairs. The     Door Nearest To Him Bore The     Name: 
 "Cubanis Cigarette Company." He Tried the     Handle. The     Door Was Locked, 
 As He Had Anticipated. Kneeling down, He Peered into The     Keyhole, 
 Holding the     Electric Torch Close Beside His Face And Chewing 
 Industriously. 
   
   
   
 Ere Long He Stood Up, Descended again, But By The     Back Stair, And Stood 
 Staring reflectively At The     Door Communicating with Kazmah'S Inner Room. 
 Then Walking along The     Corridor To Where The     Man Stood On, The     Landing, 
 He Went In again To The     Mysterious Apartments, But Only To Get His Cane 
 And His Overall And To Turn Out The     Lights. 
   
   
   
 Five Minutes Later He Was Ringing the     Late Sir Lucien'S Door-Bell. 
   
   
   
 A Constable Admitted him, And He Walked straight Through Into The     Study 
 Where Coombes, Looking very Tired but Smiling undauntedly, Sat At A 
 Littered table Studying piles Of     Documents. 
   
   
   
 "Anything to Report?" Rapped kerry. 
   
   
   
 "The Man, Mareno, Has Gone To Bed, And The     Expert From The     Home Office 
 Has Been--" 
   
   
   
 Inspector Kerry Brought His Cane Down With A Crash Upon The     Table, 
 Whereat Coombes Started nervously. 
   
   
   
   
 "So That'S It!" He Shouted furiously, "An 'Expert From The     Home Office'! 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 95 
 So That'S The     Dark Horse In the     Fur Coat. Coombes! I'M Fed up To The 
 Back Teeth With This Gun From The     Home Office! If I'M Not To Have Entire 
 Charge Of     The     Case I'Ll Throw It Up. I'Ll Stand For No Blasted overseer 
 Checking my Work! Wait Till I See The     Assistant Commissioner! What The 
 Devil Has The     Job To Do With The     Home Office!" 
   
   
   
 "Can'T Say," Murmured coombes. "But He'S Evidently A Big Bug From The 
 Way Whiteleaf Treated him. He Instructed me To Stay In the     Kitchen And 
 Keep An Eye On Mareno While He Prowled about In here." 
   
   
   
 "Instructed you!" Cried kerry, His Teeth Gleaming and His Steel-Blue 
 Eyes Creating upon Coombes' Mind An Impression That They Were Emitting 
 Sparks. "Instructed you! I'Ll Ask You A Question, Detective-Sergeant 
 Coombes: Who Is In charge Of     This Case?" 
   
   
   
 "Well, I Thought You Were." 
   
   
   
 "You Thought I Was?" 
   
   
   
 "Well, You Are." 
   
   
   
 "I Am? Very Well--You Were Saying--?" 
   
   
   
 "I Was Saying that I Went Into The     Kitchen--" 
   
   
   
 "Before That! Something about 'Instructed.'" 
   
   
   
 Poor Coombes Smiled pathetically. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 96 
 "Look Here," He Said, Bravely Meeting the     Ferocious Glare Of     His 
 Superior, "As Man To Man. What Could I Do?" 
   
   
   
 "You Could Stop Smiling!" Snapped kerry. "Hell!" He Paced several Times 
 Up And Down The     Room. "Go Ahead, Coombes." 
   
   
   
 "Well, There'S Nothing much To Report. I Stayed in the     Kitchen, And The 
 Man From The     Home Office Was In here Alone For About Half An Hour." 
   
   
   
 "Alone?" 
   
   
   
 "Inspector Whiteleaf Stayed in the     Dining-Room." 
   
   
   
 "Had He Been 'Instructed' Too?" 
   
   
   
 "I Expect So. I Think He Just Came Along As A Sort Of     Guide." 
   
   
   
 "Ah!" Muttered kerry Savagely, "A Sort Of     Guide! Any Idea What The     Bogey 
 Man Did In here?" 
   
   
   
 "He Opened the     Window. I Heard Him." 
   
   
   
 "That'S Funny. It'S Exactly What I'M Going to Do! This Smart From 
 Whitehall Hasn'T Got A Corner In notions Yet, Coombes." 
   
   
   
 The Room Was A Large And Lofty One, And Had Been Used by A Former Tenant 
 As A Studio. The     Toplights Had Been Roofed over By Sir Lucien, However, 
 But The     Raised platform, Approached by Two Steps, Which Had Probably 
   
 Been Used as A Model'S Throne, Was A Permanent Fixture Of     The     Apartment. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 97 
 It Was Backed now By Bookcases, Except Where A Blue Plush Curtain Was 
 Draped before A French Window. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Drew The     Curtain Back, And Threw Open The     Folding leaves Of     The 
 Window. He Found Himself Looking out Upon The     Leads Of     Albemarle Street. 
 No Stars And No Moon Showed through The     Grey Clouds Draping the     Wintry 
 Sky, But A Dim And Ghostly Half-Light Nevertheless Rendered the     Ugly 
 Expanse Visible From Where He Stood. 
   
   
   
 On One Side Loomed a Huge Tank, To The     Brink Of     Which A Rickety Wooden 
 Ladder Invited the     Explorer To Ascend. Beyond It Were A Series Of     Iron 
 Gangways And Ladders Forming part Of     The     Fire Emergency Arrangements Of 
 The Neighboring institution. Straight Ahead A Section Of     Building jutted 
 Up And Revealed two Small Windows, Which Seemed to Regard Him Like 
 Watching eyes. 
   
   
   
 He Walked out On To The     Roof, Looking all About Him. Beyond The     Tank 
 Opened a Frowning gully--The Arcade Connecting albemarle Street With 
 Old Bond Street; On The     Other Hand, The     Scheme Of     Fire Gangways Was 
 Continued. He Began To Cross The     Leads, Going in the     Direction Of     Bond 
 Street. Coombes Watched him From The     Study. When He Came To The     More 
 Northerly Of     The     Two Windows Which Had Attracted his Attention, He Knelt 
 Down And Flashed the     Ray Of     His Torch Through The     Glass. 
   
   
   
 A Kind Of     Small Warehouse Was Revealed, Containing stacks Of     Packages. 
 Immediately Inside The     Window Was A Rough Wooden Table, And On 
 This Table Lay A Number Of     Smaller Packages, Apparently Containing 
 Cigarettes. 
   
   
   
   
 Kerry Turned his Attention To The     Fastening of     The     Window. A Glance 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 10 (Sir Lucien'S Study Window) Pg 98 
 Showed him That It Was Unlocked. Resting the     Torch On The     Leads, He 
 Grasped the     Sash And Gently Raised the     Window, Noting that It Opened 
 Almost Noiselessly. Then, Taking up The     Torch Again, He Stooped and 
 Stepped in on To The     Table Below. 
   
   
   
 It Moved slightly Beneath His Weight. One Of     The     Legs Was Shorter 
 Than Its Fellows. But He Reached the     Floor As Quietly As Possible, And 
 Instantly Snapped off The     Light Of     The     Torch. 
   
   
   
 A Heavy Step Sounded from Outside--Someone Was Mounting the     Stairs--And 
 A Disk Of     Light Suddenly Appeared upon The     Ground-Glass Panel Of     The 
 Door. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stood Quite Still, Chewing steadily. 
   
   
   
 "Who'S There?" Came The     Voice Of     The     Constable Posted on Kazmah'S 
 Landing. 
   
   
   
 The Inspector Made No Reply. 
   
   
   
 "Is There Anyone Here?" Cried the     Man. 
   
   
   
 The Disk Of     Light Disappeared, And The     Alert Constable Could Be Heard 
 Moving along The     Corridor To Inspect The     Other Offices. But The     Ray Had 
 Shone Upon The     Frosted glass Long Enough To Enable Kerry To Read The 
 Words Painted there In square Black Letters. They Had Appeared reversed, 
 Of Course, And Had Read Thus: 
   
   
   
 .Oc Etteragic Sinabuc 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 99 
   
 At Six-Thirty That Morning margaret Halley Was Aroused by Her Maid--The 
 Latter But Half Awake--And Sitting up In bed and Switching on The     Lamp, 
 She Looked at The     Card Which The     Servant Had Brought To Her, And Read 
 The Following: 
   
   
   
     Chief Inspector Kerry, 
     C.I.D. 
     New Scotland Yard, S.W.I. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Dear," She Said Sleepily, "What An Appallingly Early Visitor. Is 
 The Bath Ready Yet, Janet?" 
   
   
   
 "I'M Afraid Not," Replied the     Maid, A Plain, Elderly Woman Of     The 
 Old-Fashioned useful Servant Type. "Shall I Take A Kettle Into The 
 Bathroom?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes--That Will Have To Do. Tell Inspector Kerry That I Shall Not Be 
 Long." 
   
   
   
 Five Minutes Later Margaret Entered her Little Consulting-Room, Where 
 Kerry, Having adjusted his Tie, Was Standing before The     Mirror In the 
 Overmantle, Staring at A Large Photograph Of     The     Charming lady Doctor 
 In Military Uniform. Kerry'S Fierce Eyes Sparkled appreciatively As His 
 Glance Rested on The     Tall Figure Arrayed in a Woollen Dressing-Gown, The 
 Masculine Style Of     Which By No Means Disguised the     Beauty Of     Margaret'S 
 Athletic Figure. She Had Hastily Arranged her Bright Hair With 
 Deliberate Neglect Of     All Affectation. She Belonged to That Ultra-Modern 
   
 School Which Scorns To Sue Masculine Admiration, But Which Cannot 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 100 
 Dispense With It Nevertheless. She Aspired to Be Assessed upon An 
 Intellectual Basis, An Ambition Which Her Unfortunate Good Looks 
 Rendered difficult Of     Achievement. 
   
   
   
 "Good Morning, Inspector," She Said Composedly. "I Was Expecting you." 
   
   
   
 "Really, Miss?" Kerry Stared curiously. "Then You Know What I'Ve Come 
 About?" 
   
   
   
 "I Think So. Won'T You Sit Down? I Am Afraid The     Room Is Rather Cold. Is 
 It About--Sir Lucien Pyne?" 
   
   
   
 "Well," Replied kerry, "It Concerns Him Certainly. I'Ve Been In 
 Communication By Telephone With Hinkes, Mr. Monte Irvin'S Butler, And 
 From Him I Learned that You Were Professionally Attending mrs. Irvin." 
   
   
   
 "I Was Not Her Regular Medical Adviser, But--" 
   
   
   
 Margaret Hesitated, Glancing rapidly At The     Inspector, And Then Down 
 At The     Writing-Table Before Which She Was Seated. She Began To Tap The 
 Blotting-Pad With An Ivory Paper-Knife. Kerry Was Watching her Intently. 
   
   
   
 "Upon Your Evidence, Miss Halley," He Said Rapidly, "May Depend The     Life 
 Of The     Missing woman." 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Cried margaret, "Whatever Can Have Happened to Her? I Rang Up As 
 Late As Two O'Clock This Morning; After That I Abandoned hope." 
   
   
   
 "There'S Something underlying the     Case That I Don'T Understand, Miss. I 
 Look To You To Put Me Wise." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 101 
   
 She Turned to Him Impulsively. 
   
   
   
 "I Will Tell You All I Know, Inspector," She Said. "I Will Be Perfectly 
 Frank With You." 
   
   
   
 "Good!" Rapped kerry. "Now--You Have Known Mrs. Monte Irvin For Some 
 Time?" 
   
   
   
 "For About Two Years." 
   
   
   
 "You Didn'T Know Her When She Was On The     Stage?" 
   
   
   
 "No. I Met Her At A Red cross Concert At Which She Sang." 
   
   
   
 "Do You Think She Loved her Husband?" 
   
   
   
 "I Know She Did." 
   
   
   
 "Was There Any--Prior Attachment?" 
   
   
   
 "Not That I Know Of." 
   
   
   
 "Mr. Quentin Gray?" 
   
   
   
 Margaret Smiled, Rather Mirthlessly. 
   
   
   
 "He Is My Cousin, Inspector, And It Was I Who Introduced him To 
 Rita Irvin. I Sincerely Wish I Had Never Done So. He Lost His Head 
   
 Completely." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 102 
   
   
 "There Was Nothing in mrs. Irvin'S Attitude Towards Him To Justify Her 
 Husband'S Jealousy?" 
   
   
   
 "She Was Always Frightfully Indiscreet, Inspector, But Nothing more. 
 You See, She Is Greatly Admired, And Is Used to The     Company Of     Silly, 
 Adoring men. Her Husband Doesn'T Really Understand The     Ways Of     These 
 Bohemian Folks. I Knew It Would Lead To Trouble Sooner Or Later." 
   
   
   
 "Ah!" 
   
   
   
 Chief Inspector Kerry Thrust His Hands Into The     Pockets Of     His Jacket. 
   
   
   
 "Now--Sir Lucien?" 
   
   
   
 Margaret Tapped more Rapidly With The     Paper-Knife. 
   
   
   
 "Sir Lucien Belonged to A Set Of     Which Rita Had Been A Member During her 
 Stage Career. I Think--He Admired her; In fact, I Believe He Had Offered 
 Her Marriage. But She Did Not Care For Him In the     Least--In That Way." 
   
   
   
 "Then In what Way Did She Care For Him?" Rapped kerry. 
   
   
   
 "Well--Now We Are Coming to The     Point." Momentarily She Hesitated, Then: 
 "They Were Both Addicted--" 
   
   
   
   
 "Yes?" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 103 
   
   
 "--To Drugs." 
   
   
   
 "Eh?" Kerry'S Eyes Grew Hard And Fierce In a Moment. "What Drugs?" 
   
   
   
 "All Sorts Of     Drugs. Shortly After I Became Acquainted with Rita Irvin 
 I Learned that She Was A Victim Of     The     Drug Habit, And I Tried to Cure 
 Her. I Regret To Say That I Failed. At That Time She Had Acquired a 
 Taste For Opium." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Said Not A Word, And Margaret Raised her Head And Looked at Him 
 Pathetically. 
   
   
   
 "I Can See That You Have No Pity For The     Victims Of     This Ghastly Vice, 
 Inspector Kerry," She Said. 
   
   
   
 "I Haven'T!" He Snapped fiercely. "I Admit I Haven'T, Miss. It'S Bad 
 Enough In the     Heathens, But For An Englishwoman To Dope Herself Is 
 Downright Unchristian And Beastly." 
   
   
   
 "Yet I Have Come Across So Many Of     These Cases, During the     War And 
 Since, That I Have Begun To Understand How Easy, How Dreadfully Easy It 
 Is, For A Woman Especially, To Fall Into The     Fatal Habit. Bereavement Or 
 That Most Frightful Of     All Mental Agonies, Suspense, Will Too Often Lead 
 The Poor Victim Into The     Path That Promises Forgetfulness. Rita Irvin'S 
 Case Is Less Excusable. I Think She Must Have Begun Drug-Taking because 
 Of The     Mental And Nervous Exhaustion Resulting from Late Hours And 
 Over-Much Gaiety. The     Demands Of     Her Profession Proved too Great For 
 Her Impaired nervous Energy, And She Sought Some Stimulant Which Would 
 Enable Her To Appear Bright On The     Stage When Actually She Should Have 
 Been Recuperating, In sleep, That Loss Of     Vital Force Which Can Be 
   
 Recuperated in no Other Way." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 104 
   
   
 "But Opium!" Snapped kerry. 
   
   
   
 "I Am Afraid Her Other Drug Habits Had Impaired her Will, And Shaken Her 
 Self-Control. She Was Tempted to Try Opium By Its Promise Of     A New And 
 Novel Excitement." 
   
   
   
 "Her Husband, I Take It, Was Ignorant Of     All This?" 
   
   
   
 "I Believe He Was. Quentin--Mr. Gray--Had No Idea Of     It Either." 
   
   
   
 "Then It Was Sir Lucien Pyne Who Was In her Confidence In the     Matter?" 
   
   
   
 Margaret Nodded slowly, Still Tapping the     Blotting-Pad. 
   
   
   
 "He Used to Accompany Her To Places Where Drugs Could Be Obtained, And 
 On Several Occasions--I Cannot Say How Many--I Believe He Went With Her 
 To Some Den In chinatown. It May Have Been Due To Mr. Irvin'S Discovery 
 That His Wife Could Not Satisfactorily Account For Some Of     These 
 Absences From Home Which Led him To Suspect Her Fidelity." 
   
   
   
 "Ah!" Said Kerry Hardly, "I Shouldn'T Wonder. And Now"--He Thrust Out A 
 Pointing finger--"Where Did She Get These Drugs?" 
   
   
   
 Margaret Met The     Fierce Stare Composedly. 
   
   
   
 "I Have Said That I Shall Be Quite Frank," She Replied. "In My Opinion 
 She Obtained them From Kazmah." 
   
   
   
   
 "Kazmah!" Shouted kerry. "Excuse Me, Miss, But I See I'Ve Been Wearing 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 105 
 Blinkers Without Knowing it! Kazmah'S Was A Dope-Shop?" 
   
   
   
 "That Has Been My Belief For A Long Time, Inspector. I May Add That I 
 Have Never Been Able To Obtain A Shred of     Evidence To Prove It. I Am So 
 Keenly Interested in seeing the     People Who Pander To This Horrible Vice 
 Unmasked and Dealt With As They Merit, That I Have Tried many Times To 
 Find Out If My Suspicion Was Correct." 
   
   
   
 Inspector Kerry Was Writhing his Shoulders Excitedly. "Did You Ever 
 Visit Kazmah?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
 "Yes. I Asked rita Irvin To Take Me, But She Refused, And I Could See 
 That The     Request Embarrassed her. So I Went Alone." 
   
   
   
 "Describe Exactly What Took Place." 
   
   
   
 Margaret Halley Stared reflectively At The     Blotting-Pad For A Moment, 
 And Then Described a Typical Seance At Kazmah'S. In conclusion: 
   
   
   
 "As I Came Away," She Said, "I Bought A Bottle Of     Every Kind Of     Perfume 
 On Sale, Some Of     The     Incense, And Also A Box Of     Sweetmeat; But They All 
 Proved to Be Perfectly Harmless. I Analyzed them." 
   
   
   
 Kerry'S Eyes Glistened with Admiration. 
   
   
   
 "We Could Do With You At The     Yard, Miss," He Said. "Excuse Me For Saying 
 So." 
   
   
   
 Margaret Smiled rather Wanly. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 106 
   
 "Now--This Man Kazmah," Resumed the     Chief Inspector. "Did You Ever See 
 Him Again?" 
   
   
   
 "Never. I Have Been Trying for Months And Months To Find Out Who He Is." 
   
   
   
 Kerry'S Face Became Very Grim. 
   
   
   
 "About Ten Trained men Are Trying to Find That Out At The     Present 
 Moment!" He Rapped. "Do You Think He Wore A Make-Up?" 
   
   
   
 "He May Have Done So," Margaret Admitted. "But His Features Were 
 Obviously Undisguised, And His Eyes One Would Recognize Anywhere. They 
 Were Larger Than Any Human Eyes I Have Ever Seen." 
   
   
   
 "He Couldn'T Have Been The     Egyptian Who Looked after The     Shop, For 
 Instance?" 
   
   
   
 "Impossible! He Did Not Remotely Resemble Him. Besides, The     Man To Whom 
 You Refer Remained outside To Receive Other Visitors. Oh, That'S Out Of 
 The Question, Inspector." 
   
   
   
 "The Light Was Very Dim?" 
   
   
   
 "Very Dim Indeed, And Kazmah Never Once Raised his Head. Indeed, Except 
 For A Dignified gesture Of     Greeting and One Of     Dismissal, He Never 
 Moved. His Immobility Was Rather Uncanny." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Began To Pace Up And Down The     Narrow Room, And: 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 107 
 He Bore No Resemblance To The     Late Sir Lucien Pyne, For Instance?" He 
 Rapped. 
   
   
   
 Margaret Laughed outright And Her Laughter Was So Inoffensive And So 
 Musical That The     Chief Inspector Laughed also. 
   
   
   
 "That'S More Hopeless Than Ever!" She Said. "Poor Sir Lucien Had Strong, 
 Harsh Features And Rather Small Eyes. He Wore A Moustache, Too. But Sir 
 Lucien, I Feel Sure, Was One Of     Kazmah'S Clients." 
   
   
   
 "Ah!" Said Kerry. "And What Leads You To Suppose Miss Halley, That This 
 Kazmah Dealt In drugs?" 
   
   
   
 "Well, You See, Rita Irvin Was Always Going there To Buy Perfumes, And 
 She Frequently Sent Her Maid As Well." 
   
   
   
 "But"--Kerry Stared--"You Say That The     Perfume Was Harmless." 
   
   
   
 "That Which Was Sold To Casual Visitors Was Harmless, Inspector. But I 
 Strongly Suspect That Regular Clients Were Supplied with Something quite 
 Different. You See, I Know No Fewer Than Thirty Unfortunate Women In 
 The West End Of     London Alone Who Are Simply Helpless Slaves To 
 Various Drugs, And I Think It More Than A Coincidence That Upon Their 
 Dressing-Tables I Have Almost Invariably Found One Or More Of     Kazmah'S 
 Peculiar Antique Flasks." 
   
   
   
 Chief Inspector Kerry'S Jaw Muscles Protruded conspicuously. 
   
   
   
 "You Speak Of     Patients?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
 Margaret Nodded her Head. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 108 
 "When A Woman Becomes Addicted to The     Drug Habit," She Explained, "She 
 Sometimes Shuns Her Regular Medical Adviser. I Have Many Patients Who 
 Came To Me Originally Simply Because They Dared not Face Their Family 
 Doctor. In fact, Since I Gave Up Army Work, My Little Practice Has 
 Threatened to Develop Into That Of     A Drug-Habit Specialist." 
   
   
   
 "Have You Taxed any Of     These People With Obtaining drugs From Kazmah?" 
   
   
   
 "Not Directly. It Would Have Been Undiplomatic. But I Have Tried to 
 Surprise Them Into Telling me. Unfortunately, These Poor People Are As 
 Cunning as Any Other Kind Of     Maniac, For, Of     Course, It Becomes A Form 
 Of Mania. They Recognize That Confession Might Lead To A Stoppage Of 
 Supplies--The Eventuality They Most Dread." 
   
   
   
 "Did You Examine The     Contents Of     Any Of     These Flasks Found On 
 Dressing-Tables?" 
   
   
   
 "I Rarely Had An Opportunity; But When I Did They Proved to Contain 
 Perfume When They Contained anything." 
   
   
   
 "H'M," Mused kerry, And Although In deference To Margaret, He Had Denied 
 Himself Chewing-Gum, His Jaws Worked automatically. "I Gather That Mrs. 
 Monte Irvin Had Expressed a Wish To See You Last Night?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. Apparently She Was Threatened with A Shortage Of     Cocaine." 
   
   
   
 "Cocaine Was Her Drug?" 
   
   
   
 "One Of     Them. She Had Tried them All, Poor, Silly Girl! You Must 
 Understand That For A Habitual Drug-Taker Suddenly To Be Deprived of 
 Drugs Would Lead To Complete Collapse, Perhaps Death. And During the 
 Last Few Days I Had Noticed a Peculiar Nervous Symptom In rita Irvin 
 Which Had Interested me. Finally, The     Day Before Yesterday, She 
 Confessed that Her Usual Source Of     Supply Had Been Closed to Her. Her 
 Words Were Very Vague, But I Gathered that Some Form Of     Coercion Was 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 109 
 Being employed." 
   
   
   
 "With What Object?" 
   
   
   
 "I Have No Idea. But She Used the     Words, 'They Will Drive Me Mad,' And 
 Seemed to Be In a Dangerously Nervous Condition. She Said That She Was 
 Going to Make A Final Attempt To Obtain A Supply Of     The     Poison Which Had 
 Become Indispensable To Her. 'I Cannot Do Without It!' She Said. 'But If 
 They Refuse, Will You Give Me Some?'" 
   
   
   
 "What Did You Say?" 
   
   
   
 "I Begged of     Her, As I Had Done On Many Previous Occasions, To Place 
 Herself In my Hands. But She Evaded a Direct Answer, As Is The     Way Of 
 One Addicted to This Vice. 'If I Cannot Get Some By Tomorrow,' She Said, 
 'I Shall Go Mad, Or Dead. Can I Rely On You?'" 
   
   
   
 "I Told Her That I Would Prescribe Cocaine For Her On The     Distinct 
 Understanding that From The     First Dose She Was To Place Herself Under My 
 Care For A Cure." 
   
   
   
 "She Agreed?" 
   
   
   
 "She Agreed. Yesterday Afternoon, While I Was Away At An Important Case, 
 She Came Here. Poor Rita!" Margaret'S Soft Voice Trembled. "Look--She 
 Left This Note." 
   
   
   
 From A Letter-Rack She Took A Square Sheet Of     Paper And Handed it To 
 The Chief Inspector. He Bent His Fierce Eyes Upon The     Writing--Large, 
 Irregular And Shaky. 
   
   
   
 "'Dear Margaret,'" He Read Aloud. "'Why Aren'T You At Home? I Am Wild 
   
 With Pain, And Feel I Am Going mad. Come To Me Directly You Return, And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 110 
 Bring enough To Keep Me Alive. I--', Hullo! There'S No Finish!" 
   
   
   
 He Glanced up From The     Page. Margaret Halley'S Eyes Were Dim. 
   
   
   
 "She Despaired of     My Coming and Went To Kazmah," She Said. "Can You 
 Doubt That That Was What She Went For?" 
   
   
   
 "No!" Snapped kerry Savagely, "I Can'T. But Do You Mean To Tell Me, Miss 
 Halley, That Mrs. Irvin Couldn'T Get Cocaine Anywhere Else? I Know For 
 A Fact That It'S Smuggled in regularly, And There'S More Than One 
 Receiver." 
   
   
   
 Margaret Looked at Him Strangely. 
   
   
   
 "I Know It, Too, Inspector," She Said Quietly. "Owing to The     Lack 
 Of Enterprise On The     Part Of     Our British Drug-Houses, Even Reputable 
 Chemists Are Sometimes Dependent Upon Illicit Stock From Japan And 
 America. But Do You Know That The     Price Of     These Smuggled drugs Has 
 Latterly Become So High As To Be Prohibitive In many Cases?" 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T. What Are You Driving at, Miss?" 
   
   
   
 "At This: Somebody Had Made A Corner In contraband Drugs. The     Most 
 Wicked syndicate That Ever Was Formed has Got Control Of     The     Lives Of, 
 It May Be, Thousands Of     Drug-Slaves!" 
   
   
   
 Kerry'S Teeth Closed with A Sharp Snap. 
   
   
   
 "At Last," He Said, "I See Where The     Smart From The     Home Office Comes 
 In." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 11 (The     Drug Syndicate ) Pg 111 
   
 "The Secretary Of     State Has Appointed a Special Independent Commissioner 
 To Inquire Into This Hellish Traffic," Replied margaret Quietly. "I 
 Am Glad To Say That I Have Helped in getting this Done By The 
 Representations Which I Have Made To My Uncle, Lord Wrexborough. But I 
 Give You My Word, Inspector Kerry, That I Have Withheld Nothing from You 
 Any More Than From Him." 
   
   
   
 "Him!" Snapped kerry, Eyes Fiercely Ablaze. 
   
   
   
 "From The     Home Office Representative--Before Whom I Have Already Given 
 Evidence." 
   
   
   
 Chief Inspector Kerry Took Up His Hat, Cane And Overall From The     Chair 
 Upon Which He Had Placed them And, His Face A Savage Red mask, Bowed 
 With A Fine Courtesy. He Burned to Learn Particulars; He Disdained to 
 Obtain Them From A Woman. 
   
   
   
 "Good Morning, Miss Halley," He Said. "I Am Greatly Indebted to You." 
   
   
   
 He Walked stiffly From The     Room And Out Of     The     Flat Without Waiting for 
 A Servant To Open The     Door. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 Part Second--Mrs. Sin 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 12 (The     Maid Of     The     Masque  ) Pg 112 
   
   
 The Past Life Of     Mrs. Monte Irvin, In which At This Time Three Distinct 
 Groups Of     Investigators Became Interested--Namely, Those Of     Whitehall, 
 Scotland Yard, And Fleet Street--Was Of     A Character To Have Horrified 
 The Prudish, But To Have Excited the     Compassion Of     The     Wise. 
   
   
   
 Daughter Of     A Struggling suburban Solicitor, Rita Esden, At The     Age Of 
 Seventeen, From A Delicate And Rather Commonplace Child Began To Develop 
 Into A Singularly Pretty Girl Of     An Elusive And Fascinating type Of 
 Beauty, Almost Ethereal In her Dainty Coloring, And Possessed of     Large 
 And Remarkably Fine Eyes, Together With A Wealth Of     Copper-Red hair, A 
 Crown Which Seemed too Heavy For Her Slender Neck To Support. Her Father 
 Viewed her Increasing charms And Ever-Growing list Of     Admirers With The 
 Gloomy Apprehension Of     A Disappointed man Who Had Come To Look Upon Each 
 Gift Of     The     Gods As A New Sorrow Cunningly Disguised. Her Mother, On The 
 Contrary, Fanned the     Girl'S Natural Vanity And Ambition With A Success 
 Which Rarely Attended the     Enterprises Of     This Foolish Old Woman, And 
 Rita Proving to Be Endowed with A Moderately Good Voice, A Stage Career 
 Was Determined upon Without Reference To The     Contrary Wishes Of     Mr. 
 Esden. 
   
   
   
 Following the     Usual Brief "Training" Which Is Counted sufficient For An 
 Aspirant To Musical Comedy Honors, Rita, By The     Prefixing of     Two Letters 
 To Her Name, Set Out To Conquer The     Play-Going world As Rita Dresden. 
   
   
   
 Two Years Of     Hard Work And Disappointment Served to Dispel The     Girl'S 
 Illusions. She Learned to Appreciate At Its True Value That Masculine 
 Admiration Which, In an Unusual Degree, She Had The     Power To 
 Excite. Those Of     Her Admirers Who Were In a Position To Assist Her 
 Professionally Were Only Prepared to Use Their Influence Upon Terms 
 Which She Was Unprepared to Accept. Those Whose Intentions Were Strictly 
   
 Creditable, By Some Malignancy Of     Fate, Possessed no Influence Whatever. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 12 (The     Maid Of     The     Masque  ) Pg 113 
 She Came To Regard Herself As A Peculiarly Unlucky Girl, Being ignorant 
 Of The     Fact That Fortune, An Impish Hierophant, Imposes Identical Tests 
 Upon Every Candidate Who Aspires To The     Throne Of     A Limelight Princess. 
   
   
   
 Matters Stood Thus When A New Suitor Appeared in the     Person Of     Sir 
 Lucien Pyne. When His Card Was Brought Up To Rita, Her Heart Leaped 
 Because Of     A Mingled emotion Of     Triumph And Fear Which The     Sight Of     The 
 Baronet'S Name Had Occasioned. He Was A Director Of     The     Syndicate In 
 Whose Production She Was Playing--A Man Referred to With Awe By 
 Every Girl In the     Company As Having it In his Power To Make Or Mar A 
 Professional Reputation. Not That He Took Any Active Part In the     Affairs 
 Of The     Concern; On The     Contrary, He Was An Aristocrat Who Held Himself 
 Aloof From All Matters Smacking of     Commerce, But At The     Same Time One 
 Who Invested his Money Shrewdly. Sir Lucien'S Protegee Of     Today Was 
 London'S Idol Of     Tomorrow, And Even Before Rita Had Spoken To Him She 
 Had Fought And Won A Spiritual Battle Between Her True Self And That 
 Vain, Admiration-Loving rita Dresden Who Favored capitulation. 
   
   
   
 She Knew That Sir Lucien'S Card Represented a Signpost At The 
 Cross-Roads Where Many A Girl, Pretty But Not Exceptionally Talented, 
 Had Hesitated with Beating heart. It Was No Longer A Question Of 
 Remaining a Member Of     The     Chorus (And Understudy For A Small Part) Or 
 Of Accepting promotion To "Lead" In a New Production; It Was That Of 
 Accepting whatever Sir Lucien Chose To Offer--Or Of     Retiring from The 
 Profession So Far As This Powerful Syndicate Was Concerned. 
   
   
   
 Such Was The     Reputation Enjoyed at This Time By Sir Lucien Pyne Among 
 Those Who Had Every Opportunity Of     Forming an Accurate Opinion. 
   
   
   
 Nevertheless, Rita Was Determined not To Succumb Without A Struggle. She 
 Did Not Count Herself Untalented nor A Girl To Be Lightly Valued, And 
 Sir Lucien Might Prove To Be Less Black Than Rumor Had Painted him. As 
 Presently Appeared, Both In her Judgment Of     Herself And In that Of     Sir 
 Lucien, She Was At Least Partially Correct. He Was Very Courteous, Very 
 Respectful, And Highly Attentive. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 12 (The     Maid Of     The     Masque  ) Pg 114 
   
   
 Her Less Favored companions Smiled significantly When The     Familiar 
 Rolls-Royce Appeared at The     Stage Door Night After Night, Never Doubting 
 That Rita Dresden Was Chosen To "Star" In the     Forthcoming production, 
 But, With Rare Exceptions, Frankly Envying her This Good Fortune. 
   
   
   
 Rita Made No Attempt To Disillusion Them, Recognizing that It Must Fail. 
 She Was Resigned to Being misjudged. If She Could Achieve Success At 
 That Price, Success Would Have Been Purchased cheaply. 
   
   
   
 That Sir Lucien Was Deeply Infatuated she Was Not Slow To Discover, And 
 With An Address Perfected by Experience And A Determination To Avoid The 
 Easy Path Inherited from A Father Whose Scrupulous Honesty Had Ruined 
 His Professional Prospects, She Set To Work To Win Esteem As Well As 
 Admiration. 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Was First Surprised, Then Piqued, And Finally Interested by 
 Such Unusual Tactics. The     Second Phase Was The     Dangerous One For Rita, 
 And During a Certain Luncheon At Romanos Her Fate Hung In the     Balance. 
 Sir Lucien Realized that He Was In peril Of     Losing his Head Over This 
 Tantalizingly Pretty Girl Who Gracefully Kept Him At A Distance, Fencing 
 With An Adroitness Which Was Baffling, And Sir Lucien Pyne Had Set Out 
 With No Intention Of     Doing anything so Preposterous As Falling in love. 
 Keenly Intuitive, Rita Scented danger And Made A Bold Move. Carelessly 
 Rolling a Bread-Crumb Along The     Cloth: 
   
   
   
 "I Am Giving up The     Stage When The     Run Finishes," She Said. 
   
   
   
 "Indeed," Replied sir Lucien Imperturbably. "Why?" 
   
   
   
 "I Am Tired of     Stage Life. I Have Been Invited to Go And Live With My 
 Uncle In new York And Have Decided to Accept. You See"--She Bestowed 
 Upon Him A Swift Glance Of     Her Brilliant Eyes--"Men In the     Theatrical 
 World Are Not All Like You. Real Friends, I Mean. It Isn'T Very Nice, 
 Sometimes." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 12 (The     Maid Of     The     Masque  ) Pg 115 
   
 Sir Lucien Deliberately Lighted a Cigarette. If Rita Was Bluffing, He 
 Mused, She Had The     Pluck To Make Good Her Bluff. And If She Did So? He 
 Dropped the     Extinguished match Upon A Plate. Did He Care? He Glanced at 
 The Girl, Who Was Smiling at An Acquaintance On The     Other Side Of 
 The Room. Fortune'S Wheel Spins Upon A Needle Point. By An Artistic 
 Performance Occupying less Than Two Minutes, But Suggesting that Rita 
 Possessed qualities Which One Day Might Spell Success, She Had Decided 
 Her Fate. Her Heart Was Beating like A Hammer In her Breast, But 
 She Preserved an Attitude Of     Easy Indifference. Without For A Moment 
 Believing in the     American Uncle, Sir Lucien Did Believe, Correctly, 
 That Rita Dresden Was About To Elude Him. He Realized, Too, That He 
 Was Infinitely More Interested than He Had Ever Been Hitherto, And More 
 Interested than He Had Intended to Become. 
   
   
   
 This Seemingly Trivial Conversation Was A Turning point, And Twelve 
 Months Later Rita Dresden Was Playing the     Title Role In the     Maid Of     The 
 Masque. Sir Lucien Had Discovered himself To Be Really In love With 
 Her, And He Might Quite Possibly Have Offered her Marriage Even If A 
 Dangerous Rival Had Not Appeared to Goad Him To That Desperate Leap--For 
 So He Regarded it. Monte Irvin, Although Considerably Rita'S Senior, 
 Had Much To Commend Him In the     Eyes Of     The     Girl--And In the     Eyes Of     Her 
 Mother, Who Still Retained a Curious Influence Over Her Daughter. He 
 Was Much More Wealthy Than Pyne, And Although The     Latter Was A Baronet, 
 Irvin Was Certain To Be Knighted ere Long, So That Rita Would Secure The 
 Appendage Of     "Lady" In either Case. Also, His Reputation Promised a More 
 Reliable Husband Than Sir Lucien Could Be Expected to Make. Moreover, 
 Rita Liked him, Whereas She Had Never Sincerely Liked and Trusted sir 
 Lucien. And There Was A Final Reason--Of Which Mrs. Esden Knew Nothing. 
   
   
   
 On The     First Night That Rita Had Been Entrusted with A Part Of     Any 
 Consequence--And This Was Shortly After The     Conversation At Romanos--She 
 Had Discovered herself To Be In a State Of     Hopeless Panic. All Her 
 Scheming and Fencing would Have Availed her Nothing if She Were To Break 
 Down At The     Critical Moment. It Was An Eventuality Which Sir Lucien Had 
 Foreseen, And He Seized the     Opportunity At Once Of     Securing a New Hold 
   
 Upon The     Girl And Of     Rendering her More Pliable Than He Had Hitherto 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 12 (The     Maid Of     The     Masque  ) Pg 116 
 Found Her To Be. At This Time The     Idea Of     Marriage Had Not Presented 
 Itself To Sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 Some Hours Before The     Performance He Detected her Condition Of     Abject 
 Fright... And From His Waistcoat Pocket He Took A Little Gold Snuff-Box. 
   
   
   
 At First The     Girl Declined to Follow Advice Which Instinctively She 
 Distrusted, And Sir Lucien Was Too Clever To Urge It Upon Her. But He 
 Glanced casually At His Wrist-Watch--And Poor Rita Shuddered. The     Gold 
 Box Was Hidden Again In the     Baronet'S Pocket. 
   
   
   
 To Analyze The     Process Which Thereupon Took Place In rita'S Mind Would 
 Be A Barren Task, Since Its Result Was A Foregone Conclusion. Daring 
 Ambition Rather Than Any Merely Abstract Virtue Was The     Keynote Of 
 Her Character. She Had Rebuffed the     Advances Of     Sir Lucien As She Had 
 Rebuffed others, Primarily Because Her Aim In life Was Set Higher Than 
 Mere Success In light Comedy. This She Counted but A Means To A More 
 Desirable End--A Wealthy Marriage. To The     Achievement Of     Such An 
 Alliance The     Presence Of     An Accepted lover Would Be An Obstacle; 
 And True Love Rita Dresden Had Never Known. Yet, Short Of     This Final 
 Sacrifice Which Some Women So Lightly Made, There Were Few Scruples 
 Which She Was Not Prepared to Discard In furtherance Of     Her Designs. Her 
 Morality, Then, Was Diplomatic, For The     Vice Of     Ambition May Sometimes 
 Make For Virtue. 
   
   
   
 Rita'S Vivacious Beauty And Perfect Self-Possession On The     Fateful Night 
 Earned her A Permanent Place In stageland: Rita Dresden Became A "Star." 
 She Had Won A Long And Hard-Fought Battle; But In avoiding one Master 
 She Had Abandoned herself To Another. 
   
   
   
 The Triumph Of     Her Debut Left Her Strangely Exhausted. She Dreaded 
 The Coming of     The     Second Night Almost As Keenly As She Had Dreaded the 
   
 Ordeal Of     The     First. She Struggled, Poor Victim, And Only Increased her 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 12 (The     Maid Of     The     Masque  ) Pg 117 
 Terrors. Not Until The     Clock Showed her That In twenty Minutes She Must 
 Make Her First Entrance Did She Succumb. But Sir Lucien'S Gold Snuff-Box 
 Lay Upon Her Dressing-Table--And She Was Trembling. When At Last She 
 Heard The     Sustained note Of     The     Oboe In the     Orchestra Giving the     Pitch 
 To The     Answering violins, She Raised the     Jewelled lid Of     The     Box. 
   
   
   
 So She Entered upon The     Path Which Leads Down To Destruction, And 
 Since To Conjure With The     Drug Which Pharmacists Know As Methylbenzoyl 
 Ecgonine Is To Raise The     Demon Insomnia, Ere Long She Found Herself 
 Exploring strange By-Paths In quest Of     Sleep. 
   
   
   
 By The     Time That She Was Entrusted with The     Leading part In the     Maid 
 Of The     Masque, She Herself Did Not Recognize How Tenacious Was The 
 Hold Which This Fatal Habit Had Secured upon Her. In the     Company Of     Sir 
 Lucien Pyne She Met Other Devotees, And For A Time Came To Regard Her 
 Unnatural Mode Of     Existence As Something inseparable From The     Bohemian 
 Life. To The     Horrible Side Of     It She Was Blind. 
   
   
   
 It Was Her Meeting with Monte Irvin During the     Run Of     This Successful 
 Play Which First Awakened a Dawning comprehension; Not Because She 
 Ascribed his Admiration To Her Artificial Vivacity, But Because She 
 Realized the     Strength Of     The     Link Subsisting between Herself And Sir 
 Lucien. She Liked and Respected irvin, And As A Result Began To View Her 
 Conduct From A New Standpoint. His Life Was So Entirely Open And Free 
 From Reproach While Part Of     Her Own Was Dark And Secret. She Conceived a 
 Desire To Be Done With That Dark And Secret Life. 
   
   
   
 This Was A Shadow-Land Over Which Sir Lucien Pyne Presided, And Which 
 Must Be Kept Hidden From Monte Irvin; And It Was Not Until She Thus 
 Contemplated cutting herself Adrift From It All That She Perceived 
 The Gordian Knot Which Bound Her To The     Drug Coterie. How Far, Yet How 
 Smoothly, By All But Imperceptible Stages She Had Glided down The     Stream 
 Since That Night When The     Gold Box Had Lain Upon Her Dressing-Table! 
   
 Kazmah'S Drug Store In bond Street Had Few Secrets For Her; Or So She 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 12 (The     Maid Of     The     Masque  ) Pg 118 
 Believed. She Knew That The     Establishment Of     The     Strange, Immobile 
 Egyptian Was A Source From Which Drugs Could Always Be Obtained; She 
 Knew That The     Dream-Reading business Served some Double Purpose; But She 
 Did Not Know The     Identity Of     Kazmah. 
   
   
   
 Two Of     The     Most Insidious Drugs Familiar To Modern Pharmacy Were Wooing 
 Her To Slavery, And There Was No Strong Hand To Hold Her Back. Even The 
 Presence Of     Her Mother Might Have Offered some Slight Deterrent At This 
 Stage Of     Rita'S Descent, But The     Girl Had Quitted her Suburban Home As 
 Soon As Her Salary Had Rendered her Sufficiently Independent To Do So, 
 And Had Established herself In a Small But Elegant Flat Situated in the 
 Heart Of     Theatreland. 
   
   
   
 But If She Had Walked blindly Into The     Clutches Of     Cocaine And Veronal, 
 Her Subsequent Experiments With Chandu Were Prompted by Indefensible 
 Curiosity, And A False Vanity Which Urged her To Do Everything that 
 Was "Done" By The     Ultra-Smart And Vicious Set Of     Which She Had Become A 
 Member. 
   
   
   
 Her First Introduction To Opium-Smoking was Made Under The     Auspices Of 
 An American Comedian Then Appearing in london, An Old Devotee Of     The 
 Poppy, And It Took Place Shortly After Sir Lucien Pyne Had Proposed 
 Marriage To Rita. This Proposal She Had Not Rejected outright; She Had 
 Pleaded time For Consideration. Monte Irvin Was Away, And Rita Secretly 
 Hoped that On His Return He Would Declare Himself. Meanwhile She 
 Indulged in every New Craze Which Became Fashionable Among Her 
 Associates. A Chandu Party Took Place At The     American'S Flat In duke 
 Street, And Rita, Who Had Been Invited, And Who Had Consented to Go With 
 Sir Lucien Pyne, Met There For The     First Time The     Woman Variously Known 
 As "Lola" And "Mrs. Sin." 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 13 (A Chandu Party  ) Pg 119 
   
   
 From The     Restaurant At Which She Had Had Supper With Sir Lucien, Rita 
 Proceeded to Duke Street. Alighting from Pyne'S Car At The     Door, They 
 Went Up To The     Flat Of     The     Organizer Of     The     Opium Party--Mr. Cyrus 
 Kilfane. One Other Guest Was Already Present--A Slender, Fair Woman, Who 
 Was Introduced by The     American As Mollie Gretna, But Whose Weakly Pretty 
 Face Rita Recognized as That Of     A Notorious Society Divorcee, Foremost 
 In The     Van Of     Every New Craze, A Past-Mistress Of     The     Smartest Vices. 
   
   
   
 Kilfane Had Sallow, Expressionless Features And Drooping, Light-Colored 
 Eyes. His Straw-Hued hair, Brushed back From A Sloping brow, Hung Lankly 
 Down Upon His Coat-Collar. Long Familiarity With China'S Ruling vice And 
 Contact With Those Who Practiced it Had Brought About That Mysterious 
 Physical Alteration--Apparently Reflecting a Mental Change--So Often 
 To Be Seen In one Who Has Consorted with Chinamen. Even The     Light Eyes 
 Seemed to Have Grown Slightly Oblique; The     Voice, The     Unimpassioned 
 Greeting, Were Those Of     A Son Of     Cathay. He Carried himself With A Stoop 
 And Had A Queer, Shuffling gait. 
   
   
   
 "Ah, My Dear Daughter," He Murmured in a Solemnly Facetious Manner, "How 
 Glad I Am To Welcome You To Our Poppy Circle." 
   
   
   
 He Slowly Turned his Half-Closed eyes In pyne'S Direction, And Slowly 
 Turned them Back Again. 
   
   
   
 "Do You Seek Forgetfulness Of     Old Joys?" He Asked. "This Is My Own Case 
 And Pyne'S. Or Do You, As Mollie Does, Seek New Joys--Youth'S Eternal 
 Quest?" 
   
   
   
 Rita Laughed with A Careless Abandon Which Belonged to That Part Of     Her 
 Character Veiled from The     Outer World. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 13 (A Chandu Party  ) Pg 120 
 "I Think I Agree With Miss Gretna," She Said Lightly. "There Is Not So 
 Much Happiness In life That I Want To Forget The     Little I Have Had." 
   
   
   
 "Happiness," Murmured kilfane. "There Is No Real Happiness. Happiness Is 
 Smoke. Let Us Smoke." 
   
   
   
 "I Am Curious, But Half Afraid," Declared rita. "I Have Heard That Opium 
 Sometimes Has No Other Effect Than To Make One Frightfully Ill." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, My Dear!" Cried miss Gretna, With A Foolish Giggling laugh, "You 
 Will Love It! Such Fascinating dreams! Such Delightful Adventures!" 
   
   
   
 "Other Drugs," Drawled sir Lucien, "Merely Stimulate One'S Normal Mental 
 Activities. Chandu Is A Key To Another Life. Cocaine, For Instance 
 Enhances Our Capacity For Work. It Is Only A Heretic Like De Quincey Who 
 Prostitutes The     Magic Gum To Such Base Purposes. Chandu Is Misunderstood 
 In Europe; In asia It Is The     Companion Of     The     Aesthete'S Leisure." 
   
   
   
 "But Surely," Said Rita, "One Pipe Of     Opium Will Not Produce All These 
 Wonders." 
   
   
   
 "Some People Never Experience Them At All," Interrupted miss Gretna. 
 "The Great Idea Is To Get Into A Comfortable Position, And Just Resign 
 Yourself--Let Yourself Go. Oh, It'S Heavenly!" 
   
   
   
 Cyrus Kilfane Turned his Dull Eyes In rita'S Direction. 
   
   
   
 "A Question Of     Temperament And Adaptability," He Murmured. "De Quincey, 
 Pyne"--Slowly Turning towards The     Baronet--"Is Didactic, Of     Course; But 
 His Confessions May Be True, Nevertheless. He Forgets, You See, That He 
 Possessed an Unusual Constitution, And The     Temperament Of     A Norwegian 
 Herring. He Forgets, Too, That He Was A Laudanum Drinker, Not An Opium 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 13 (A Chandu Party  ) Pg 121 
 Smoker. Now You, My Daughter"--The Lustreless Eyes Again Sought Rita'S 
 Flushed face--"Are Vivid--Intensely Vital. If You Can Succeed in 
 Resigning yourself To The     Hypnosis Induced your Experiences Will Be 
 Delightful. Trust Your Uncle Cy." 
   
   
   
 Leaving rita Chatting with Miss Gretna, Kilfane Took Pyne Aside, 
 Offering him A Cigarette From An Ornate, Jewelled case. 
   
   
   
 "Hello," Said The     Baronet, "Can You Still Get These?" 
   
   
   
 "With The     Utmost Difficulty," Murmured kilfane, Returning the     Case To 
 His Pocket. "Lola Charges Me Five Guineas A Hundred for Them, And Only 
 Supplies Them As A Favor. I Shall Be Glad To Get Back Home, Pyne. The 
 Right Stuff Is The     Wrong Price In london." 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Laughed sardonically, Lighting kilfane'S Cigarette And Then 
 His Own. 
   
   
   
 "I Find It So Myself," He Said. "Everything except Opium Is To Be Had At 
 Kazmah'S, And Nothing except Opium Interests Me." 
   
   
   
 "He Supplies Me With Cocaine," Murmured the     Comedian. "His Figure Works 
 Out, As Nearly As I Can Estimate It, At 10S 7 1/2D. A Grain. I Saw Him 
 About It Yesterday Afternoon, Pointing out To The     Brown Guy That As The 
 Wholesale Price Is Roughly 2 1/4D., I Regarded his Margin Of     Profit As 
 Somewhat Broad." 
   
   
   
 "Indeed!" 
   
   
   
 "The First Time I Had Ever Seen Him, Pyne. I Brought An Introduction 
 From Dr. Silver, Of     New York, And Kazmah Supplied me Without 
 Question--At A Price." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 13 (A Chandu Party  ) Pg 122 
   
 "You Always Saw Rashid?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. If There Were Other Visitors I Waited. But Yesterday I Made A 
 Personal Appointment With Kazmah. He Pretended to Think I Had Come To 
 Have A Dream Interpreted. He Is Clever, Pyne. He Never Moved a Muscle 
 Throughout The     Interview. But Finally He Assured me That All The 
 Receivers In england Had Amalgamated, And That The     Price He Charged 
 Represented a Very Narrow Margin Of     Profit. Of     Course He Is A Liar. He 
 Is Making a Fortune. Do You Know Him Personally?" 
   
   
   
 "No," Replied sir Lucien, "Outside His Bond Street Home Of     Mystery He Is 
 Unknown. A Clever Man, As You Say. You Obtain Your Opium From Lola?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. Kazmah Sent Her To Me. She Keeps Me On Ridiculously Low Rations, 
 And If I Had Not Brought My Own Outfit I Don'T Think She Would Have 
 Sold Me One. Of     Course, Her Game Is Beating up Clients For The     Limehouse 
 Dive." 
   
   
   
 "You Have Visited 'The House Of     A Hundred raptures'?" 
   
   
   
 "Many Times, At Week-Ends. Opium, Like Wine, Is Better Enjoyed in 
 Company." 
   
   
   
 "Does She Post You The     Opium?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, No; My Man Goes To Limehouse For It. Ah! Here She Is." 
   
   
   
 A Woman Came In, Carrying a Brown Leather Attache Case. She Had Left Her 
 Hat And Coat In the     Hall, And Wore A Smart Blue Serge Skirt And A White 
 Blouse. She Was Not Tall, But She Possessed a Remarkably Beautiful 
   
 Figure Which The     Cut Of     Her Garments Was Not Intended to Disguise, And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 13 (A Chandu Party  ) Pg 123 
 Her Height Was Appreciably Increased by A Pair Of     Suede Shoes Having the 
 Most Wonderful Heels Which Rita Ever Remembered to Have Seen Worn On Or 
 Off The     Stage. They Seemed to Make Her Small Feet Appear Smaller, And 
 Lent To Her Slender Ankles An Exaggerated frontal Curve. 
   
   
   
 Her Hair Was Of     That True, Glossy Black Which Suggests The     Blue Sheen Of 
 Raven'S Plumage, And Her Thickly Fringed eyes Were Dark And Southern As 
 Her Hair. She Had Full, Voluptuous Lips, And A Bold Self-Assurance. In 
 The Swift, Calculating glance Which She Cast About The     Room There Was 
 Something greedy And Evil; And When It Rested upon Rita Dresden'S Dainty 
 Beauty To The     Evil Greed was Added cruelty. 
   
   
   
 "Another Little Sister, Dear Lola," Murmured kilfane. "Of Course, You 
 Know Who It Is? This, My Daughter," Turning the     Sleepy Glance Towards 
 Rita, "Is Our Officiating priestess, Mrs. Sin." 
   
   
   
 The Woman So Strangely Named revealed her Gleaming teeth In a Swift, 
 Unpleasant Smile, Then Her Nostrils Dilated and She Glanced about Her 
 Suspiciously. 
   
   
   
 "Someone Smokes The     Chandu Cigarettes," She Said, Speaking in a Low Tone 
 Which, Nevertheless, Failed to Disguise Her Harsh Voice, And With A Very 
 Marked accent. 
   
   
   
 "I Am The     Offender, Dear Lola," Said Kilfane, Dreamily Waving his 
 Cigarette Towards Her. "I Have Managed to Make The     Last Hundred spin 
 Out. You Have Brought Me A New Supply?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh No, Indeed," Replied mrs. Sin, Tossing her Head In a Manner Oddly 
 Reminiscent Of     A Once Famous Spanish Dancer. "Next Tuesday You Get Some 
 More. Ah! It Is No Good! You Talk And Talk And It Cannot Alter Anything. 
 Until They Come I Cannot Give Them To You." 
   
   
   
 "But It Appears To Me," Murmured kilfane, "That The     Supply Is Always 
 Growing less." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 13 (A Chandu Party  ) Pg 124 
   
   
 "Of Course. The     Best Goes All To Edinburgh Now. I Have Only Three Sticks 
 Of Yezd Left Of     All My Stock." 
   
   
   
 "But The     Cigarettes." 
   
   
   
 "Are From Buenos Ayres? Yes. But Buenos Ayres Must Get The     Opium Before 
 We Get The     Cigarettes, Eh? Five Cases Come To London On Tuesday, Cy. Be 
 Of Good Courage, My Dear." 
   
   
   
 She Patted the     Sallow Cheek Of     The     American With Her Jewelled fingers, 
 And Turned aside, Glancing about Her. 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Murmured kilfane. "We Are All Present, Lola. I Have Had The     Room 
 Prepared. Come, My Children, Let Us Enter The     Poppy Portico." 
   
   
   
 He Opened a Door And Stood Aside, Waving one Thin Yellow Hand Between 
 The First Two Fingers Of     Which Smouldered the     Drugged cigarette. Led by 
 Mrs. Sin The     Company Filed into An Apartment Evidently Intended for 
 A Drawing-Room, But Which Had Been Hastily Transformed into An Opium 
 Divan. 
   
   
   
 Tables, Chairs, And Other Items Of     Furniture Had Been Stacked against 
 One Of     The     Walls And The     Floor Spread With Rugs, Skins, And Numerous 
 Silk Cushions. A Gas Fire Was Alight, But Before It Had Been Placed an 
 Ornate Japanese Screen Whereon Birds Of     Dazzling plumage Hovered amid 
 The Leaves Of     Gilded palm Trees. In the     Centre Of     The     Room Stood A Small 
 Card-Table, And Upon It Were A Large Brass Tray And An Ivory Pedestal 
 Exquisitely Carved in the     Form Of     A Nude Figure Having one Arm Upraised. 
 The Figure Supported a Lamp, The     Light Of     Which Was Subdued by A 
 Barrel-Shaped shade Of     Chinese Workmanship. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 13 (A Chandu Party  ) Pg 125 
   
   
 Mollie Gretna Giggled hysterically. 
   
   
   
 "Make Yourself Comfortable, Dear," She Cried to Rita, Dropping down Upon 
 A Heap Of     Cushions Stacked in a Recess Beside The     Fireplace. "I Am Going 
 To Take Off My Shoes. The     Last Time, Cyrus, When I Woke Up My Feet Were 
 Quite Numb." 
   
   
   
 "You Should Come Down To My Place," Said Mrs. Sin, Setting the     Leather 
 Case On The     Little Card-Table Beside The     Lamp. "You Have There Your Own 
 Little Room And Silken Sheets To Lie In, And It Is Quiet--So Quiet." 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Cried mollie Gretna, "I Must Come! But I Daren'T Go Alone. Will 
 You Come With Me, Dear?" Turning to Rita. 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T Know," Was The     Reply. "I May Not Like Opium." 
   
   
   
 "But If You Do--And I Know You Will?" 
   
   
   
 "Why," Said Rita, Glancing rapidly At Pyne, "I Suppose It Would Be A 
 Novel Experience." 
   
   
   
 "Let Me Arrange It For You," Came The     Harsh Voice Of     Mrs. Sin. "Lucy 
 Will Drive You Both Down--Won'T You, My Dear?" The     Shadowed eyes Glanced 
 Aside At Sir Lucien Pyne. 
   
   
   
 "Certainly," He Replied. "I Am Always At The     Ladies' Service." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 13 (A Chandu Party  ) Pg 126 
 Rita Dresden Settled herself Luxuriously Into A Nest Of     Silk And Fur In 
 Another Corner Of     The     Room, Regarding the     Baronet Coquettishly Through 
 Her Half-Lowered lashes. 
   
   
   
 "I Won'T Go Unless It Is My Party, Lucy," She Said. "You Must Let Me 
 Pay." 
   
   
   
 "A Detail," Murmured pyne, Crossing and Standing beside Her. 
   
   
   
 Interest Now Became Centred upon The     Preparations Being made By Mrs. 
 Sin. From The     Attache Case She Took Out A Lacquered box, Silken-Lined 
 Like A Jewel-Casket. It Contained four Singular-Looking pipes, The     Parts 
 Of Which She Began To Fit Together. The     First And Largest Of     These Had 
 A Thick Bamboo Stem, An Amber Mouthpiece, And A Tiny, Disproportionate 
 Bowl Of     Brass. The     Second Was Much Smaller And Was Of     Some Dark, 
 Highly-Polished wood, Mounted with Silver Conceived in an Ornate Chinese 
 Design Representing a Long-Tailed lizard. The     Mouthpiece Was Of     Jade. 
 The Third And Fourth Pipes Were Yet Smaller, A Perfectly Matched pair In 
 Figured ivory Of     Exquisite Workmanship, Delicately Gold-Mounted. 
   
   
   
 "These For The     Ladies," Said Mrs. Sin, Holding up The     Pair. 
 "You"--Glancing at Kilfane--"Have Got Your Own Pipe, I Know." 
   
   
   
 She Laid Them Upon The     Tray, And Now Took Out Of     The     Case A Little 
 Copper Lamp, A Smaller Lacquered box And A Silver Spatula, Her Jewelled 
 Fingers Handling the     Queer Implements With A Familiarity Bred of     Habit. 
   
   
   
 "What A Strange Woman!" Whispered rita To Pyne. "Is She An Oriental?" 
   
   
   
 "Cuban-Jewess," He Replied in a Low Voice. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 13 (A Chandu Party  ) Pg 127 
 Mrs. Sin Carefully Lighted the     Lamp, Which Burned with A Short, Bluish 
 Flame, And, Opening the     Lacquered box, She Dipped the     Spatula Into 
 The Thick Gummy Substance Which It Contained and Twisted the     Little 
 Instrument Round And Round Between Her Fingers, Presently Withdrawing it 
 With A Globule Of     Chandu, About The     Size Of     A Bean, Adhering to The     End. 
 She Glanced aside At Kilfane. 
   
   
   
 "Chinese Way, Eh?" She Said. 
   
   
   
 She Began To Twirl The     Prepared opium Above The     Flame Of     The     Lamp. From 
 It A Slight, Sickly Smelling vapor Arose. No One Spoke, But All 
 Watched her Closely; And Rita Was Conscious Of     A Growing, Pleasurable 
 Excitement. When By Evaporation The     Chandu Had Become Reduced to The 
 Size Of     A Small Pea, And A Vague Spirituous Blue Flame Began To Dance 
 Round The     End Of     The     Spatula, Mrs. Sin Pressed it Adroitly Into The     Tiny 
 Bowl Of     One Of     The     Ivory Pipes, Having first Held The     Bowl Inverted for 
 A Moment Over The     Lamp. She Turned to Rita. 
   
   
   
 "The Guest Of     The     Evening," She Said. "Do Not Be Afraid. Inhale--Oh, So 
 Gentle--And Blow The     Smoke From The     Nostrils. You Know How To Smoke?" 
   
   
   
 "The Same As A Cigarette?" Asked rita Excitedly, As Mrs. Sin Bent Over 
 Her. 
   
   
   
 "The Same, But Very, Very Gentle." 
   
   
   
 Rita Took The     Pipe And Raised the     Mouthpiece To The     Lips. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 14 (In the     Shade Of     The     Lonely Palm  ) Pg 128 
   
 Persian Opium Of     Good Quality Contains From Ten To Fifteen Percent 
 Morphine, And Chandu Made From Opium Of     Yezd Would Contain Perhaps 
 Twenty-Five Per Cent Of     This Potent Drug; But Because In the     Act Of 
 Smoking distillation Occurs, Nothing like This Quantity Of     Morphine 
 Reaches The     Smoker. To The     Distilling process, Also, May Be Due 
 The Different Symptoms Resulting from Smoking chandu And Injecting 
 Morphia--Or Drinking tincture Of     Opium, As De Quincey Did. 
   
   
   
 Rita Found The     Flavor Of     The     Preparation To Be Not Entirely Unpleasant. 
 Having overcome An Initial Aversion, Caused by Its Marked medicinal 
 Tang, She Grew Reconciled to It And Finished her First Smoke Without 
 Experiencing any Other Effect Than A Sensation Of     Placid Contentment. 
 Deftly, Mrs. Sin Renewed the     Pipe. Silence Had Fallen Upon The     Party. 
   
   
   
 The Second "Pill" Was No More Than Half Consumed when A Growing feeling 
 Of Nausea Seized upon The     Novice, Becoming so Marked that She Dropped 
 The Ivory Pipe Weakly And Uttered a Faint Moan. 
   
   
   
 Instantly, Silently, Mrs. Sin Was Beside Her. 
   
   
   
 "Lean Forward--So," She Whispered, Softly, As If Fearful Of     Intruding 
 Her Voice Upon These Sacred rites. "In A Moment You Will Be Better. 
 Then, If You Feel Faint, Lie Back. It Is The     Sleep. Do Not Fight Against 
 It." 
   
   
   
 The Influence Of     The     Stronger Will Prevailed. Self-Control And Judgment 
 Are Qualities Among The     First To Succumb To Opium. Rita Ceased to Think 
 Longingly Of     The     Clean, Fresh Air, Of     Escape From These Sickly Fumes 
 Which Seemed now To Fill The     Room With A Moving vacuum. She Bent 
 Forward, Her Chin Resting upon Her Breast, And Gradually The     Deathly 
   
 Sickness Passed. Mentally, She Underwent A Change, Too. From An Active 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 14 (In the     Shade Of     The     Lonely Palm  ) Pg 129 
 State Of     Resistance The     Ego Traversed a Descending curve Ending in 
 Absolute Passivity. The     Floor Had Seemingly Begun To Revolve And Was 
 Moving insidiously, So That The     Pattern Of     The     Carpet Formed a Series 
 Of Concentric Rings. She Found This Imaginary Phenomenon To Be Soothing 
 Rather Than Otherwise, And Resigned herself Almost Eagerly To The 
 Delusion. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Allowed her To Fall Back Upon The     Cushions--So Gently And So 
 Slowly That The     Operation Appeared to Occupy Several Minutes And To 
 Resemble That Of     Sinking into Innumerable Layers Of     Swansdown. The 
 Sinuous Figure Bending over Her Grew Taller With The     Passage Of     Each 
 Minute, Until The     Dark Eyes Of     Mrs. Sin Were Looking down At Rita From 
 A Dizzy Elevation. As Often Occurs In the     Case Of     A Neurotic Subject, 
 Delusion As To Time And Space Had Followed the     Depression Of     The     Sensory 
 Cells. 
   
   
   
 But Surely, She Mused, This Could Not Be Mrs. Sin Who Towered so Loftily 
 Above Her. Of     Course, How Absurd To Imagine That A Woman Could Remain 
 Motionless For So Many Hours. And Rita Thought, Now, That She Had Been 
 Lying for Several Hours Beneath The     Shadow Of     That Tall, Graceful, And 
 Protective Shape. 
   
   
   
 Why--It Was A Slender Palm-Tree, Which Stretched its Fanlike Foliage 
 Over Her! Far, Far Above Her Head The     Long, Dusty Green Fronds Projected 
 From The     Mast-Like Trunk. The     Sun, A Ball Of     Fiery Brass, Burned 
 Directly In the     Zenith, So That The     Shadow Of     The     Foliage Lay Like A 
 Carpet About Her Feet. That Which She Had Mistaken For The     Ever-Receding 
 Eyes Of     Mrs. Sin, Wondering with A Delightful Vagueness Why They Seemed 
 Constantly To Change Color, Proved to Be A Pair Of     Brilliantly Plumaged 
 Parrakeets Perched upon A Lofty Branch Of     The     Palm. 
   
   
   
   
 This Was An Equatorial Noon, And Even If She Had Not Found Herself To 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 14 (In the     Shade Of     The     Lonely Palm  ) Pg 130 
 Be Under The     Influence Of     A Delicious Abstraction Rita Would Not 
 Have Moved; For, Excepting the     Friendly Palm, Not Another Vestige Of 
 Vegetation Was Visible Right Away To The     Horizon; Nothing but An Ocean 
 Of Sand Whereon No Living thing moved. She And The     Parrakeets Were Alone 
 In The     Heart Of     The     Great Sahara. 
   
   
   
 But Stay! Many, Many Miles Away, A Speck On The     Dusty Carpet Of     The 
 Desert, Something moved! Hours Must Elapse Before That Tiny Figure, 
 Provided it Were Approaching, Could Reach The     Solitary Palm. 
 Delightedly, Rita Contemplated the     Infinity Of     Time. Even If The     Figure 
 Moved ever So Slowly, She Should Be Waiting there Beneath The     Palm To 
 Witness Its Arrival. Already, She Had Been There For A Period Which She 
 Was Far Too Indolent To Strive To Compute--A Week, Perhaps. She Turned 
 Her Attention To The     Parrakeets. One Of     Them Was Moving, And She Noted 
 With Delight That It Had Perceived her Far Below And Was Endeavoring to 
 Draw The     Attention Of     Its Less Observant Companion To Her Presence. For 
 Many Hours She Lay Watching it And Wondering why, Since The     One Bird 
 Was So Singularly Intelligent, Its Companion Was Equally Dull. When She 
 Lowered her Eyes And Looked out Again Across The     Sands, The     Figure Had 
 Approached so Close As To Be Recognizable. 
   
   
   
 It Was That Of     Mrs. Sin. Rita Appreciated the     Fitness Of     Her Presence, 
 And Experienced no Surprise, Only A Mild Curiosity. This Curiosity Was 
 Not Concerned with Mrs. Sin Herself, But With The     Nature Of     The     Burden 
 Which She Bore Upon Her Head. 
   
   
   
 She Was Dressed in a Manner Which Rita Dreamily Thought Would Have Been 
 Inadequate In england, Or Even In cuba, But Which Was Appropriate In the 
 Great Sahara. How Exquisitely She Carried herself, Mused the     Dreamer; 
 No Doubt This Fine Carriage Was Due In part To Her Wearing golden Shoes 
 With Heels Like Stilts, And In part To Her Having been Trained to Bear 
 Heavy Burdens Upon Her Head. Rita Remembered that Sir Lucien Had Once 
 Described to Her The     Elegant Deportment Of     The     Arab Women, Ascribing it 
 To Their Custom Of     Carrying water-Jars In that Way. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 14 (In the     Shade Of     The     Lonely Palm  ) Pg 131 
 The Appearance Of     The     Speck On The     Horizon Had Marked the     Height Of     Her 
 Trance. Her Recognition Of     Mrs. Sin Had Signalized the     Decline Of     The 
 Chandu Influence. Now, The     Intrusion Of     A Definite, Uncontorted memory 
 Was Evidence Of     Returning cerebral Activity. 
   
   
   
 Rita Had No Recollection Of     The     Sunset; Indeed, She Had Failed to 
 Perceive Any Change In the     Form And Position Of     The     Shadow Cast By The 
 Foliage. It Had Spread, An Ebony Patch, Equally About The     Bole Of     The 
 Tree, So That The     Sun Must Have Been Immediately Overhead. But, Of 
 Course, She Had Lain Watching the     Parrakeets For Several Hours, And Now 
 Night Had Fallen. The     Desert Mounds Were Touched with Silver, The     Sky 
 Was A Nest Of     Diamonds, And The     Moon Cast A Shadow Of     The     Palm Like A 
 Bar Of     Ebony Right Across The     Prospect To The     Rim Of     The     Sky Dome. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Stood Before Her, One Half Of     Her Lithe Body Concealed by This 
 Strange Black Shadow And The     Other Half Gleaming in the     Moonlight So 
 That She Resembled a Beautiful Ivory Statue Which Some Iconoclast Had 
 Cut In two. 
   
   
   
 Placing her Burden Upon The     Ground, Mrs. Sin Knelt Down Before Rita 
 And Reverently Kissed her Hand, Whispering: "I Am Your Slave, My Poppy 
 Queen." 
   
   
   
 She Spoke In a Strange Language, No Doubt Some African Tongue, But One 
 Which Rita Understood Perfectly. Then She Laid One Hand Upon The     Object 
 Which She Had Carried on Her Head, And Which Now Proved to Be A Large 
 Lacquered casket Covered with Chinese Figures And Bound By Three Hoops 
 Of Gold. It Had A Very Curious Shape. 
   
   
   
   
 "Do You Command That The     Chest Be Opened?" She Asked. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 14 (In the     Shade Of     The     Lonely Palm  ) Pg 132 
   
 "Yes," Answered rita Languidly. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Threw Up The     Lid, And From The     Interior Of     The     Casket Which, 
 Because Of     The     Glare Of     The     Moon Light, Seemed every Moment To Assume A 
 New Form, Drew Out A Bronze Lamp. 
   
   
   
 "The Sacred lamp," She Whispered, And Placed it On The     Sand. "Do You 
 Command That It Be Lighted?" 
   
   
   
 Rita Inclined her Head. 
   
   
   
 The Lamp Became Lighted; In what Manner She Did Not Observe, Nor Was 
 She Curious To Learn. Next From The     Large Casket Mrs. Sin Took Another 
 Smaller Casket And A Very Long, Tapering silver Bodkin. The     First Casket 
 Had Perceptibly Increased in size. It Was Certainly Much Larger Than 
 Rita Had Supposed; For Now Out From Its Shadowy Interior Mrs. Sin Began 
 To Take Pipes--Long Pipes And Short Pipes, Pipes Of     Gold And Pipes Of 
 Silver, Pipes Of     Ivory And Pipes Of     Jade. Some Were Carved to Represent 
 The Heads Of     Demons, Some Had The     Bodies Of     Serpents Wreathed about 
 Them; Others Were Encrusted with Precious Gems, And Filled the     Night 
 With The     Venomous Sheen Of     Emeralds, The     Blood-Rays Of     Rubies And Golden 
 Glow Of     Topaz, While The     Spear-Points Of     Diamonds Flashed a Challenge To 
 The Stars. 
   
   
   
 "Do You Command That The     Pipes Be Lighted?" Asked the     Harsh Voice. 
   
   
   
 Rita Desired to Answer, "No," But Heard Herself Saying, "Yes." 
   
   
   
   
 Thereupon, From A Thousand Bowls, Linking that Lonely Palm To The     Remote 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 14 (In the     Shade Of     The     Lonely Palm  ) Pg 133 
 Horizon, A Thousand Elfin Fires Arose--Blue-Tongued and Spirituous. Grey 
 Pencilings Of     Smoke Stole Straightly Upward To The     Sky, So That Look 
 Where She Would Rita Could Discern Nothing but These Countless Thin, 
 Faintly Wavering, Vertical Lines Of     Vapor. 
   
   
   
 The Dimensions Of     The     Lacquered casket Had Increased so Vastly As To 
 Conceal The     Kneeling figure Of     Mrs. Sin, And Staring at It Wonderingly, 
 Rita Suddenly Perceived that It Was Not An Ordinary Casket. She Knew At 
 Last Why Its Shape Had Struck Her As Being unusual. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Chinese Coffin. 
   
   
   
 The Smell Of     The     Burning opium Was Stifling her. Those Remorseless 
 Threads Of     Smoke Were Closing in, Twining themselves About Her Throat. 
 It Was Becoming cold, Too, And The     Moonlight Was Growing dim. The 
 Position Of     The     Moon Had Changed, Of     Course, As The     Night Had Stolen On 
 Towards Morning, And Now It Hung Dimly Before Her. The     Smoke Obscured 
 It. 
   
   
   
 But Was This Smoke Obscuring the     Moon? Rita Moved her Hands For The 
 First Time Since She Had Found Herself Under The     Palm Tree, Weakly 
 Fending off Those Vaporous Tentacles Which Were Seeking to Entwine 
 Themselves About Her Throat. Of     Course, It Was Not Smoke Obscuring the 
 Moon, She Decided; It Was A Lamp, Upheld By An Ivory Figure--A Lamp With 
 A Chinese Shade. 
   
   
   
 A Subdued roaring sound Became Audible; And This Was Occasioned by The 
 Gas Fire, Burning behind The     Japanese Screen On Which Gaily Plumaged 
 Birds Sported in the     Branches Of     Golden Palms. Rita Raised her Hands To 
 Her Eyes. Mist Obscured her Sight. Swiftly, Now, Reality Was Asserting 
 Itself And Banishing the     Phantasmagoria Conjured up By Chandu. 
   
   
   
 In Her Dim, Cushioned corner Mollie Gretna Lay Back Against The     Wall, 
   
 Her Face Pale And Her Weak Mouth Foolishly Agape. Cyrus Kilfane Was 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 14 (In the     Shade Of     The     Lonely Palm  ) Pg 134 
 Indistinguishable From The     Pile Of     Rugs Amid Which He Sprawled by 
 The Table, And Of     Sir Lucien Pyne Nothing was To Be Seen But The 
 Outstretched legs And Feet Which Projected grotesquely From A Recess. 
 Seated, Oriental Fashion, Upon An Improvised divan Near The     Grand Piano 
 And Propped up By A Number Of     Garish Cushions, Rita Beheld Mrs. Sin. The 
 Long Bamboo Pipe Had Fallen From Her Listless Fingers. Her Face Wore An 
 Expression Of     Mystic Rapture Like That Characterizing the     Features Of 
 Some Chinese Buddhas. 
   
   
   
 Fear, Unaccountable But Uncontrollable, Suddenly Seized upon Rita. She 
 Felt Weak And Dizzy, But She Struggled partly Upright. 
   
   
   
 "Lucy!" She Whispered. 
   
   
   
 Her Voice Was Not Under Control, And Once More She Strove To Call To 
 Pyne. 
   
   
   
 "Lucy!" Came The     Hoarse Whisper Again. 
   
   
   
 The Fire Continued its Muted roaring, But No Other Sound Answered to 
 The Appeal. A Horror Of     The     Companionship In which She Found Herself 
 Thereupon Took Possession Of     The     Girl. She Must Escape From These 
 Sleepers, Whose Spirits Had Been Expelled by The     Potent Necromancer, 
 Opium, From These Empty Tenements Whose Occupants Had Fled. The     Idea Of 
 The Cool Night Air In the     Open Streets Was Delicious. 
   
   
   
 She Staggered to Her Feet, Swaying drunkenly, But Determined to Reach 
 The Door. She Shuddered, Because Of     A Feeling of     Internal Chill Which 
 Assailed her, But Step By Step Crept Across The     Room, Opened the     Door, 
 And Tottered out Into The     Hallway. There Was No Sound In the     Flat. 
 Presumably Kilfane'S Man Had Retired, Or Perhaps He, Too, Was A Devotee. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 14 (In the     Shade Of     The     Lonely Palm  ) Pg 135 
 Rita'S Fur Coat Hung Upon The     Rack, And Although Her Fingers Appeared to 
 Have Lost All Their Strength And Her Arm To Have Become Weak As That 
 Of An Infant, She Succeeded in detaching the     Coat From The     Hook. Not 
 Pausing to Put It On, She Opened the     Door And Stumbled out On To The 
 Darkened landing. Whereas Her First Impulse Had Been To Awaken Someone, 
 Preferably Sir Lucien, Now Her Sole Desire Was To Escape Undetected. 
   
   
   
 She Began To Feel Less Dizzy, And Having paused for A Moment On The 
 Landing, She Succeeded in getting her Coat On. Then She Closed the     Door 
 As Quietly As Possible, And Clutching the     Handrail Began To Grope Her 
 Way Downstairs. There Was Only One Flight, She Remembered, And A Short 
 Passage Leading to The     Street Door. She Reached the     Passage Without 
 Mishap, And Saw A Faint Light Ahead. 
   
   
   
 The Fastenings Gave Her Some Trouble, But Finally Her Efforts Were 
 Successful, And She Found Herself Standing in deserted duke Street. 
 There Was No Moon, But The     Sky Was Cloudless. She Had No Idea Of     The 
 Time, But Because Of     The     Stillness Of     The     Surrounding streets She Knew 
 That It Must Be Very Late. She Set Out For Her Flat, Walking slowly And 
 Wondering what Explanation She Should Offer If A Constable Observed her. 
   
   
   
 Oxford Street Showed deserted as Far As The     Eye Could Reach, And Her 
 Light Footsteps Seemed to Awaken A Hundred echoes. Having proceeded for 
 Some Distance Without Meeting anyone, She Observed--And Experienced a 
 Childish Alarm--The Head-Lights Of     An Approaching car. Instantly The 
 Idea Of     Hiding presented itself To Her, But So Rapidly Did The     Big 
 Automobile Speed along The     Empty Thoroughfare That Rita Was Just Passing 
 A Street Lamp As The     Car Raced by, And She Must Therefore Have Been 
 Clearly Visible To The     Occupants. 
   
   
   
 Never For A Moment Glancing aside, Rita Pressed on As Quickly As She 
 Could. Then Her Vague Alarm Became Actual Terror. She Heard The     Brakes 
 Being applied to The     Car, And Heard The     Gritty Sound Of     The     Tires Upon 
   
 The Roadway As The     Vehicle'S Headlong Progress Was Suddenly Checked. She 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 14 (In the     Shade Of     The     Lonely Palm  ) Pg 136 
 Had Been Seen--Perhaps Recognized, And Whoever Was In the     Car Proposed 
 To Return To Speak To Her. 
   
   
   
 If Her Strength Had Allowed she Would Have Run, But Now It Threatened to 
 Desert Her Altogether And She Tottered weakly. A Pattering of     Footsteps 
 Came From Behind. Someone Was Running back To Overtake Her. Recognizing 
 Escape To Be Impossible, Rita Turned just As The     Runner Came Up With 
 Her. 
   
   
   
 "Rita!" He Cried, Rather Breathlessly. "Miss Dresden!" 
   
   
   
 She Stood Very Still, Looking at The     Speaker. 
   
   
   
 It Was Monte Irvin. 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 15  (Metamorphosis  ) Pg 137 
   
 As Irvin Seized her Hands And Looked at Her Eagerly, Half-Fearfully, 
 Rita Achieved sufficient Composure To Speak. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Mr. Irvin," She Said, And Found That Her Voice Was Not Entirely 
 Normal, "What Must You Think--" 
   
   
   
 He Continued to Hold Her Hands, And: 
   
   
   
 "I Think You Are Very Indiscreet To Be Out Alone At Three O'Clock In 
 The Morning," He Answered gently. "I Was Recalled to London By Urgent 
 Business, And Returned by Road--Fortunately, Since I Have Met You." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 15  (Metamorphosis  ) Pg 138 
   
 "How Can I Explain--" 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T Ask You To Explain--Miss Dresden. I Have No Right And No Desire 
 To Ask. But I Wish I Had The     Right To Advise You." 
   
   
   
 "How Good You Are," She Began, "And I--" 
   
   
   
 Her Voice Failed her Completely, And Her Sensitive Lips Began To 
 Tremble. Monte Irvin Drew Her Arm Under His Own And Led her Back To Meet 
 The Car, Which The     Chauffeur Had Turned and Which Was Now Approaching. 
   
   
   
 "I Will Drive You Home," He Said, "And If I May Call In the     Morning. I 
 Should Like To Do So." 
   
   
   
 Rita Nodded. She Could Not Trust Herself To Speak Again. And Having 
 Placed her In the     Car, Monte Irvin Sat Beside Her, Reclaiming her Hand 
 And Grasping it Reassuringly And Sympathetically Throughout The     Short 
 Drive. They Parted at Her Door. 
   
   
   
 "Good Night," Said Irvin, Speaking very Deliberately Because Of     An 
 Almost Uncontrollable Desire Which Possessed him To Take Rita In his 
 Arms, To Hold Her Fast, To Protect Her From Her Own Pathetic Self And 
 From Those Influences, Dimly Perceived about Her, But Which Intuitively 
 He Knew To Be Evil. 
   
   
   
 "If I Call At Eleven Will That Be Too Early?" 
   
   
   
 "No," She Whispered. "Please Come Early. There Is A Matinee Tomorrow." 
   
   
   
 "You Mean Today," He Corrected. "Poor Little Girl, How Tired you Will 
 Be. Good Night." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 15  (Metamorphosis  ) Pg 139 
   
   
 "Good Night," She Said, Almost Inaudibly. 
   
   
   
 She Entered, And, Having closed the     Door, Stood Leaning against It For 
 Several Minutes. Bleakness And Nausea Threatened to Overcome Her Anew, 
 And She Felt That If She Essayed another Step She Must Collapse Upon 
 The Floor. Her Maid Was In bed, And Had Not Been Awakened by Rita'S 
 Entrance. After A Time She Managed to Grope Her Way To Her Bedroom, 
 Where, Turning up The     Light, She Sank Down Helplessly Upon The     Bed. 
   
   
   
 Her Mental State Was Peculiar, And Her Thoughts Revolved about The 
 Journey From Oxford Street Homeward. A Thousand Times She Mentally 
 Repeated the     Journey, Speaking the     Same Words Over And Over Again, And 
 Hearing monte Irvin'S Replies. 
   
   
   
 In Those Few Minutes During which They Had Been Together Her Sentiments 
 In Regard To Him Had Undergone A Change. She Had Always Respected irvin, 
 But This Respect Had Been Curiously Compounded of     The     Personal And The 
 Mercenary; His Well-Ordered establishment At Prince'S Gate Had Loomed 
 Behind The     Figure Of     The     Man Forming a Pleasing background To The 
 Portrait. Without Being showy He Was A Splendid "Match" For Any Woman. 
 His Wife Would Have Access To Good Society, And Would Enjoy Every Luxury 
 That Wealth Could Procure. This Was The     Picture Lovingly Painted and 
 Constantly Retouched by Rita'S Mother. 
   
   
   
 Now It Had Vanished. The     Background Was Gone, And Only The     Man Remained; 
 The Strong, Reserved man Whose Deep Voice Had Spoken So Gently, Whose 
 Devotion Was So True And Unselfish That He Only Sought To Shield And 
 Protect Her From Follies The     Nature Of     Which He Did Not Even Seek To 
 Learn. She Was Stripped of     Her Vanity, And Felt Loathsome And Unworthy 
 Of Such A Love. 
   
   
   
 "Oh," She Moaned, Rocking to And Fro. "I Hate Myself--I Hate Myself!" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 15  (Metamorphosis  ) Pg 140 
   
 Now That The     Victory So Long Desired seemed at Last About To Be Won, She 
 Hesitated to Grasp The     Prize. One Solacing reflection She Had. She Would 
 Put The     Errors Of     The     Past Behind Her. Many Times Of     Late She Had Found 
 Herself Longing to Be Done With The     Feverish Life Of     The     Stage. Envied 
 By Those Who Had Been Her Companions In the     Old Chorus Days, And Any One 
 Of Whom Would Have Counted ambition Crowned could She Have Played the 
 Maid Of     The     Masque, Rita Thought Otherwise. The     Ducal Mansions And 
 Rose-Bowered riviera Hotels Through Which She Moved nightly Had No Charm 
 For Her; She Sighed for Reality, And Had Wearied long Ago Of     The     Canvas 
 Palaces And The     Artificial Southern Moonlight. In fact, Stage Life Had 
 Never Truly Appealed to Her--Save As A Means To An End. 
   
   
   
 Again And Yet Again Her Weary Brain Reviewed the     Episodes Of     The     Night 
 Since She Had Left Cyrus Kilfane'S Flat, So That Nearly An Hour Had 
 Elapsed before She Felt Capable Of     The     Operation Of     Undressing. Finally, 
 However, She Undressed, Shuddering although The     Room Was Warmed by An 
 Electric Radiator. The     Weakness And Sickness Had Left Her, But She Was 
 Quite Wide Awake, Although Her Brain Demanded rest From That Incessant 
 Review Of     The     Events Of     The     Evening. 
   
   
   
 She Put On A Warm Wrap And Seated herself At The     Dressing-Table, 
 Studying her Face Critically. She Saw That She Was Somewhat Pale And 
 That She Had An Indefinable Air Of     Dishevelment. Also She Detected 
 Shadows Beneath Her Eyes, The     Pupils Of     Which Were Curiously Contracted. 
 Automatically, As A Result Of     Habit, She Unlocked her Jewel-Case And 
 Took Out A Tiny Phial Containing minute Cachets. She Shook Several Out 
 On To The     Palm Of     Her Hand, And Then Paused, Staring at Her Reflection 
 In The     Mirror. 
   
   
   
 For Fully Half A Minute She Hesitated, Then: 
   
   
   
   
 "I Shall Never Close My Eyes All Night If I Don'T!" She Whispered, As If 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 15  (Metamorphosis  ) Pg 141 
 In Reply To A Spoken Protest, "And I Should Be A Wreck In the     Morning." 
   
   
   
 Thus, In the     Very Apogee Of     Her Resolve To Reform, Did She Drive One 
 More Rivet Into The     Manacles Which Held Her Captive To Kazmah And 
 Company. 
   
   
   
 Upon A Little Spirit-Stove Stood A Covered vessel Containing milk, Which 
 Was Placed there Nightly By Rita'S Maid. She Lighted the     Burner And 
 Warmed the     Milk. Then, Swallowing three Of     The     Cachets From The     Phial, 
 She Drank The     Milk. Each Cachet Contained three Decigrams Of     Malourea, 
 The Insidious Drug Notorious Under Its Trade Name Of     Veronal. 
   
   
   
 She Slept Deeply, And Was Not Awakened until Ten O'Clock. Her Breakfast 
 Consisted of     A Cup Of     Strong Coffee; But When Monte Irvin Arrived at 
 Eleven Rita Exhibited no Sign Of     Nerve Exhaustion. She Looked bright And 
 Charming, And Irvin'S Heart Leapt Hotly In his Breast At Sight Of     Her. 
   
   
   
 Following some Desultory And Unnatural Conversation: 
   
   
   
 "May I Speak Quite Frankly To You?" He Said, Drawing his Chair Nearer To 
 The Settee Upon Which Rita Was Seated. 
   
   
   
 She Glanced at Him Swiftly. "Of Course," She Replied. "Is It--About My 
 Late Hours?" 
   
   
   
 He Shook His Head, Smiling rather Sadly. 
   
   
   
 "That Is Only One Phase Of     Your Rather Feverish Life, Little Girl," He 
 Said. "I Don'T Mean That I Want To Lecture You Or Reproach You. I Only 
   
 Want To Ask You If You Are Satisfied?" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 15  (Metamorphosis  ) Pg 142 
   
 "Satisfied?" Echoed rita, Twirling a Tassel That Hung From A Cushion 
 Beside Her. 
   
   
   
 "Yes. You Have Achieved success In your Profession." He Strove In 
 Vain To Banish Bitterness From His Voice. "You Are A 'Star,' And Your 
 Photograph Is To Be Seen Frequently In the     Smartest Illustrated papers. 
 You Are Clever And Beautiful And Have Hosts Of     Admirers. But--Are You 
 Satisfied?" 
   
   
   
 She Stared absently At The     Silk Tassel, Twirling it About Her White 
 Fingers More And More Rapidly. Then: 
   
   
   
 "No," She Answered softly. 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Hesitated for A Moment Ere Bending forward And Grasping her 
 Hands. 
   
   
   
 "I Am Glad You Are Not Satisfied," He Whispered. "I Always Knew You Had 
 A Soul For Something higher--Better." 
   
   
   
 She Avoided his Ardent Gaze, But He Moved to The     Settee Beside Her And 
 Looked into The     Bewitching face. 
   
   
   
 "Would It Be A Great Sacrifice To Give It All Up?" He Whispered in a Yet 
 Lower Tone. 
   
   
   
 Rita Shook Her Head, Persistently Staring at The     Tassel. 
   
   
   
 "For Me?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 15  (Metamorphosis  ) Pg 143 
   
 She Gave Him A Swift, Half-Frightened glance, Pressing her Hands Against 
 His Breast And Leaning, Back. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, You Don'T Know Me--You Don'T Know Me!" She Said, The     Good That Was 
 In Her Touched to Life By The     Man'S Sincerity. "I--Don'T Deserve It." 
   
   
   
 "Rita!" He Murmured. "I Won'T Hear You Say That!" 
   
   
   
 "You Know Nothing about My Friends--About My Life--" 
   
   
   
 "I Know That I Want You For My Wife, So That I Can Protect You From 
 Those 'Friends.'" He Took Her In his Arms, And She Surrendered her Lips 
 To Him. 
   
   
   
 "My Sweet Little Girl," He Whispered. "I Cannot Believe It--Yet." 
   
   
   
 But The     Die Was Cast, And When Rita Went To The     Theatre To Dress For The 
 Afternoon Performance She Was Pledged to Sever Her Connection With The 
 Stage On The     Termination Of     Her Contract. She Had Luncheon With Monte 
 Irvin, And Had Listened almost Dazedly To His Plans For The     Future. 
 His Wealth Was Even Greater Than Her Mother Had Estimated it To Be, And 
 Rita'S Most Cherished dreams Were Dwarfed by The     Prospects Which Monte 
 Irvin Opened up Before Her. It Almost Seemed as Though He Knew And 
 Shared her Dearest Ambitions. She Was To Winter Beneath Real Southern 
 Palms And To Possess A Cruising yacht, Not One Of     Boards And Canvas Like 
 That Which Figured in the     Maid Of     The     Masque. 
   
   
   
 Real Southern Palms, She Mused guiltily, Not Those Conjured up By 
 Opium. That He Was Solicitous For Her Health The     Nature Of     His Schemes 
 Revealed. They Were To Visit Switzerland, And Proceed thence To A Villa 
 Which He Owned in italy. Christmas They Would Spend In cairo, Explore 
 The Nile To Assouan In a Private Dahabiyeh, And Return Home Via The 
   
 Riviera In time To Greet The     English Spring. Rita'S Delicate, Swiftly 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 15  (Metamorphosis  ) Pg 144 
 Changing color, Her Almost Ethereal Figure, Her Intense Nervous Energy 
 He Ascribed to A Delicate Constitution. 
   
   
   
 She Wondered if She Would Ever Dare To Tell Him The     Truth; If She Ought 
 To Tell Him. 
   
   
   
 Pyne Came To Her Dressing-Room Just Before The     Performance Began. He 
 Had Telephoned at An Early Hour In the     Morning, And Had Learned from Her 
 Maid That Rita Had Come Home Safely And Was Asleep. Rita Had Expected 
 Him; But The     Influence Of     Monte Irvin, From Whom She Had Parted at The 
 Stage-Door, Had Prevailed until She Actually Heard Sir Lucien'S Voice 
 In The     Corridor. She Had Resolutely Refrained from Looking at The     Little 
 Jewelled casket, Engraved "From Lucy To Rita," Which Lay In her Make-Up 
 Box Upon The     Table. But The     Imminence Of     An Ordeal Which She Dreaded 
 Intensely Weakened her Resolution. She Swiftly Dipped a Little Nail-File 
 Into The     White Powder Which The     Box Contained, And When Pyne Came In she 
 Turned to Him Composedly. 
   
   
   
 "I Am So Sorry If I Gave You A Scare Last Night, Lucy," She Said. "But I 
 Woke Up Feeling sick, And I Had To Go Out Into The     Fresh Air." 
   
   
   
 "I Was Certainly Alarmed," Drawled pyne, Whose Swarthy Face Looked more 
 Than Usually Worn In the     Hard Light Created by The     Competition Between 
 The Dressing-Room Lamps And The     Grey Wintry Daylight Which Crept Through 
 The Windows. "Do You Feel Quite Fit Again?" 
   
   
   
 "Quite, Thanks." Rita Glanced at A Ring which She Had Not Possessed 
 Three Hours Before. "Oh, Lucy--I Don'T Know How To Tell You--" 
   
   
   
 She Turned in her Chair, Looking up Wistfully At Pyne, Who Was Standing 
 Behind Her. His Jaw Hardened, And His Glance Sought The     White Hand Upon 
 Which The     Costly Gems Glittered. He Coughed nervously. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 15  (Metamorphosis  ) Pg 145 
   
   
 "Perhaps"--His Drawling manner Of     Speech Temporarily Deserted him; He 
 Spoke Jerkily--"Perhaps--I Can Guess." 
   
   
   
 She Watched him In a Pathetic Way, And There Was A Threat Of     Tears In 
 Her Beautiful Eyes; For Whatever His Earlier Intentions May Have 
 Been, Sir Lucien Had Proved a Staunch Friend And, According to His Own 
 Peculiar Code, An Honorable Lover. 
   
   
   
 "Is It--Irvin?" He Asked jerkily. 
   
   
   
 Rita Nodded, And A Tear Glistened upon Her Darkened lashes. 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Cleared his Throat Again, Then Coolly Extended his Hand, Once 
 More Master Of     His Emotions. 
   
   
   
 "Congratulations, Rita," He Said. "The Better Man Wins. I Hope You Will 
 Be Very Happy." 
   
   
   
 He Turned and Walked quietly Out Of     The     Dressing-Room. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 146 
   
 It Was On The     Following tuesday Evening that Mrs. Sin Came To The 
 Theatre, Accompanied by Mollie Gretna. Rita Instructed that She Should 
 Be Shown Up To The     Dressing-Room. The     Personality Of     This Singular 
 Woman Interested her Keenly. Mrs. Sin Was Well Known In certain Bohemian 
 Quarters, But Was Always Spoken Of     As One Speaks Of     A Pet Vice. Not 
 To Know Mrs. Sin Was To Be Outside The     Magic Circle Which Embraced the 
   
 Exclusively Smart People Who Practiced the     Latest Absurdities. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 147 
   
   
   
 The So-Called artistic Temperament Is Compounded of     Great Strength And 
 Great Weakness; Its Virtues Are Whiter Than Those Of     Ordinary People And 
 Its Vices Blacker. For Such A Personality Mrs. Sin Embodied the     Idea Of 
 Secret Pleasure. Her Bold Good Looks Repelled rita, But The     Knowledge In 
 Her Dark Eyes Was Alluring. 
   
   
   
 "I Arrange For You For Saturday Night," She Said. "Cy Kilfane Is Coming 
 With Mollie, And You Bring--" 
   
   
   
 "Oh," Replied rita Hesitatingly, "I Am Sorry You Have Gone To So Much 
 Trouble." 
   
   
   
 "No Trouble, My Dear," Mrs. Sin Assured her. "Just A Little Matter Of 
 Business, And You Can Pay The     Bill When It Suits You." 
   
   
   
 "I Am Frightfully Excited!" Cried mollie Gretna. "It Is So Nice Of     You 
 To Have Asked me To Join Your Party. Of     Course Cy Goes Practically Every 
 Week, But I Have Always Wanted another Girl To Go With. Oh, I Shall 
 Be In a Perfectly Delicious Panic When I Find Myself All Among Funny 
 Chinamen And Things! I Think There Is Something so Magnificently 
 Wicked-Looking about A Pigtail--And The     Very Name Of     Limehouse Thrills 
 Me To The     Soul!" 
   
   
   
 That Fixity Of     Purpose Which Had Enabled rita To Avoid The     Cunning 
 Snares Set For Her Feet And To Snatch Triumph From The     Very Cauldron Of 
 Shame Without Burning her Fingers Availed her Not At All In dealing with 
 Mrs. Sin. The     Image Of     Monte Receded before This Appeal To The     Secret 
 Pleasure-Loving woman, Of     Insatiable Curiosity, Primitive And Unmoral, 
 Who Dwells, According to A Modern Cynic Philosopher, Within Every 
   
 Daughter Of     Eve Touched by The     Fire Of     Genius. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 148 
   
   
 She Accepted the     Arrangement For Saturday, And Before Her Visitors Had 
 Left The     Dressing-Room Her Mind Was Busy With Plausible Deceits To 
 Cover The     Sojourn In chinatown. Something of     Mollie Gretna'S Foolish 
 Enthusiasm Had Communicated itself To Rita. 
   
   
   
 Later In the     Evening sir Lucien Called, And On Hearing of     The     Scheme 
 Grew Silent. Rita Glancing at His Reflection In the     Mirror, Detected a 
 Black And Angry Look Upon His Face. She Turned to Him. 
   
   
   
 "Why, Lucy," She Said, "Don'T You Want Me To Go?" 
   
   
   
 He Smiled in his Sardonic Fashion. 
   
   
   
 "Your Wishes Are Mine, Rita," He Replied. 
   
   
   
 She Was Watching him Closely. 
   
   
   
 "But You Don'T Seem Keen," She Persisted. "Are You Angry With Me?" 
   
   
   
 "Angry?" 
   
   
   
 "We Are Still Friends, Aren'T We?" 
   
   
   
 "Of Course. Do You Doubt My Friendship?" 
   
   
   
   
 Rita'S Maid Came In to Assist Her In changing for The     Third Act, And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 149 
 Pyne Went Out Of     The     Room. But, In spite Of     His Assurances, Rita Could 
 Not Forget That Fierce, Almost Savage Expression Which Had Appeared upon 
 His Face When She Had Told Him Of     Mrs. Sin'S Visit. 
   
   
   
 Later She Taxed him On The     Point, But He Suffered her Inquiry With 
 Imperturbable Sangfroid, And She Found Herself No Wiser Respecting the 
 Cause Of     His Annoyance. Painful Twinges Of     Conscience Came During the 
 Ensuing days, When She Found Herself In her Fiance'S Company, But She 
 Never Once Seriously Contemplated dropping the     Acquaintance Of     Mrs. Sin. 
   
   
   
 She Thought, Vaguely, As She Had Many Times Thought Before, Of     Cutting 
 Adrift From The     Entire Clique, But There Was No Return Of     That Sincere 
 Emotional Desire To Reform Which She Had Experienced on The     Day That 
 Monte Irvin Had Taken Her Hand, In blind Trust, And Had Asked her To Be 
 His Wife. Had She Analyzed, Or Been Capable Of     Analyzing, Her Intentions 
 With Regard To The     Future, She Would Have Learned that Daily They 
 Inclined more And More Towards Compromise. The     Drug Habit Was Sapping 
 Will And Weakening morale, Insidiously, Imperceptibly. She Was Caught In 
 A Current Of     That "Sacred river" Seen In an Opium-Trance By Coleridge, 
 And Which Ran-- 
   
   
   
     "Through Caverns Measureless To Man Down To A Sunless Sea." 
   
   
   
 Pyne'S Big Car Was At The     Stage-Door On The     Fateful Saturday Night, For 
 Rita Had Brought Her Dressing-Case To The     Theatre, And Having called for 
 Kilfane And Mollie Gretna They Were To Proceed direct To Limehouse. 
   
   
   
 Rita, As She Entered the     Car, Noticed that Juan Mareno, Sir Lucien'S 
 Man, And Not The     Chauffeur With Whom She Was Acquainted, Sat At The 
 Wheel. As They Drove Off: 
   
   
   
 "Why Is Mareno Driving tonight, Lucy?" She Asked. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 150 
 Sir Lucien Glanced aside At Her. 
   
   
   
 "He Is In my Confidence," He Replied. "Fraser Is Not." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I See. You Don'T Want Fraser To Know About The     Limehouse Journey?" 
   
   
   
 "Naturally I Don'T. He Would Talk To All The     Men At The     Garage, And From 
 South Audley Street The     Tit-Bit Of     Scandal Would Percolate Through Every 
 Stratum Of     Society." 
   
   
   
 Rita Was Silent For A Few Moments, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Were You Thinking about Monte?" She Asked diffidently. 
   
   
   
 Pyne Laughed. 
   
   
   
 "He Would Scarcely Approve, Would He?" 
   
   
   
 "No," Replied rita. "Was That Why You Were Angry When I Told You I Was 
 Going?" 
   
   
   
 "This 'Anger,' To Which You Constantly Revert, Had No Existence Outside 
 Your Own Imagination, Rita. But" He Hesitated--"You Will Have To 
 Consider Your Position, Dear, Now That You Are The     Future Mrs. Monte." 
 Rita Felt Her Cheeks Flush, And She Did Not Reply Immediately. 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T Understand You, Lucy," She Declared at Last. "How Odd You Are." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 151 
   
   
 "Am I? Well, Never Mind. We Will Talk About My Eccentricity Later. Here 
 Is Cyrus." 
   
   
   
 Kilfane Was Standing in the     Entrance To The     Stage Door Of     The     Theatre At 
 Which He Was Playing. As The     Car Drew Up He Lifted two Leather Grips On 
 To The     Step, And Mareno, Descending, Took Charge Of     Them. 
   
   
   
 "Come Along, Mollie," Said Kilfane, Looking back. 
   
   
   
 Miss Gretna, Very Excited, Ran Out And Got Into The     Car Beside Rita. 
 Pyne Lowered two Of     The     Collapsible Seats For Kilfane And Himself, And 
 The Party Set Out For Limehouse. 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Cried the     Fair-Haired mollie, Grasping rita'S Hand, "My Heart 
 Began Palpitating with Excitement The     Moment I Woke Up This Morning! How 
 Calm You Are, Dear." 
   
   
   
 "I Am Only Calm Outside," Laughed rita. 
   
   
   
 The Joie De Vivre And Apparently Unimpaired vitality, Of     This Woman, For 
 Whom (If Half That Which Rumor Whispered were True) Vice Had No Secrets, 
 Astonished rita. Her Physical Resources Were Unusual, No Doubt, Because 
 The Demand Made Upon Them By Her Mental Activities Was Slight. 
   
   
   
 As The     Car Sped along The     Strand, Where Theatre-Goers Might Still Be 
 Seen Making for Tube, Omnibus, And Tramcar, And Entered fleet Street, 
 Where The     Car And Taxicab Traffic Was Less, A Mutual Silence Fell Upon 
 The Party. Two At Least Of     The     Travellers Were Watching the     Lighted 
   
 Windows Of     The     Great Newspaper Offices With A Vague Sense Of     Foreboding, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 152 
 And Thinking how, Bound Upon A Secret Purpose, They Were Passing along 
 The Avenue Of     Publicity. It Is Well That Man Lacks Prescience. Neither 
 Rita Nor Sir Lucien Could Divine That A Day Was Shortly To Come When The 
 Hidden Presses Which Throbbed about Them That Night Should Be Busy With 
 The Story Of     The     Murder Of     One And Disappearance Of     The     Other. 
   
   
   
 Around St. Paul'S Churchyard Whirled the     Car, Its Engine Running 
 Strongly And Almost Noiselessly. The     Great Bell Of     St. Paul'S Boomed out 
 The Half-Hour. 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Cried mollie Gretna, "How That Made Me Jump! What A Beautifully 
 Gloomy Sound!" 
   
   
   
 Kilfane Murmured some Inaudible Reply, But Neither Pyne Nor Rita Spoke. 
   
   
   
 Cornhill And Leadenhall Street, Along Which Presently Their Route Lay, 
 Offered a Prospect Of     Lamp-Lighted emptiness, But At Aldgate They Found 
 Themselves Amid East End Throngs Which Afforded a Marked contrast To 
 Those Crowding theatreland; And From Thence Through Whitechapel And The 
 Seemingly Endless Commercial Road It Was A Different World Into Which 
 They Had Penetrated. 
   
   
   
 Rita Hitherto Had Never Seen The     East End On A Saturday Night, And The 
 Spectacle Afforded by These Busy Marts, Lighted by Naphtha Flames, In 
 Whose Smoky Glare Jews And Jewesses, Poles, Swedes, Easterns, Dagoes, 
 And Halfcastes Moved feverishly, Was A Fascinating one. She Thought How 
 Utterly Alien They Were, The     Men And Women Of     A World Unknown To That 
 Society Upon Whose Borders She Dwelled; She Wondered how They Lived, 
 Where They Lived, Why They Lived. The     Wet Pavements Were Crowded with 
 Nondescript Humanity, The     Night Was Filled with The     Unmusical Voices Of 
 Hebrew Hucksters, And The     Air Laden With The     Smoky Odor Of     Their Lamps. 
 Tramcars And Motorbuses Were Packed unwholesomely With These Children Of 
 Shadowland Drawn Together From The     Seven Seas By The     Magnet Of     London. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 153 
   
 She Glanced at Pyne, But He Was Seemingly Lost In abstraction, And 
 Kilfane Appeared to Be Asleep. Mollie Gretna Was Staring eagerly Out 
 On The     Opposite Side Of     The     Car At A Group Of     Three Dago Sailors, Whom 
 Mareno Had Nearly Run Down, But She Turned at That Moment And Caught 
 Rita'S Glance. 
   
   
   
 "Don'T You Simply Love It!" She Cried. "Some Of     Those Men Were Really 
 Handsome, Dear. If They Would Only Wash I Am Sure I Could Adore Them!" 
   
   
   
 "Even Such Charms As Yours Can Be Bought At Too High A Price," Drawled 
 Sir Lucien. "They Would Gladly Do Murder For You, But Never Wash." 
   
   
   
 Crossing limehouse Canal, The     Car Swung To The     Right Into West India 
 Dock Road. The     Uproar Of     The     Commercial Thoroughfare Was Left Far 
 Behind. Dark, Narrow Streets And Sinister-Looking alleys Lay Right And 
 Left Of     Them, And Into One Of     The     Narrowest And Least Inviting of     All 
 Mareno Turned the     Car. 
   
   
   
 In The     Dimly-Lighted doorway Of     A Corner House The     Figure Of     A Chinaman 
 Showed as A Motionless Silhouette. 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Sighed mollie Gretna Rapturously, "A Chinaman! I Begin To Feel 
 Deliciously Sinful!" 
   
   
   
 The Car Came To A Standstill. 
   
   
   
 "We Get Out Here And Walk," Said Sir Lucien. "It Would Not Be Wise To 
 Drive Further. Mareno Will Deliver Our Baggage By Hand Presently." 
   
   
   
 "But We Shall All Be Murdered," Cried mollie, "Murdered in cold Blood! I 
 Am Dreadfully Frightened!" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 154 
   
   
 "Something of     The     Kind Is Quite Likely," Drawled sir Lucien, "If You 
 Draw Attention To Our Presence In the     Neighborhood So Deliberately. 
 Walk Ahead, Kilfane, With Mollie. Rita And I Will Follow At A Discreet 
 Distance. Leave The     Door Ajar." 
   
   
   
 Temporarily Subdued by Pyne'S Icy Manner, Miss Gretna Became Silent, And 
 Went On Ahead With Cyrus Kilfane, Who Had Preserved an Almost Unbroken 
 Silence Throughout The     Journey. Rita And Sir Lucien Followed slowly. 
   
   
   
 "What A Creepy Neighborhood," Whispered rita. "Look! Someone Is Standing 
 In That Doorway Over There, Watching us." 
   
   
   
 "Take No Notice," He Replied. "A Cat Could Not Pass Along This Street 
 Unobserved by The     Chinese, But They Will Not Interfere With Us Provided 
 We Do Not Interfere With Them." 
   
   
   
 Kilfane Had Turned to The     Right Into A Narrow Court, At The     Entrance 
 To Which Stood An Iron Pillar. As He And His Companion Passed under The 
 Lamp In a Rusty Bracket Which Projected from The     Wall, They Vanished 
 Into A Place Of     Shadows. There Was A Ceaseless Chorus Of     Distant 
 Machinery, And Above It Rose The     Grinding and Rattling solo Of     A Steam 
 Winch. Once A Siren Hooted apparently Quite Near Them, And Looking 
 Upward At A Tangled, Indeterminable Mass Which Overhung The     Street At 
 This Point, Rita Suddenly Recognized it For A Ship'S Bow-Sprit. 
   
   
   
 "Why," She Said, "We Are Right On The     Bank Of     The     River!" 
   
   
   
 "Not Quite," Answered pyne. "We Are Skirting a Dock Basin. We Are Nearly 
 At Our Destination." 
   
   
   
 Passing in turn Under The     Lamp, They Entered the     Narrow Court, And From 
   
 A Doorway Immediately On The     Left A Faint Light Shone Out Upon The     Wet 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 155 
 Pavement. Pyne Pushed the     Door Fully Open And Held It For Rita To Enter. 
 As She Did So: 
   
   
   
 "Hello! Hello!" Croaked a Harsh Voice. "Number One P'Lice Chop, Lo! Sin 
 Sin Wa!" 
   
   
   
 The Uncanny Cracked voice Proceeded to Give An Excellent Imitation Of     A 
 Police Whistle, And Concluded with That Of     The     Clicking of     Castanets. 
   
   
   
 "Shut The     Door, Lucy," Came The     Murmurous Tones Of     Kilfane From The 
 Gloom Of     The     Stuffy Little Room, In the     Centre Of     Which Stood A Stove 
 Wherefrom Had Proceeded the     Dim Light Shining out Upon The     Pavement. 
 "Light Up, Sin Sin." 
   
   
   
 "Sin Sin Wa! Sin Sin Wa!" Shrieked the     Voice, And Again Came The 
 Rattling of     Imaginary Castanets. "Smartest Leg In buenos Ayres--Buenos 
 Ayres--P'Lice Chop--P'Lice Chop, Lo!" 
   
   
   
 "Oh," Whispered mollie Gretna, In the     Darkness, "I Believe I Am Going to 
 Scream!" 
   
   
   
 Pyne Closed the     Door, And A Dimly Discernible Figure On The     Opposite 
 Side Of     The     Room Stooped and Opened a Little Cupboard In which Was A 
 Lighted ship'S Lantern. The     Lantern Being lifted out And Set Upon A 
 Rough Table Near The     Stove, It Became Possible To View The     Apartment And 
 Its Occupants. 
   
   
   
   
 It Was A Small, Low-Ceiled place, Having two Doors, One Opening upon The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 156 
 Street And The     Other Upon A Narrow, Uncarpeted passage. The     Window Was 
 Boarded up. The     Ceiling had Once Been Whitewashed and A Few Limp, 
 Dark Fragments Of     Paper Still Adhering to The     Walls Proved that Some 
 Forgotten Decorator Had Exercised his Art Upon Them In the     Past. A Piece 
 Of Well-Worn Matting lay Upon The     Floor, And There Were Two Chairs, A 
 Table, And A Number Of     Empty Tea-Chests In the     Room. 
   
   
   
 Upon One Of     The     Tea-Chests Placed beside The     Cupboard Which Had 
 Contained the     Lantern A Chinaman Was Seated. His Skin Was Of     So Light 
 A Yellow Color As To Approximate To Dirty White, And His Face Was 
 Pock-Marked from Neck To Crown. He Wore Long, Snake-Like Moustaches, 
 Which Hung Down Below His Chin. They Grew From The     Extreme Outer Edges 
 Of His Upper Lip, The     Centre Of     Which, Usually The     Most Hirsute, Was 
 Hairless As The     Lip Of     An Infant. He Possessed the     Longest And Thickest 
 Pigtail Which Could Possibly Grow Upon A Human Scalp, And His Left Eye 
 Was Permanently Closed, So That A Smile Which Adorned his Extraordinary 
 Countenance Seemed to Lack The     Sympathy Of     His Surviving eye, Which, 
 Oblique, Beady, Held No Mirth In its Glittering depths. 
   
   
   
 The Garments Of     The     One-Eyed chinaman, Who Sat Complacently Smiling at 
 The Visitors, Consisted of     A Loose Blouse, Blue Trousers Tucked into 
 Grey Socks, And A Pair Of     Those Native, Thick-Soled slippers Which 
 Suggest To A Western Critic The     Acme Of     Discomfort. A Raven, Black As 
 A Bird Of     Ebony, Perched upon The     Chinaman'S Shoulder, Head A-Tilt, 
 Surveying the     Newcomers With A Beady, Glittering left Eye Which 
 Strangely Resembled the     Beady, Glittering right Eye Of     The     Chinaman. 
 For, Singular, Uncanny Circumstance, This Was A One-Eyed raven Which Sat 
 Upon The     Shoulder Of     His One-Eyed master! 
   
   
   
 Mollie Gretna Uttered a Stifled cry. "Oh!" She Whispered. "I Knew I Was 
   
 Going to Scream!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 157 
 The Eye Of     Sin Sin Wa Turned momentarily In her Direction, But Otherwise 
 He Did Not Stir A Muscle. 
   
   
   
 "Are You Ready For Us, Sin?" Asked sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 "All Ready. Lola Hate Gotchee Topside Loom Ready," Replied the     Chinaman 
 In A Soft, Crooning voice. 
   
   
   
 "Go Ahead, Kilfane," Directed sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 He Glanced at Rita, Who Was Standing very Near Him, Surveying the     Evil 
 Little Room And Its Owner With Ill-Concealed disgust. 
   
   
   
 "This Is Merely The     Foyer, Rita," He Said, Smiling slightly. "The State 
 Apartments Are Upstairs And In the     Adjoining house." 
   
   
   
 "Oh," She Murmured--And No More. 
   
   
   
 Kilfane And Mollie Gretna Were Passing through The     Inner Doorway, And 
 Mollie Turned. 
   
   
   
 "Isn'T It Loathsomely Delightful?" She Cried. 
   
   
   
 "Smartest Leg In buenos Ayres!" Shrieked the     Raven. "Sin Sin, Sin Sin!" 
   
   
   
 Uttering a Frightened exclamation, Mollie Disappeared along The     Passage. 
 Sir Lucien Indicated to Rita That She Was To Follow; And He, Passing 
   
 Through Last Of     The     Party, Closed the     Door Behind Him. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 16  (Limehouse  ) Pg 158 
   
 Sin Sin Wa Never Moved, And The     Raven, Settling down Upon The     Chinaman'S 
 Shoulder, Closed his Serviceable Eye. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 159 
 Up An Uncarpeted stair Cyrus Kilfane Led the     Party, And Into A Kind Of 
 Lumber-Room Lighted by A Tin Oil Lamp And Filled to Overflowing with 
 Heterogeneous And Unsavory Rubbish. Here Were Garments, Male And Female, 
 No Less Than Five Dilapidated bowler Hats, More Tea-Chests, Broken 
 Lamps, Tattered fragments Of     Cocoanut-Matting, Steel Bed-Laths And 
 Straw Mattresses, Ruins Of     Chairs--The Whole Diffusing an Indescribably 
 Unpleasant Odor. 
   
   
   
 Opening a Cupboard Door, Kilfane Revealed a Number Of     Pendent, Ragged 
 Garments, And Two More Bowler Hats. Holding the     Garments Aside, He 
 Banged upon The     Back Of     The     Cupboard--Three Blows, A Pause, And Then Two 
 Blows. 
   
   
   
 Following a Brief Interval, During which Even Mollie Gretna Was Held 
 Silent By The     Strangeness Of     The     Proceedings. 
   
   
   
 "Who Is It?" Inquired a Muffled voice. 
   
   
   
 "Cy And The     Crowd," Answered kilfane. 
   
   
   
 Thereupon Ensued a Grating noise, And Hats And Garments Swung Suddenly 
 Backward, Revealing a Doorway In which Mrs. Sin Stood Framed. She Wore 
 A Japanese Kimona Of     Embroidered green Silk And A Pair Of     Green  
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 160 
 And Gold 
 Brocaded slippers Which Possessed higher Heels Than Rita Remembered to 
 Have Seen Even Mrs. Sin Mounted upon Before. Her Ankles Were Bare, And 
 It Was Impossible To Determine In what Manner She Was Clad Beneath The 
 Kimona. Undoubtedly She Had A Certain Dark Beauty, Of     A Bold, Abandoned 
 Type. 
   
   
   
 "Come Right In," She Directed. "Mind Your Head, Lucy." 
   
   
   
 The Quartette Filed through Into A Carpeted corridor, And Mrs. Sin 
 Reclosed the     False Back Of     The     Cupboard, Which, Viewed from The     Other 
 Side, Proved to Be A Door Fitted into A Recess In the     Corridor Of     The 
 Adjoining house. This Recess Ceased to Exist When A Second And Heavier 
 Door Was Closed upon The     First. 
   
   
   
 "You Know," Murmured kilfane, "Old Sin Sin Has His Uses, Lola. Those 
 Doors Are Perfectly Made." 
   
   
   
 "Pooh!" Scoffed the     Woman, With A Flash Of     Her Dark Eyes; "He Is Half A 
 Ship'S Carpenter And Half An Ape!" 
   
   
   
 She Moved along The     Passage, Her Arm Linked in that Of     Sir Lucien. The 
 Others Followed, And: 
   
   
   
 "Is She Truly Married to That Dreadful Chinaman?" Whispered mollie 
 Gretna. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, I Believe So," Murmured kilfane. "She Is Known As Mrs. Sin Sin 
 Wa." 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Mollie'S Eyes Opened widely. "I Almost Envy Her! I Have Read That 
 Chinamen Tie Their Wives To Beams In the     Roof And Lash Them With Leather 
   
 Thongs Until They Swoon. I Could Die For A Man Who Lashed me With 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 161 
 Leather Thongs. Englishmen Are So Ridiculously Gentle To Women." 
   
   
   
 Opening a Door On The     Left Of     The     Corridor, Mrs. Sin Displayed a Room 
 Screened off Into Three Sections. One Shaded lamp High Up Near The 
 Ceiling served to Light All The     Cubicles, Which Were Heated by Small 
 Charcoal Stoves. These Cubicles Were Identical In shape And Appointment, 
 Each Being draped with Quaint Chinese Tapestry And Containing rugs, A 
 Silken Divan, An Armchair, And A Low, Eastern Table. 
   
   
   
 "Choose For Yourself," Said Mrs. Sin, Turning to Rita And Mollie Gretna. 
 "Nobody Else Come Tonight. You Two In this Room, Eh? Next Door Each 
 Other For Company." 
   
   
   
 She Withdrew, Leaving the     Two Girls Together. Mollie Clasped her Hands 
 Ecstatically. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, My Dear!" She Said. "What Do You Think Of     It All?" 
   
   
   
 "Well," Confessed rita, Looking about Her, "Personally I Feel Rather 
 Nervous." 
   
   
   
 "My Dear!" Cried mollie. "I Am Simply Quivering with Delicious Terror!" 
   
   
   
 Rita Became Silent Again, Looking about Her, And Listening. The     Harsh 
 Voice Of     The     Cuban-Jewess Could Be Heard From A Neighboring room, But 
 Otherwise A Perfect Stillness Reigned in the     House Of     Sin Sin Wa. She 
 Remembered that Mrs. Sin Had Said, "It Is Quiet--So Quiet." 
   
   
   
 "The Idea Of     Undressing and Reclining on These Divans In real Oriental 
 Fashion," Declared mollie, Giggling, "Makes Me Feel That I Am An 
 Odalisque Already. I Have Dreamed that I Was An Odalisque, Dear--After 
 Smoking, You Know. It Was Heavenly. At Least, I Don'T Know That 
   
 'Heavenly' Is Quite The     Right Word." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 162 
   
   
   
 And Now That Evil Spirit Of     Abandonment Came To Rita--Communicated to 
 Her, Possibly, By Her Companion. Dread, Together With A Certain Sense 
 Of Moral Reluctance, Departed, And She Began To Enjoy The     Adventure At 
 Last. It Was As Though Something in the     Faintly Perfumed atmosphere Of 
 The Place Had Entered into Her Blood, Driving out Reserve And Stifling 
 Conscience. 
   
   
   
 When Sir Lucien Reappeared she Ran To Him Excitedly, Her Charming face 
 Flushed and Her Eyes Sparkling. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Lucy," She Cried, "How Long Will Our Things Be? I'M Keen To Smoke!" 
   
   
   
 His Jaw Hardened, And When He Spoke It Was With A Drawl More Marked than 
 Usual. 
   
   
   
 "Mareno Will Be Here Almost Immediately," He Answered. 
   
   
   
 The Tone Constituted a Rebuff, And Rita'S Coquetry Deserted her, Leaving 
 Her Mortified and Piqued. She Stared at Pyne, Biting her Lip. 
   
   
   
 "You Don'T Like Me Tonight," She Declared. "If I Look Ugly, It'S Your 
 Fault; You Told Me To Wear This Horrid Old Costume!" 
   
   
   
 He Laughed in a Forced, Unnatural Way. 
   
   
   
 "You Are Quite Well Aware That You Could Never Look Otherwise Than 
 Maddeningly Beautiful," He Said Harshly. "Do You Want Me To Recall The 
 Fact To You Again That You Are Shortly To Be Monte Irvin'S Wife--Or 
 Should You Prefer Me To Remind You That You Have Declined to Be Mine?" 
   
   
   
   
 Turning slowly, He Walked away, But: 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 163 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Lucy!" Whispered rita. 
   
   
   
 He Paused, Looking back. 
   
   
   
 "I Know Now Why You Didn'T Want Me To Come," She Said. "I--I'M Sorry." 
   
   
   
 The Hard Look Left Sir Lucien'S Face Immediately And Was Replaced by 
 A Curious, Indefinable Expression, An Expression Which Rarely Appeared 
 There. 
   
   
   
 "You Only Know Half The     Reason," He Replied softly. 
   
   
   
 At That Moment Mrs. Sin Came In, Followed by Mareno Carrying two 
 Dressing-Cases. Mollie Gretna Had Run Off To Kilfane, And Could Be 
 Heard Talking loudly In another Room; But, Called by Mrs. Sin, She Now 
 Returned, Wide-Eyed with Excitement. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Cast A Lightning glance At Sir Lucien, And Then Addressed rita. 
   
   
   
 "Which Of     These Three Rooms You Choose?" She Asked, Revealing her Teeth 
 In One Of     Those Rapid Smiles Which Were Mirthless As The     Eternal Smile 
 Of Sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 "Oh," Said Rita Hurriedly, "I Don'T Know. Which Do You Want, Mollie?" 
   
   
   
 "I Love This End One!" Cried mollie. "It Has Cushions Which Simply Reek 
 Of Oriental Voluptuousness And Cruelty. It Reminds Me Of     A Delicious 
 Book I Have Been Reading called musk, Hashish, And Blood." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 164 
 "Hashish!" Said Mrs. Sin, And Laughed harshly. "One Night You Shall Eat 
 The Hashish, And Then--" 
   
   
   
 She Snapped her Fingers, Glancing from Rita To Pyne. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Really? Is That A Promise?" Asked mollie Eagerly. 
   
   
   
 "No, No!" Answered mrs. Sin. "It Is A Threat!" 
   
   
   
 Something in the     Tone Of     Her Voice As She Uttered the     Last Four Words 
 In Mock Dramatic Fashion Caused mollie And Rita To Stare At One Another 
 Questioningly. That Suddenly Altered tone Had Awakened an Elusive 
 Memory, But Neither Of     Them Could Succeed in identifying it. 
   
   
   
 Mareno, A Lean, Swarthy Fellow, His Foreign Cast Of     Countenance 
 Accentuated by Close-Cut Side-Whiskers, Deposited miss Gretna'S Case In 
 The Cubicle Which She Had Selected and, Rita Pointing to That Adjoining 
 It, He Disposed the     Second Case Beside The     Divan And Departed silently. 
 As The     Sound Of     A Closing door Reached them: 
   
   
   
 "You Notice How Quiet It Is?" Asked mrs. Sin. 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Replied rita. "It Is Extraordinarily Quiet." 
   
   
   
 "This An Empty House--'To Let,'" Explained mrs. Sin. "We Watch It Stay 
 So. Sin The     Landlord, See? Windows All Boarded up And Everything padded. 
 No Sound Outside, No Sound Inside. Sin Call It The     'House Of     A Hundred 
 Raptures,' After The     One He Have In buenos Ayres." 
   
   
   
 The Voice Of     Cyrus Kilfane Came, Querulous, From A Neighboring room. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 165 
   
 "Lola, My Dear, I Am Almost Ready." 
   
   
   
 "Ho!" Mrs. Sin Uttered a Deep-Toned laugh. "He Is A Glutton For Chandu! 
 I Am Coming, Cy." 
   
   
   
 She Turned and Went Out. Sir Lucien Paused for A Moment, Permitting her 
 To Pass, And: 
   
   
   
 "Good Night, Rita," He Said In a Low Voice. "Happy Dreams!" 
   
   
   
 He Moved away. 
   
   
   
 "Lucy!" Called rita Softly. 
   
   
   
 "Yes?" 
   
   
   
 "Is It--Is It Really Safe Here?" 
   
   
   
 Pyne Glanced over His Shoulder Towards The     Retreating figure Of     Mrs. 
 Sin, Then: 
   
   
   
 "I Shall Be Awake," He Replied. "I Would Rather You Had Not Come, But 
 Since You Are Here You Must Go Through With It." He Glanced again Along 
 The Narrow Passage Created by The     Presence Of     The     Partitions, And Spoke 
 In A Voice Lower Yet. "You Have Never Really Trusted me, Rita. You Were 
 Wise. But You Can Trust Me Now. Good Night, Dear." 
   
   
   
 He Walked out Of     The     Room And Along The     Carpeted corridor To A Little 
   
 Apartment At The     Back Of     The     House, Furnished comfortably But In 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 166 
 Execrably Bad Taste. A Cheerful Fire Was Burning in the     Grate, The     Flue 
 Of Which Had Been Ingeniously Diverted by Sin Sin Wa So That The     Smoke 
 Issued from A Chimney Of     The     Adjoining premises. On The     Mantelshelf, 
 Which Was Garishly Draped, Were A Number Of     Photographs Of     Mrs. Sin In 
 Spanish Dancing costume. 
   
   
   
 Pyne Seated himself In an Armchair And Lighted a Cigarette. Except For 
 The Ticking of     A Clock The     Room Was Silent As A Padded cell. Upon 
 A Little Moorish Table Beside A Deep, Low Settee Lay A Complete 
 Opium-Smoking outfit. 
   
   
   
 Lolling back In the     Chair And Crossing his Legs, Sir Lucien Became Lost 
 In Abstraction, And He Was Thus Seated when, Some Ten Minutes Later, 
 Mrs. Sin Came In. 
   
   
   
 "Ah!" She Said, Her Harsh Voice Softened to A Whisper. "I Wondered. So 
 You Wait To Smoke With Me?" Pyne Slowly Turned his Head, Staring at Her 
 As She Stood In the     Doorway, One Hand Resting on Her Hip And Her Shapely 
 Figure Boldly Outlined by The     Kimono. 
   
   
   
 "No," He Replied. "I Don'T Want To Smoke. Are They All Provided for?" 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Shook Her Head. 
   
   
   
 "Not Cy," She Said. "Two Pipes Are Nothing to Him. He Will Need two 
 More--Perhaps Three. But You Are Not Going to Smoke?" 
   
   
   
 "Not Tonight, Lola." 
   
   
   
 She Frowned, And Was About To Speak, When: 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 167 
   
 "Lola, My Dear," Came A Distant, Querulous Murmur. "Give Me Another 
 Pipe." 
   
   
   
 Sin Tossed her Head, Turned, And Went Out Again. Sir Lucien Lighted 
 Another Cigarette. When Finally The     Woman Came Back, Cyrus Kilfane Had 
 Presumably Attained the     Opium-Smoker'S Paradise, For Lola Closed the 
 Door And Seated herself Upon The     Arm Of     Sir Lucien'S Chair. She Bent 
 Down, Resting her Dusky Cheek Against His. 
   
   
   
 "You Smoke With Me?" She Whispered coaxingly. 
   
   
   
 "No, Lola, Not Tonight," He Said, Patting her Jewel-Laden Hand And 
 Looking aside Into The     Dark Eyes Which Were Watching him Intently. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Became Silent For A Few Moments. 
   
   
   
 "Something has Changed in you," She Said At Last. "You Are 
 Different--Lately." 
   
   
   
 "Indeed!" Drawled sir Lucien. "Possibly You Are Right. Others Have Said 
 The Same Thing." 
   
   
   
 "You Have Lots Of     Money Now. Your Investments Have Been Good. You Want 
 To Become Respectable, Eh?" 
   
   
   
 Pyne Smiled sardonically. 
   
   
   
 "Respectability Is A Question Of     Appearance," He Replied. "The Change To 
 Which You Refer Would Seem To Go Deeper." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 168 
   
 "Very Likely," Murmured mrs. Sin. "I Know Why You Don'T Smoke. You Have 
 Promised your Pretty Little Friend That You Will Stay Awake And See That 
 Nobody Tries To Cut Her Sweet White Throat." 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Listened imperturbably. 
   
   
   
 "She Is Certainly Nervous," He Admitted coolly. "I May Add That I Am 
 Sorry I Brought Her Here." 
   
   
   
 "Oh," Said Mrs. Sin, Her Voice Rising half A Note. "Then Why Do You 
 Bring her To The     House?" 
   
   
   
 "She Made The     Arrangement Herself, And I Took The     Easier Path. I Am 
 Considering your Interests As Much As My Own, Lola. She Is About To 
 Marry Monte Irvin, And If His Suspicions Were Aroused he Is Quite 
 Capable Of     Digging down To The     'Hundred raptures.'" 
   
   
   
 "You Brought Her To Kazmah'S." 
   
   
   
 "She Was Not At That Time Engaged to Irvin." 
   
   
   
 "Ah, I See. And Now Everybody Says You Are Changed. Yes, She Is A 
 Charming friend." 
   
   
   
 Pyne Looked up Into The     Half-Veiled dark Eyes. 
   
   
   
 "She Never Has Been And Never Can Be Any More To Me, Lola," He Said. 
   
   
   
 At Those Words, Designed to Placate, The     Fire Which Smouldered in lola'S 
 Breast Burst Into Sudden Flame. She Leapt To Her Feet, Confronting sir 
   
 Lucien. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 17  (Black Smoke ) Pg 169 
   
 "I Know! I Know!" She Cried harshly. "Do You Think I Am Blind? If She 
 Had Been Like Any Of     The     Others, Do You Suppose It Would Have Mattered 
 To Me? But You Respect Her--You Respect Her!" 
   
   
   
 Eyes Blazing and Hands Clenched, She Stood Before Him, A Woman Mad With 
 Jealousy, Not Of     A Successful Rival But Of     A Respected one. She Quivered 
 With Passion, And Pyne, Perceiving his Mistake Too Late, Only Preserved 
 His Wonted composure By Dint Of     A Great Effort. He Grasped lola And Drew 
 Her Down On To The     Arm Of     The     Chair By Sheer Force, For She Resisted 
 Savagely. His Ready Wit Had Been At Work, And: 
   
   
   
 "What A Little Spitfire You Are," He Said, Firmly Grasping her Arms, 
 Which Felt Rigid To The     Touch. "Surely You Can Understand? Rita Amused 
 Me, At First. Then, When I Found She Was Going to Marry Monte Irvin I 
 Didn'T Bother About Her Any More. In fact, Because I Like And Admire 
 Irvin, I Tried to Keep Her Away From The     Dope. We Don'T Want Trouble 
 With A Man Of     That Type, Who Has All Sorts Of     Influence. Besides, Monte 
 Irvin Is A Good Fellow." 
   
   
   
 Gradually, As He Spoke, The     Rigid Arms Relaxed and The     Lithe Body Ceased 
 To Quiver. Finally, Lola Sank Back Against His Shoulder, Sighing. 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T Believe You," She Whispered. "You Are Telling me Lies. But 
 You Have Always Told Me Lies; One More Does Not Matter, I Suppose. How 
 Strong You Are. You Have Hurt My Wrists. You Will Smoke With Me Now?" 
   
   
   
 For A Moment Pyne Hesitated, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Very Well," He Said. "Go And Lie Down. I Will Roast The     Chandu." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 170 
 For A Habitual Opium-Smoker To Abstain When The     Fumes Of     Chandu Actually 
 Reach His Nostrils Is A Feat Of     Will-Power Difficult Adequately To 
 Appraise. An Ordinary Tobacco Smoker Cannot Remain For Long Among Those 
 Who Are Enjoying the     Fragrant Weed without Catching the     Infection And 
 Beginning to Smoke Also. Twice To Redouble The     Lure Of     My Lady Nicotine 
 Would Be But Loosely To Estimate The     Seductiveness Of     The     Spirit Of     The 
 Poppy; Yet Sir Lucien Pyne Smoked one Pipe With Mrs. Sin, And Perceiving 
 Her To Be Already In a State Of     Dreamy Abstraction, Loaded a Second, But 
 In His Own Case With A Fragment Of     Cigarette Stump Which Smouldered in a 
 Tray Upon The     Table. His Was That Rare Type Of     Character Whose Possessor 
 Remains Master Of     His Vices. 
   
   
   
 Following the     Fourth Pipe--Pyne, After The     Second, Had Ceased to Trouble 
 To Repeat His Feat Of     Legerdemain, "The Sleep" Claimed mrs. Sin. Her 
 Languorous Eyes Closed, And Her Face Assumed that Rapt Expression 
 Of Buddha-Like Beatitude Which Rita Had Observed at Kilfane'S Flat. 
 According to Some Scientific Works On The     Subject, Sleep Is Not 
 Invariably Induced in the     Case Of     Europeans By The     Use Of     Chandu. 
 Loosely, This Is True. But This Type Of     European Never Becomes An 
 Habitue; The     Habitue Always Sleeps. That Dream-World To Which Opium 
 Alone Holds The     Key Becomes The     Real World "For The     Delights Of     Which 
 The Smoker Gladly Resigns All Mundane Interests." The     Exiled chinaman 
 Returns Again To The     Sampan Of     His Boyhood, Floating joyously On The 
 Waters Of     Some Willow-Lined canal; The     Malay Hears Once More The     Mystic 
 Whispering in the     Mangrove Swamps, Or Scents The     Fragrance Of     Nutmeg And 
 Cinnamon In the     Far-Off Golden Chersonese. Mrs. Sin Doubtless Lived anew 
 The Triumphs Of     Earlier Days In buenos Ayres, When She Had Been La Belle 
 Lola, The     Greatly Beloved, And Before She Had Met And Married sin Sin 
   
 Wa. Gives Much, But Claims All, And He Who Would Open The     Poppy-Gates 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 171 
 Must Close The     Door Of     Ambition And Bid Farewell To Manhood. 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Stood Looking at The     Woman, And Although One Pipe Had 
 Affected him But Slightly, His Imagination Momentarily Ran Riot And A 
 Pageant Of     His Life Swept Before Him, So That His Jaw Grew Hard And Grim 
 And He Clenched his Hands Convulsively. An Unbroken Stillness Prevailed 
 In The     Opium-House Of     Sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 Recovering from His Fit Of     Abstraction, Pyne, Casting a Final Keen 
 Glance At The     Sleeper, Walked out Of     The     Room. He Looked along The 
 Carpeted corridor In the     Direction Of     The     Cubicles, Paused, And Then 
 Opened the     Heavy Door Masking the     Recess Behind The     Cupboard. Next 
 Opening the     False Back Of     The     Cupboard, He Passed through To The 
 Lumber-Room Beyond, And Partly Closed the     Second Door. 
   
   
   
 He Descended the     Stair And Went Along The     Passage; But Ere He Reached 
 The Door Of     The     Room On The     Ground Floor: 
   
   
   
 "Hello! Hello! Sin Sin! Sin Sin Wa!" Croaked the     Raven. "Number One 
 P'Lice Chop, Lo!" The     Note Of     A Police Whistle Followed, Rendered with 
 Uncanny Fidelity. 
   
   
   
 Pyne Entered the     Room. It Presented the     Same Aspect As When He Had Left 
 It. The     Ship'S Lantern Stood Upon The     Table, And Sin Sin Wa Sat Upon The 
 Tea-Chest, The     Great Black Bird Perched on His Shoulder. The     Fire In the 
 Stove Had Burned lower, And Its Downcast Glow Revealed less Mercilessly 
 The Dirty Condition Of     The     Floor. Otherwise No One, Nothing, Seemed to 
 Have Been Disturbed. Pyne Leaned against The     Doorpost, Taking out And 
 Lighting a Cigarette. The     Eye Of     Sin Sin Wa Glanced sideways At Him. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 172 
 "Well, Sin Sin," Said Sir Lucien, Dropping a Match And Extinguishing it 
 Under His Foot, "You See I Am Not Smoking tonight." 
   
   
   
 "No Smokee," Murmured the     Chinaman. "Velly Good Stuff." 
   
   
   
 "Yes, The     Stuff Is All Right, Sin." 
   
   
   
 "Number One Proper," Crooned sin Sin Wa, And Relapsed into Smiling 
 Silence. 
   
   
   
 "Number One P'Lice," Croaked the     Raven Sleepily. "Smartest--" He Even 
 Attempted the     Castanets Imitation, But Was Overcome By Drowsiness. 
   
   
   
 For A While Sir Lucien Stood Watching the     Singular Pair And Smiling in 
 His Ironical Fashion. The     Motive Which Had Prompted him To Leave The 
 Neighboring house And To Seek The     Companionship Of     Sin Sin Wa Was So 
 Obscure And Belonged so Peculiarly To The     Superdelicacies Of     Chivalry, 
 That Already He Was Laughing at Himself. But, Nevertheless, In this 
 House And Not In its Secret Annex Of     A Hundred raptures He Designed to 
 Spend The     Night. Presently: 
   
   
   
 "Hon'Lable P'Lice Patrol Come 'Long Plenty Soon," Murmured sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 "Indeed?" Said Sir Lucien, Glancing at His Wristwatch. "The Door Is Open 
 Above." 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Raised one Yellow Forefinger, Without Moving either Hand From 
 The Knee Upon Which It Rested, And Shook It Slightly To And Fro. 
   
   
   
 "Allee Lightee," He Murmured. "No Bhobbery. Allee Peaceful Fellers." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 173 
   
 "Will They Want To Come In?" 
   
   
   
 "Wantchee Dlink," Replied sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I See. If I Go Out Into The     Passage It Will Be All Right?" 
   
   
   
 "Allee Lightee." 
   
   
   
 Even As He Softly Crooned the     Words Came A Heavy Squelch Of     Rubbers Upon 
 The Wet Pavement Outside, Followed by A Rapping on The     Door. Sin Sin Wa 
 Glanced aside At Sir Lucien, And The     Latter Immediately Withdrew, 
 Partly Closing the     Door. The     Chinaman Shuffled across And Admitted two 
 Constables. The     Raven, Remaining perched upon His Shoulder, Shrieked, 
 "Smartest Leg In buenos Ayres," And, Fully Awakened, Rattled invisible 
 Castanets. 
   
   
   
 The Police Strode Into The     Stuffy Little Room Without Ceremony, A Pair 
 Of Burly Fellows, Fresh-Complexioned, And Genial As Men Are Wont To Be 
 Who Have Reached a Welcome Resting-Place On A Damp And Cheerless Night. 
 They Stood By The     Stove, Warming their Hands; And One Of     Them Stooped, 
 Took Up The     Little Poker, And Stirred the     Embers To A Brighter Glow. 
   
   
   
 "Been Havin' A Pipe, Sin?" He Asked, Winking at His Companion. "I Can 
 Smell Something like Opium!" 
   
   
   
 "No Smokee Opium," Murmured sin Sin Wa Complacently. "Smokee Woodbine." 
   
   
   
 "Ho, Ho!" Laughed the     Other Constable. "I Don'T Think." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 174 
 "You Likee Tly One Piecee Pipee One Time?" Inquired the     Chinaman. 
 "Gotchee Fliend Makee Smokee." 
   
   
   
 The Man Who Had Poked the     Fire Slapped his Companion On The     Back. 
   
   
   
 "Now'S Your Chance, Jim!" He Cried. "You Always Said You'D Like To Have 
 A Cut At It." 
   
   
   
 "H'M!" Muttered the     Other. "A 'Double' O' That Fifteen Over-Proof 
 Jamaica Of     Yours, Sin, Would Hit Me In a Tender Spot Tonight." 
   
   
   
 "Lum?" Murmured sin Sin Blandly. "No Hate Got." 
   
   
   
 He Resumed his Seat On The     Tea-Chest, And The     Raven Muttered sleepily, 
 "Sin Sin--Sin." 
   
   
   
 "H'M!" Repeated the     Constable. 
   
   
   
 He Raised the     Skirt Of     His Heavy Top-Coat, And From His Trouser-Pocket 
 Drew Out A Leather Purse. The     Eye Of     Sin Sin Wa Remained fixed upon 
 A Distant Corner Of     The     Room. From The     Purse The     Constable Took A 
 Shilling, Ringing it Loudly Upon The     Table. 
   
   
   
 "Double Rum, Miss, Please!" He Said, Facetiously. "There'S No Treason 
 Allowed nowadays, So My Pal'S--" 
   
   
   
 "I Stood Yours Last Night Jim, Anyway!" Cried the     Other, Grinning. "Go 
 On, Stump Up!" 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 175 
 Jim Rang A Second Shilling on The     Table. 
   
   
   
 "Two Double Rums!" He Called. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Reached a Long Arm Into The     Little Cupboard Beside Him And 
 Withdrew A Bottle And A Glass. Leaning forward He Placed bottle And 
 Glass On The     Table, And Adroitly Swept The     Coins Into His Yellow Palm. 
   
   
   
 "Number One P'Lice Chop," Croaked the     Raven. 
   
   
   
 "You'Re Right, Old Bird!" Said Jim, Pouring out A Stiff Peg Of     The 
 Spirit And Disposing of     It At A Draught. "We Should Freeze To Death On 
 This Blasted riverside Beat If It Wasn'T For Sin Sin." 
   
   
   
 He Measured out A Second Portion For His Companion, And The     Latter Drank 
 The Raw Spirit Off As Though It Had Been Ale, Replaced the     Glass On The 
 Table, And Having adjusted his Belt And Lantern In that Characteristic 
 Way Which Belongs Exclusively To Members Of     The     Metropolitan Police 
 Force, Turned and Departed. 
   
   
   
 "Good Night, Sin," He Said, Opening the     Door. 
   
   
   
 "So-Long," Murmured the     Chinaman. 
   
   
   
 "Good Night, Old Bird," Cried jim, Following his Colleague. 
   
   
   
 "So-Long." 
   
   
   
 The Door Closed, And Sin Sin Wa, Shuffling across,  
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 176 
 Rebolted it. As Sir 
 Lucien Came Out From His Hiding-Place Sin Sin Wa Returned to His Seat 
 On The     Tea-Chest, First Putting the     Glass, Unwashed, And The     Rum Bottle 
 Back In the     Cupboard. 
   
   
   
 To The     Ordinary Observer The     Chinaman Presents An Inscrutable Mystery. 
 His Seemingly Unemotional Character And His Racial Inability To Express 
 His Thoughts Intelligibly In any European Tongue Stamp Him As A Creature 
 Apart, And One Whom Many Are Prone Erroneously To Classify Very Low In 
 The Human Scale And Not Far Above The     Ape. Sir Lucien Usually Spoke To 
 Sin Sin Wa In english, And The     Other Replied in that Weird Jargon Known 
 As "Pidgin." But The     Silly Sin Wa Who Murmured gibberish And The     Sin Sin 
 Wa Who Could Converse Upon Many And Curious Subjects In his Own Language 
 Were Two Different Beings--As Sir Lucien Was Aware. Now, As The     One-Eyed 
 Chinaman Resumed his Seat And The     One-Eyed raven Sank Into Slumber, 
 Pyne Suddenly Spoke In chinese, A Tongue Which He Understood As It Is 
 Understood By Few Englishmen; That Strange, Sibilant Speech Which Is 
 Alien From All Western Conceptions Of     Oral Intercourse As The     Chinese 
 Institutions And Ideals Are Alien From Those Of     The     Rest Of     The 
 Civilized world. 
   
   
   
 "So You Make A Profit On Your Rum, Sin Sin Wa," He Said Ironically, "At 
 The Same Time That You Keep In the     Good Graces Of     The     Police?" 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa'S Expression Underwent A Subtle Change At The     Sound Of     His 
 Native Language. He Moved his Hands And Became Slightly Animated. 
   
   
   
 "A Great People Of     The     West, Most Honorable Sir," He Replied in the 
 Pure Mandarin Dialect, "Claim Credit For Having said That 'Business Is 
 Business.' Yet He Who Thus Expressed himself Was A Chinaman." 
   
   
   
 "You Surprise Me." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 177 
   
 "The Wise Man Must Often Find Occasion For Surprise Most Honorable Sir." 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Lighted a Cigarette. 
   
   
   
 "I Sometimes Wonder, Sin Sin Wa," He Said Slowly, "What Your Aim In life 
 Can Be. Your Father Was Neither A Ship'S Carpenter Nor A Shopkeeper. 
 This I Know. Your Age I Do Not Know And Cannot Guess, But You Are No 
 Longer Young. You Covet Wealth. For What Purpose, Sin Sin Wa?" 
   
   
   
 Standing behind The     Chinaman, Sir Lucien'S Dark Face, Since He Made No 
 Effort To Hide His Feelings, Revealed the     Fact That He Attached to This 
 Seemingly Abstract Discussion A Greater Importance Than His Tone Of 
 Voice Might Have Led one To Suppose. Sin Sin Wa Remained silent For Some 
 Time, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Most Honorable Sir," He Replied, "When I Have Smoked the     Opium, Before 
 My Eyes--For In dreams I Have Two--A Certain Picture Arises. It Is 
 That Of     A Farm In the     Province Of     Ho-Nan. Beyond The     Farm Stretch 
 Paddy-Fields As Far As One Can See. Men And Women And Boys And Girls 
 Move About The     Farm, Happy In their Labors, And Far, Far Away Dwell The 
 Mountain Gods, Who Send The     Great Yellow River Sweeping down Through The 
 Valleys Where The     Poppy Is In bloom. It Is To Possess That Farm, Most 
 Honorable Sir, And Those Paddy-Fields That I Covet Wealth." 
   
   
   
 "And In spite Of     The     Opium Which You Consume, You Have Never Lost Sight 
 Of This Ideal?" 
   
   
   
 "Never." 
   
   
   
 "But--Your Wife?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 178 
   
 Sin Sin Wa Performed a Curious Shrugging movement, Peculiarly Racial. 
   
   
   
 "A Man May Not Always Have The     Same Wife," He Replied cryptically. "The 
 Honorable Wife Who Now Attends To My Requirements, Laboring unselfishly 
 In My Miserable House And Scorning the     Love Of     Other Men As She Has 
 Always Done--And As An Honorable And Upright Woman Is Expected to 
 Do--May One Day Be Gathered to Her Ancestors. A Man Never Knows. Or She 
 May Leave Me. I Am Not A Good Husband. It May Be That Some Little Maiden 
 Of Ho-Nan, Mild-Eyed like The     Musk-Deer And Modest And Tender, Will 
 Consent To Minister To My Old Age. Who Knows?" 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Blew A Thick Cloud Of     Tobacco Smoke Into The     Room, And: 
   
   
   
 "She Will Never Love You, Sin Sin Wa," He Said, Almost Sadly. "She Will 
 Come To Your House Only To Cheat You." 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Repeated the     Eloquent Shrug. 
   
   
   
 "We Have A Saying in ho-Nan, Most Honorable Sir," He Answered, "And It 
 Is This: 'He Who Has Tasted the     Poppy-Cup Has Nothing to Ask Of     Love.' 
 She Will Cook For Me, This Little One, And Stroke My Brow When I Am 
 Weary, And Light My Pipe. My Eye Will Rest Upon Her With Pleasure. It Is 
 All I Ask." 
   
   
   
 There Came A Soft Rapping on The     Outer Door--Three Raps, A Pause, And 
 Then Two Raps. The     Raven Opened his Beady Eye. 
   
   
   
 "Sin Sin Wa," He Croaked, "Number One P'Lice Chop, Lo!" 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Glanced aside At Sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 18  (The     Dream Of     Sin Sin Wa ) Pg 179 
 "The Traffic. A Consignment Of     Opium," He Said. "Sam Tuk Calls." 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Consulted his Watch, And: 
   
   
   
 "I Should Like To Go With You, Sin Sin Wa," He Said. "Would It Be Safe 
 To Leave The     House--With The     Upper Door Unlocked?" 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Glanced at Him Again. 
   
   
   
 "All Are Sleeping, Most Honorable Sir?" 
   
   
   
 "All." 
   
   
   
 "I Will Lock The     Room Above And The     Outer Door. It Is Safe." 
   
   
   
 He Raised a Yellow Hand, And The     Raven Stepped sedately From His 
 Shoulder On To His Wrist. 
   
   
   
 "Come, Tling-A-Ling," Crooned sin Sin Wa, "You Go To Bed, My Little 
 Black Friend, And One Day You, Too, Shall See The     Paddy-Fields Of 
 Ho-Nan." 
   
   
   
 Opening the     Useful Cupboard, He Stooped, And In hopped the     Raven. Sin 
 Sin Wa Closed the     Cupboard, And Stepped out Into The     Passage. 
   
   
   
 "I Will Bring you A Coat And A Cap And Scarf," He Said. "Your 
 Magnificent Apparel Would Be Out Of     Place Among The     Low Pigs Who Wait 
 In My Other Disgusting cellar To Rob Me. Forgive My Improper Absence For 
 One Moment, Most Honorable Sir." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 19  (The Traffic ) Pg 180 
   
 Sir Lucien Came Out Into The     Alley Wearing a Greasy Cloth Cap Pulled 
 Down Over His Eyes And An Old Overall, The     Collar Turned up About A Red 
 Woollen Muffler Which Enveloped the     Lower Part Of     His Face. The     Odor Of 
 The Outfit Was Disgusting, But This Man'S Double Life Had Brought Him So 
 Frequently In contact With All Forms Of     Uncleanness, Including that Of 
 The Far East, Compared with Which The     Dirt Of     The     West Is Hygienic, That 
 He Suffered it Without Complaint. 
   
   
   
 A Chinese "Boy" Of     Indeterminable Age, Wearing a Slop-Shop Suit And 
 A Cap, Was Waiting outside The     Door, And When Sin Sin Wa Appeared, 
 Carefully Locking up, He Muttered something rapidly In his Own Sibilant 
 Language. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Made No Reply. To His Indoor Attire He Had Added a Pea-Jacket 
 And A Bowler Hat; And The     Oddly Assorted trio Set Off Westward, 
 Following the     Bank Of     The     Thames In the     Direction Of     Limehouse Basin. 
 The Narrow, Ill-Lighted streets Were Quite Deserted, But From The     River 
 And The     Riverside Arose That Ceaseless Jangle Of     Industry Which Belongs 
 To The     Great Port Of     London. On The     Surrey Shore Whistles Shrieked, And 
 Endless Moving chains Sent Up Their Monstrous Clangor Into The     Night. 
 Human Voices Sometimes Rose Above The     Din Of     Machinery. 
   
   
   
 In Silence The     Three Pursued their Way, Crossing inlets And Circling 
 Around Basins Dimly Divined, Turning to The     Right Into A Lane Flanked 
 By High, Eyeless Walls, And Again To The     Left, Finally To Emerge Nearly 
 Opposite A Dilapidated gateway Giving access To A Small Wharf, On The 
 Rickety Gates Bills Were Posted announcing, "This Wharf To Let." The 
 Annexed building appeared to Be A Mere Shell. To The     Right Again They 
 Turned, And Once More To The     Left, Halting before A Two-Story Brick 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 19  (The Traffic ) Pg 181 
 House Which Had Apparently Been Converted into A Barber'S Shop. In 
 One Of     The     Grimy Windows Were Some Loose Packets Of     Cigarettes, A 
 Soapmaker'S Advertisement, And A Card: 
   
   
   
     Sam Tuk 
     Barber 
   
   
   
 Opening the     Door With A Key Which He Carried, The     Boy Admitted sir 
 Lucien And Sin Sin Wa To The     Dimly-Lighted interior Of     A Room The 
 Pretensions Of     Which To Be Regarded as A Shaving saloon Were Supported 
 By The     Presence Of     Two Chairs, A Filthy Towel, And A Broken Mug. Sin 
 Sin Wa Shuffled across To Another Door, And, Followed by Sir Lucien, 
 Descended a Stone Stair To A Little Cellar Apparently Intended for 
 Storing coal. A Tin Lamp Stood Upon The     Bottom Step. 
   
   
   
 Removing the     Lamp From The     Step, Sin Sin Wa Set It On The     Cellar Floor, 
 Which Was Black With Coal Dust, Then Closed and Bolted the     Door. A Heap 
 Of Nondescript Litter Lay Piled in a Corner Of     The     Cellar. This Sin Sin 
 Wa Disturbed sufficiently To Reveal A Movable Slab In the     Roughly Paved 
 Floor. It Was So Ingeniously Concealed by Coal Dust That One Who Had 
 Sought It Unaided must Have Experienced great Difficulty In detecting 
 It. Furthermore, It Could Only Be Raised in the     Following manner: 
   
   
   
 A Piece Of     Strong Iron Wire, Which Lay Among The     Other Litter, Was 
 Inserted in a Narrow Slot, Apparently A Crack In the     Stone. About An 
 Inch Of     The     End Of     The     Wire Being bent Outward To Form A Right Angle, 
 When The     Seemingly Useless Piece Of     Scrap-Iron Had Been Thrust Through 
 The Slab And Turned, It Formed a Handle By Means Of     Which The     Trap Could 
 Be Raised. 
   
   
   
   
 Again Sin Sin Wa Took Up The     Lamp, Placing it At The     Brink Of     The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 19  (The Traffic ) Pg 182 
 Opening revealed. A Pair Of     Wooden Steps Rested below, And Sir Lucien, 
 Who Evidently Was No Stranger To The     Establishment, Descended awkwardly, 
 Since There Was Barely Room For A Big Man To Pass. He Found Himself In 
 The Mouth Of     A Low Passage, Unpaved and Shored up With Rough Timbers In 
 The Manner Of     A Mine-Working. Sin Sin Wa Followed with The     Lamp, Drawing 
 The Slab Down Into Its Place Behind Him. 
   
   
   
 Stooping forward And Bending his Knees, Sir Lucien Made His Way Along 
 The Passage, The     Chinaman Following. It Was Of     Considerable Length, 
 And Terminated before A Strong Door Bearing a Massive Lock. Sin Sin Wa 
 Reached over The     Stooping figure Of     Sir Lucien And Unfastened the     Lock. 
 The Two Emerged in a Kind Of     Dug-Out. Part Of     It Had Evidently Been In 
 Existence Before The     Ingenious Sin Sin Wa Had Exercised his Skill Upon 
 It, And Was Of     Solid Brickwork And Stone-Paved; Palpably A Storage 
 Vault. But It Had Been Altered to Suit The     Chinaman'S Purpose, And One 
 End--That In which The     Passage Came Out--Was Timbered. It Contained a 
 Long Counter And Many Shelves; Also A Large Oil-Stove And A Number 
 Of Pots, Pans, And Queer-Looking jars. On The     Counter Stood A Ship'S 
 Lantern. The     Shelves Were Laden With Packages And Bottles. Behind The 
 Counter Sat A Venerable And Perfectly Bald Chinaman. The     Only Trace Of 
 Hair Upon His Countenance Grew On The     Shrunken Upper Lip--Mere Wisps Of 
 White Down. His Skin Was Shrivelled like That Of     A Preserved fig, And He 
 Wore Big Horn-Rimmed spectacles. He Never Once Exhibited the     Slightest 
 Evidence Of     Life, And His Head And Face, And The     Horn-Rimmed spectacles, 
 Might Quite Easily Have Passed for Those Of     An Unwrapped mummy. This Was 
 Sam Tuk. 
   
   
   
 Bending over A Box Upon Which Rested a Canvas-Bound Package Was A Burly 
 Seaman Engaged in unknotting the     Twine With Which The     Canvas Was Kept 
 In Place. As Sin Sin Wa And Sir Lucien Came In he Looked up, Revealing a 
 Red-Bearded, Ugly Face, Very Puffy Under The     Eyes. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 19  (The Traffic ) Pg 183 
 "Wotcher, Sin Sin!" He Said Gruffly. "Who'S Your Long Pal?" 
   
   
   
 "Friend," Murmured sin Sin Wa Complacently. "You Gotchee Pukka Stuff 
 Thisee Time, George?" 
   
   
   
 "I Allus Brings The     Pukka Stuff!" Roared the     Seaman, Ceasing to Fumble 
 With The     Knots And Glaring at Sin Sin Wa. "Wotcher Mean--Pukka Stuff?" 
   
   
   
 "Gotchee No Use For Bran," Murmured sin Sin Wa. "Gotchee No Use For 
 Tin-Tack. Gotchee No Use For Glue." 
   
   
   
 "Bran!" Roared the     Man, His Glance And Pose Very Menacing. "Tin-Tacks 
 And Glue! Who The     Flamin' 'Ell Ever Tried to Sell You Glue?" 
   
   
   
 "Me Only Wantchee Lemindee You," Said Sin Sin Wa. "No Pidgin." 
   
   
   
 "George" Glared for A Moment, Breathing heavily; Then He Stooped and 
 Resumed his Task, Sin Sin Wa And Sir Lucien Watching him In silence. A 
 Sound Of     Lapping water Was Faintly Audible. 
   
   
   
 Opening the     Canvas Wrappings, The     Man Began To Take Out And Place Upon 
 The Counter A Number Of     Reddish Balls Of     "Leaf" Opium, Varying in weight 
 From About Eight Ounces To A Pound Or More. 
   
   
   
 "H'M!" Murmured sin Sin Wa. "Smyrna Stuff." 
   
   
   
 From A Pocket Of     His Pea-Jacket He Drew A Long Bodkin, And Taking up One 
 Of The     Largest Balls He Thrust The     Bodkin In and Then Withdrew It, 
   
 The Steel Stained a Coffee Color. Sin Sin Wa Smelled and Tasted the 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 19  (The Traffic ) Pg 184 
 Substance Adhering to The     Bodkin, Weighed the     Ball Reflectively In his 
 Yellow Palm, And Then Set It Aside. He Took Up A Second, Whereupon: 
   
   
   
 "'Alf A Mo', Guvnor!" Cried the     Seaman Furiously. "D'You Think I'M Going 
 To Wait 'Ere While You Prods About In all The     Blasted lot? It'S Damn 
 Near High Tide--I Shan'T Get Out. 'Alf Time! Savvy? Shove It On The 
 Scales!" 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Shook His Head. 
   
   
   
 "Too Muchee Slick. Too Muchee Bhobbery," He Murmured. "Sin Sin Wa 
 Gotchee Sabby What Him Catchee Buy Or No Pidgin." 
   
   
   
 "What'S The     Game?" Inquired george Menacingly. "Don'T You Know A Cake O' 
 Smyrna When You Smells It?" 
   
   
   
 "No Sabby Lead Chop Till Ploddem Withee Dipper," Explained the     Chinaman, 
 Imperturbably. 
   
   
   
 "Lead!" Shouted the     Man. "There Ain'T No Bloody Lead In 'Em!" 
   
   
   
 "H'M," Murmured sin Sin Wa Smilingly. "So Fashion, Eh? All Velly 
 Proper." 
   
   
   
 He Calmly Inserted the     Bodkin In the     Second Cake; Seemed to Meet With 
 Some Obstruction, And Laid The     Ball Down Upon The     Counter. From 
 Beneath His Jacket He Took Out A Clasp-Knife Attached to A Steel Chain. 
 Undeterred by A Savage Roar From The     Purveyor, He Cut The     Sticky Mass In 
 Half, And Digging his Long Nails Into One Of     The     Halves, Brought Out Two 
 Lead Shots. He Directed a Glance Of     His Beady Eye Upon The     Man. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 19  (The Traffic ) Pg 185 
   
   
 "Bloody Liar," He Murmured sweetly. "Lobber." 
   
   
   
 "Who'S A Robber?" Shouted george, His Face Flushing darkly, And 
 Apparently Not Resenting the     Earlier Innuendo; "Who'S A Robber?" 
   
   
   
 "One Sarcee Smyrna Feller Packee Stuff So Fashion," Murmured sin Sin Wa. 
 "Thief-Feller Lobbee Poor Sailorman." 
   
   
   
 George Jerked his Peaked cap From His Head, Revealing a Tangle Of 
 Unkempt Red hair. He Scratched his Skull With Savage Vigor. 
   
   
   
 "Blimey!" He Said Pathetically. "'Ere'S A Go! I Been Done Brown, 
 Guv'Nor." 
   
   
   
 "Lough Luck," Murmured sin Sin Wa, And Resumed his Examination Of     The 
 Cakes Of     Opium. 
   
   
   
 The Man Watched him Now In silence, Only Broken By Exclamations Of 
 "Blimey" And "Flaming hell" When More Shot Was Discovered. The     Tests 
 Concluded: 
   
   
   
 "Gotchee Some More?" Asked sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 From The     Canvas Wrapping george Took Out And Tossed on The     Counter A 
 Square Packet Wrapped in grease-Paper. 
   
   
   
 "H'M," Murmured sin Sin Wa, "Patna. Where You Catchee?" 
   
   
   
 "Off Of     A Lascar," Growled the     Man. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 19  (The Traffic ) Pg 186 
   
 The Cake Of     Indian Opium Was Submitted to The     Same Careful Scrutiny As 
 That Which The     Balls Of     Turkish Had Already Undergone, But The     Patna 
 Opium Proved to Be Unadulterated. Reaching over The     Counter Sin Sin Wa 
 Produced a Pair Of     Scales, And, Watched keenly By George, Weighed the 
 Leaf And Then The     Cake. 
   
   
   
 "Ten-Six Smyrna; One 'Leben Patna," Muttered sin Sin Wa. "You Catchee 
 Eighty Jimmies." 
   
   
   
 "Eh?" Roared george. "Eighty Quid! Eighty Quid! Flamin' Blind O' Riley! 
 D'You Think I'M Up The     Pole? Eighty Quid? You'Re Barmy!" 
   
   
   
 "Eighty-Ten," Murmured sin Sin Wa. "Eighty Jimmies Opium; Ten Bob Lead." 
   
   
   
 "I Give More'N That For It!" Cried the     Seaman. "An' I Damn Near Hit A 
 Police Boat Comin' In, Too!" 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Spoke A Few Words Rapidly In chinese. Sin Sin Wa Performed 
 His Curious Oriental Shrug, And Taking a Fat Leather Wallet From His 
 Hip-Pocket, Counted out The     Sum Of     Eighty-Five Pounds Upon The     Counter. 
   
   
   
 "You Catchee Eighty-Five," He Murmured. "Too Muchee Price." 
   
   
   
 The Man Grabbed the     Money And Pocketed it Without A Word Of 
 Acknowledgment. He Turned and Strode Along The     Room, His Heavy, 
 Iron-Clamped boots Ringing on The     Paved floor. 
   
   
   
 "Fetch A Grim, Sin Sin," He Cried. "I'Ll Never Get Out If I Don'T Jump 
 To It." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 19  (The Traffic ) Pg 187 
 Sin Sin Wa Took The     Lantern From The     Counter And Followed. Opening a 
 Door At The     Further End Of     The     Place, He Set The     Lantern At The     Head Of 
 Three Descending wooden Steps Discovered. With The     Opening of     The 
 Door The     Sound Of     Lapping water Had Grown Perceptibly Louder. George 
 Clattered down The     Steps, Which Led to A Second But Much Stouter Door. 
 Sin Sin Wa Followed, Nearly Closing the     First Door, So That Only A Faint 
 Streak Of     Light Crept Down To Them. 
   
   
   
 The Second Door Was Opened, And The     Clangor Of     The     Surrey Shore Suddenly 
 Proclaimed itself. Cold, Damp Air Touched them, And The     Faint Light Of 
 The Lantern Above Cast Their Shadows Over Unctuous Gliding water, Which 
 Lapped the     Step Upon Which They Stood. Slimy Shapes Uprose Dim And 
 Ghostly From Its Darkly Moving surface. 
   
   
   
 A Boat Was Swinging from A Ring beside The     Door, And Into It George 
 Tumbled. He Unhitched the     Lashings, And Strongly Thrust The     Boat Out 
 Upon The     Water. Coming to The     First Of     The     Dim Shapes, He Grasped it And 
 Thereby Propelled the     Skiff To Another Beyond. These Indistinct Shapes 
 Were The     Piles Supporting the     Structure Of     A Wharf. 
   
   
   
 "Good Night, Guv'Nor!" He Cried hoarsely 
   
   
   
 "So-Long," Muttered sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 He Waited until The     Boat Was Swallowed in the     Deeper Shadows, Then 
 Reclosed the     Water-Gate And Ascended to The     Room Where Sir Lucien 
 Awaited. Such Was The     Receiving office Of     Sin Sin Wa. While The 
 Wharf Remained untenanted it Was Not Likely To Be Discovered by The 
 Authorities, For Even At Low Tide The     River-Door Was Invisible From 
 Passing craft. Prospective Lessees Who Had Taken The     Trouble To Inquire 
   
 About The     Rental Had Learned that It Was So High As To Be Prohibitive. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 19  (The Traffic ) Pg 188 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Paid Fair Prices And Paid Cash. This Was No More Than A 
 Commercial Necessity. For Those Who Have Opium, Cocaine, Veronal, Or 
 Heroin To Sell Can Always Find A Ready Market In london And Elsewhere. 
 But One Sufficiently Curious And Clever Enough To Have Solved the     Riddle 
 Of The     Vacant Wharf Would Have Discovered that The     Mysterious Owner Who 
 Showed himself So Loath To Accept Reasonable Offers For The     Property 
 Could Well Afford To Be Thus Independent. Those Who Control "The 
 Traffic" Control El Dorado--A City Of     Gold Which, Unlike The     Fabled 
 Manoa, Actually Exists And Yields Its Riches To The     Unscrupulous 
 Adventurer. 
   
   
   
 Smiling his Mirthless, Eternal Smile, Sin Sin Wa Placed the     Newly 
 Purchased stock Upon A Shelf Immediately Behind Sam Tuk; And Sam 
 Tuk Exhibited the     First Evidence Of     Animation Which Had Escaped him 
 Throughout The     Progress Of     The     "Deal." He Slowly Nodded his Hairless 
 Head. 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 20  (Kazmah'S Methods ) Pg 189 
   
 Rita Dresden Married monte Irvin In the     Spring and Bade Farewell To 
 The Stage. The     Goal Long Held In view Was Attained at Last. But Another 
 Farewell Which At One Time She Had Contemplated eagerly No Longer 
 Appeared desirable Or Even Possible. To Cocamania Had Been Added a 
 Tolerance For Opium, And At The     Last Party Given By Cyrus Kilfane She 
 Had Learned that She Could Smoke Nearly As Much Opium As The     American 
 Habitue. 
   
   
   
 The Altered attitude Of     Sir Lucien Surprised and Annoyed her. He, Who 
 Had First Introduced her To The     Spirit Of     The     Coca Leaf And To The 
   
 Goddess Of     The     Poppy, Seemed suddenly To Have Determined to Convince 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 20  (Kazmah'S Methods ) Pg 190 
 Her Of     The     Folly Of     These Communions. He Only Succeeded in losing her 
 Confidence. She Twice Visited the     "House Of     A Hundred raptures" With 
 Mollie Gretna, And Once With Mollie And Kilfane, Unknown To Sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 Urgent Affairs Of     Some Kind Necessitated his Leaving england A Few Weeks 
 Before The     Date Fixed for Rita'S Wedding, And As Kilfane Had Already 
 Returned to America, Rita Recognized with A Certain Dismay That She 
 Would Be Left To Her Own Resources--Handicapped by The     Presence Of     A 
 Watchful Husband. This Subtle Change In her View Of     Monte Irvin She Was 
 Incapable Of     Appreciating, For Rita Was No Psychologist. But The     Effect 
 Of The     Drug Habit Was Pointedly Illustrated by The     Fact That In a Period 
 Of Little More Than Six Months, From Regarding monte Irvin As A Rock Of 
 Refuge--A Chance Of     Salvation--She Had Come To Regard Him In the     Light 
 Of An Obstacle To Her Indulgence. Not That Her Respect Had Diminished. 
 She Really Loved at Last, And So Well That The     Idea Of     Discovery By This 
 Man Whose Wholesomeness Was The     Trait Of     Character Which Most Potently 
 Attracted her, Was Too Appalling to Be Contemplated. The     Chance Of 
 Discovery Would Be Enhanced, She Recognized, By The     Absence Of     Her 
 Friends And Accomplices. 
   
   
   
 Of Course She Was Acquainted with Many Other Devotees. In fact, She Met 
 So Many Of     Them That She Had Grown Reconciled to Her Habits, Believing 
 Them To Be Common To All "Smart" People--A Part Of     The     Bohemian Life. 
 The Truth Of     The     Matter Was That She Had Become A Prominent Member Of     A 
 Coterie Closely Knit And Associated by A Bond Of     Mutual Vice--A Kind 
 Of Masonry Whereof Kazmah Of     Bond Street Was Grand Master And Mrs. Sin 
 Grand Mistress. 
   
   
   
 The Relations Existing between Kazmah And His Clients Were Of     A Most 
 Peculiar Nature, Too, And Must Have Piqued the     Curiosity Of     Anyone But 
   
 A Drug-Slave. Having seen Him Once, In his Oracular Cave, Rita Had Been 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 20  (Kazmah'S Methods ) Pg 191 
 Accepted as One Of     The     Initiated. Thereafter She Had Had No Occasion To 
 Interview The     Strange, Immobile Egyptian, Nor Had She Experienced any 
 Desire To Do So. The     Method Of     Obtaining drugs Was A Simple One. She 
 Had Merely To Present Herself At The     Establishment In bond Street And 
 To Purchase Either A Flask Of     Perfume Or A Box Of     Sweetmeats. There 
 Were Several Varieties Of     Perfume, And Each Corresponded to A Particular 
 Drug. The     Sweetmeats Corresponded to Morphine. Rashid, The     Attendant, 
 Knew All Kazmah'S Clients, And With The     Box Or Flask He Gave Them A 
 Quantity Of     The     Required drug. This Scheme Was Precautionary. For If A 
 Visitor Should Chance To Be Challenged on Leaving the     Place, There Was 
 The Legitimate Purchase To Show In evidence Of     The     Purpose Of     The     Visit. 
   
   
   
 No Conversation Was Necessary, Merely The     Selection Of     A Scent And The 
 Exchange Of     A Sum Of     Money. Rashid Retired to Wrap Up The     Purchase, And 
 With It A Second And Smaller Package Was Slipped into The     Customer'S 
 Hand. That The     Prices Charged were Excessive--Nay, Ridiculous--Did Not 
 Concern Rita, For, In common With The     Rest Of     Her Kind, She Was Careless 
 Of Expenditure. 
   
   
   
 Opium, Alone, Kazmah Did Not Sell. He Sold Morphine, Tincture Of     Opium, 
 And Other Preparations; But Those Who Sought The     Solace Of     The     Pipe Were 
 Compelled to Deal With Mrs. Sin. She Would Arrange Parties, Or Would 
 Prepare The     "Hundred raptures" In limehouse For Visitors; But, Except In 
 The Form Of     Opiated cigarettes, She Could Rarely Be Induced to Part With 
 Any Of     The     Precious Gum. Thus She Cleverly Kept A Firm Hold Upon The 
 Devotees Of     The     Poppy. 
   
   
   
 Drug-Takers Form A Kind Of     Brotherhood, And Outside The     Charmed 
 Circle They Are Secretive As Members Of     The     Mafia, The     Camorra, Or The 
   
 Catouse-Menegant. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 20  (Kazmah'S Methods ) Pg 192 
   
 In This Secrecy, Which, Indeed, Is A Recognized symptom Of     Drug Mania, 
 Lay Kazmah'S Security. Rita Experienced no Desire To Peer Behind The 
 Veil Which, Literally And Metaphorically, He Had Placed between Himself 
 And The     World. At First She Had Been Vaguely Curious, And Had Questioned 
 Sir Lucien And Others, But Nobody Seemed to Know The     Real Identity Of 
 Kazmah, And Nobody Seemed to Care Provided that He Continued to 
 Supply Drugs. They All Led secret, Veiled lives, These Slaves Of     The 
 Laboratory, And That Kazmah Should Do Likewise Did Not Surprise Them. He 
 Had Excellent Reasons. 
   
   
   
 During this Early Stage Of     Faint Curiosity She Had Suggested to Sir 
 Lucien That For Kazmah To Conduct A Dream-Reading business Seemed to Be 
 To Add To The     Likelihood Of     Police Interference. 
   
   
   
 The Baronet Had Smiled sardonically. 
   
   
   
 "It Is An Additional Safeguard," He Had Assured her. "It Corresponds To 
 The Method Of     A Notorious Paris Assassin Who Was Very Generally 
 Regarded by The     Police As A Cunning pickpocket. Kazmah'S Business Of 
 'Dreamreading' Does Not Actually Come Within The     Act. He Is Clever 
 Enough For That. Remember, He Does Not Profess To Tell Fortunes. It Also 
 Enables Him To Balk Idle Curiosity." 
   
   
   
 At The     Time Of     Her Marriage Rita Was Hopelessly In the     Toils, And 
 Had Been Really Panic-Stricken At The     Prospect--Once So Golden--Of A 
 Protracted sojourn Abroad. The     War, Which Rendered travel Impossible, 
 She Regarded rather In the     Light Of     A Heaven-Sent Boon. Irvin, Though 
 Personally Favoring a Quiet Ceremony, Recognized that Rita Cherished 
 A Desire To Quit Theatreland In a Chariot Of     Fire, And Accordingly The 
 Wedding was On A Scale Of     Magnificence Which Outshone That Of     Any Other 
 Celebrated during the     Season. Even The     Lugubrious Mr. Esden, Who Gave 
 His Daughter Away, Was Seen To Smile Twice. Mrs. Esden Moved in a 
 Rarified atmosphere Of     Gratified ambition And Parental Pride, Which No 
 Doubt Closely Resembled that Which The     Angels Breathe. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 20  (Kazmah'S Methods ) Pg 193 
   
   
 It Was During the     Early Days Of     Her Married life, And While Sir Lucien 
 Was Still Abroad, That Rita Began To Experience Difficulty In obtaining 
 The Drugs Which She Required. She Had Lost Touch To A Certain Extent 
 With Her Former Associates; But She Had Retained her Maid, Nina, And The 
 Girl Regularly Went To Kazmah'S And Returned with The     Little Flasks Of 
 Perfume. When An Accredited representative Was Sent Upon Such A Mission, 
 Kazmah Dispatched the     Drugs Disguised in a Scent Flask; But On Each 
 Successive Occasion That Nina Went To Him The     Prices Increased, 
 And Finally Became So Exorbitant That Even Rita Grew Astonished and 
 Dismayed. 
   
   
   
 She Mentioned the     Matter To Another Habitue, A Lady Of     Title Addicted to 
 The Use Of     The     Hypodermic Syringe, And Learned that She (Rita) Was Being 
 Charged nearly Twice As Much As Her Friend. 
   
   
   
 "I Should Bring the     Man To His Senses, Dear," Said Her Ladyship. "I Know 
 A Doctor Who Will Be Only Too Glad To Supply You. When I Say A Doctor, 
 He Is No Longer Recognized by The     B.M.A., But He'S None The     Less Clever 
 And Kind For All That." 
   
   
   
 To The     Clever And Kind Medical Man Rita Repaired on The     Following 
 Day, Bearing a Written Introduction From Her Friend. The     Discredited 
 Physician Supplied her For A Short Time, Charging only Moderate Fees. 
 Then, Suddenly, This Second Source Of     Supply Was Closed. The     Man 
 Declared that He Was Being watched by The     Police, And That He Dared not 
 Continue To Supply Her With Cocaine And Veronal. His Shifty Eyes Gave 
 The Lie To His Words, But He Was Firm In his Resolution, Whatever May 
 Have Led him To It, And Rita Was Driven Back To Kazmah. His Charges 
 Had Become More Exorbitant Than Ever, But Her Need was Imperative. 
 Nevertheless, She Endeavored to Find Another Drug Dealer, And After A 
 Time Was Again Successful. 
   
   
   
 At A Certain Supper Club She Was Introduced to A Suave Little Man, Quite 
 Palpably An Uninterned alien, Who Smilingly Offered to Provide Her 
 With Any Drug To Be Found In the     British Pharmacopeia, At Most Moderate 
   
 Charges. With This Little German-Jew Villain She Made A Pact, Reflecting 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 20  (Kazmah'S Methods ) Pg 194 
 That, Provided that His Wares Were Of     Good Quality, She Had Triumphed 
 Over Kazmah. 
   
   
   
 The Craving for Chandu Seized her Sometimes And Refused to Be Exorcised 
 By Morphia, Laudanum, Or Any Other Form Of     Opium; But She Had Not 
 Dared to Spend A Night At The     "House Of     A Hundred raptures" Since Her 
 Marriage. Her New German Friend Volunteered to Supply The     Necessary Gum, 
 Outfit, And To Provide An Apartment Where She Might Safely Indulge In 
 Smoking. She Declined--At First. But Finally, On Mollie Gretna'S Return 
 From France, Where She Had Been Acting as A Nurse, Rita And Mollie 
 Accepted the     Suave Alien'S Invitation To Spend An Evening in his Private 
 Opium Divan. 
   
   
   
 Many Thousands Of     Careers Were Wrecked by The     War, And To The     War And 
 The Consequent Absence Of     Her Husband Rita Undoubtedly Owed her Relapse 
 Into Opium-Smoking. That She Would Have Continued secretly To Employ 
 Cocaine, Veronal, And Possibly Morphine Was Probable Enough; But The 
 Constant Society Of     Monte Irvin Must Have Made It Extremely Difficult 
 For Her To Indulge The     Craving for Chandu. She Began To Regret The 
 Gaiety Of     Her Old Life. Loneliness And Monotony Plunged her Into A State 
 Of Suicidal Depression, And She Grasped eagerly At Every Promise Of 
 Excitement. 
   
   
   
 It Was At About This Time That She Met Margaret Halley, And Between 
 The Two, So Contrary In disposition, A Close Friendship Arose. The     Girl 
 Doctor Ere Long Discovered rita'S Secret, Of     Course, And The     Discovery 
 Was Hastened by An Event Which Occurred shortly After They Had Become 
 Acquainted. 
   
   
   
 The Suave Alien Gentleman Disappeared. 
   
   
   
 That Was The     Entire Story In five Words--Or All Of     The     Story That Rita 
 Ever Learned. His Apartments Were Labelled "To Let," And The     Night Clubs 
   
 Knew Him No More. Rita For A Time Was Deprived of     Drugs, And The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 20  (Kazmah'S Methods ) Pg 195 
 Nervous Collapse Which Resulted revealed to Margaret Halley'S Trained 
 Perceptions The     Truth Respecting her Friend. 
   
   
   
 Kazmah'S Terms Proved to Be More Outrageous Than Ever, But Rita Found 
 Herself Again Compelled to Resort To The     Egyptian. She Went Personally 
 To The     Rooms In old Bond Street And Arranged with Rashid To See Kazmah 
 On The     Following day, Friday, For Kazmah Only Received visitors By 
 Appointment. As It Chanced, Sir Lucien Pyne Returned to England On 
 Thursday Night And Called upon Rita At Prince'S Gate. She Welcomed him 
 As A Friend In need, Unfolding the     Pitiful Story, To The     Truth Of     Which 
 Her Nervous Condition Bore Eloquent Testimony. 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Began To Pace Up And Down The     Charming little Room In which 
 Rita Had Received him. She Watched him, Haggard-Eyed. Presently: 
   
   
   
 "Leave Kazmah To Me," He Said. "If You Visit Him He Will Merely Shield 
 Himself Behind The     Mystical Business, Or Assure You That He Is Making no 
 Profit On His Sales. Kilfane Had Similar Trouble With Him." 
   
   
   
 "Then You Will See Him?" Asked rita. 
   
   
   
 "I Will Make A Point Of     Interviewing him In the     Morning. Meanwhile, If 
 You Will Send Nina Around To Albemarle Street In about An Hour I Will 
 See What Can Be Done." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Lucy," Whispered rita, "What A Pal You Are." 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Smiled in his Cold Fashion. 
   
   
   
 "I Try To Be," He Said Enigmatically; "But I Don'T Always Succeed." 
 He Turned to Her. "Have You Ever Thought Of     Giving up This Doping?" 
   
 He Asked. "Have You Ever Realized that With Increasing tolerance The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 20  (Kazmah'S Methods ) Pg 196 
 Quantities Must Increase As Well, And That A Day Is Sure To Come When--" 
   
   
   
 Rita Repressed a Nervous Shudder. 
   
   
   
 "You Are Trying to Frighten Me," She Replied. "You Have Tried before; I 
 Don'T Know Why. But It'S No Good, Lucy. You Know I Cannot Give It Up." 
   
   
   
 "You Can Try." 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T Want To Try!" She Cried irritably. "It Will Be Time Enough When 
 Monte Is Back Again, And We Can Really 'Live.' This Wretched existence, 
 With Everything restricted and Rationed, And All One'S Friends In 
 Flanders Or Mesopotamia Or Somewhere, Drives Me Mad! I Tell You I Should 
 Die, Lucy, If I Tried to Do Without It Now." 
   
   
   
 The Hollow Presence Of     Reform Contemplated in a Hazy Future Did Not 
 Deceive Sir Lucien. He Suppressed a Sigh, And Changed the     Topic Of 
 Conversation. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 197 
 Then There Was Margaret Halley To Consider. Rita Had Never Hitherto 
 Given Her Confidence To Anyone Who Was Not Addicted to The     Same 
 Practices As Herself, And She Frequently Experienced embarrassment 
 Beneath The     Grave Scrutiny Of     Margaret'S Watchful Eyes. In another This 
 Attitude Of     Gentle Disapproval Would Have Been Irritating, But Rita 
 Loved and Admired margaret, And Suffered accordingly. 
   
   
   
 As For Sir Lucien, She Had Ceased to Understand Him. An Impalpable 
 Barrier Seemed to Have Arisen Between Them. The     Inner Man Had Became 
 Inaccessible. Her Mind Was Not Subtle Enough To Grasp The     Real 
 Explanation Of     This Change In her Old Lover. Being based upon Wrong 
 Premises, Her Inferences Were Necessarily Wide Of     The     Truth, And She 
 Believed that Sir Lucien Was Jealous Of     Margaret'S Cousin, Quentin Gray. 
   
   
   
 Gray Met Rita At Margaret Halley'S Flat Shortly After He Had Returned 
 Home From Service In the     East, And He Immediately Conceived a Violent 
 Infatuation For This Pretty Friend Of     His Cousin'S. In this Respect His 
 Conduct Was In no Way Peculiar. Few Men Were Proof Against The     Seductive 
 Mrs. Monte Irvin, Not Because She Designedly Encouraged admiration, But 
 Because She Was One Of     Those Fortunately Rare Characters Who Inspire 
 It Without Conscious Effort. Her Appeal To Men Was Sweetly Feminine And 
 Quite Lacking in that Self-Assertive And Masculine "Take Me Or Leave Me" 
 Attitude Which Characterizes Some Of     The     Beauties Of     Today. There Was 
 Nothing abstract About Her Delicate Loveliness, Yet Her Charm Was Not 
 Wholly Physical. Many Women Disliked her. 
   
   
   
 At Dance, Theatre, And Concert Quentin Gray Played the     Doting cavalier; 
 And Rita, Who Was Used to At Least One Such Adoring attendant, Accepted 
 His Homage Without Demur. Monte Irvin Returned to Civil Life, But Rita 
 Showed no Disposition To Dispense With Her New Admirer. Both Gray And 
 Sir Lucien Had Become Frequent Visitors At Prince'S Gate, And Irvin, Who 
 Understood His Wife'S Character Up To A Point, Made Them His Friends. 
   
   
   
 Shortly After Monte Irvin'S Return Sir Lucien Taxed rita Again With Her 
 Increasing subjection To Drugs. She Was In a Particularly Gay Humor, 
 As The     Supplies From Kazmah Had Been Regular, And She Laughingly Fenced 
   
 With Him When He Reminded her Of     Her Declared intention To Reform When 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 198 
 Her Husband Should Return. 
   
   
   
 "You Are Really As Bad As Margaret," She Declared. "There Is Nothing the 
 Matter With Me. You Talk Of     'Curing' Me As Though I Were Ill. Physician, 
 Heal Thyself." 
   
   
   
 The Sardonic Smile Momentarily Showed upon Pyne'S Face, And: 
   
   
   
 "I Know When And Where To Pull Up, Rita," He Said. "A Woman Never Knows 
 This. If I Were Deprived of     Opium Tomorrow I Could Get Along Without 
 It." 
   
   
   
 "I Have Given Up Opium," Replied rita. "It'S Too Much Trouble, And The 
 Last Time Mollie And I Went--" 
   
   
   
 She Paused, Glancing quickly At Sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 "Go On," He Said Grimly. "I Know You Have Been To Sin Sin Wa'S. What 
 Happened the     Last Time?" 
   
   
   
 "Well," Continued rita Hurriedly, "Monte Seemed to Be Vaguely 
 Suspicious. Besides, Mrs. Sin Charged me Most Preposterously. I Really 
 Cannot Afford It, Lucy." 
   
   
   
 "I Am Glad You Cannot. But What I Was About To Say Was This: Suppose You 
 Were To Be Deprived, Not Of     'Chard', But Of     Cocaine And Veronal, Do You 
 Know What Would Happen To You?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Whispered rita, "Why Will You Persist In trying to Frighten Me! I 
 Am Not Going to Be Deprived of     Them." 
   
   
   
   
 "I Persist, Dear, Because I Want You To Try, Gradually, To Depend Less 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 199 
 Upon Drugs, So That If The     Worst Should Happen You Would Have A Chance." 
   
   
   
 Rita Stood Up And Faced him, Biting her Lip. 
   
   
   
 "Lucy," She Said, "Do You Mean That Kazmah--" 
   
   
   
 "I Mean That Anything might Happen, Rita. After All, We Do Possess A 
 Police Service In london, And One Day There Might Be An Accident. Kazmah 
 Has Certain Influence, But It May Be Withdrawn. Rita, Won'T You Try?" 
   
   
   
 She Was Watching him Closely, And Now The     Pupils Of     Her Beautiful Eyes 
 Became Dilated. 
   
   
   
 "You Know Something," She Said Slowly, "Which You Are Keeping from Me." 
   
   
   
 He Laughed and Turned aside. 
   
   
   
 "I Know That I Am Compelled to Leave England Again, Rita, For A Time; 
 And I Should Be A Happier Man If I Knew That You Were Not So Utterly 
 Dependent Upon Kazmah." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Lucy, Are You Going away Again?" 
   
   
   
 "I Must. But I Shall Not Be Absent Long, I Hope." 
   
   
   
 Rita Sank Down Upon The     Settee From Which She Had Risen, And Was Silent 
 For Some Time; Then: 
   
   
   
   
 "I Will Try, Lucy," She Promised. "I Will Go To Margaret Halley, As She 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 200 
 Is Always Asking me To Do." 
   
   
   
 "Good Girl," Said Pyne Quietly. "It Is Just A Question Of     Making the 
 Effort, Rita. You Will Succeed, With Margaret'S Help." 
   
   
   
 A Short Time Later Sir Lucien Left England, But Throughout The     Last Week 
 That He Remained in london Rita Spent A Great Part Of     Every Day In his 
 Company. She Had Latterly Begun To Experience An Odd Kind Of     Remorse 
 For Her Treatment Of     The     Inscrutably Reserved baronet. His Earlier 
 Intentions She Had Not Forgotten, But She Had Long Ago Forgiven Them, 
 And Now She Often Felt Sorry For This Man Whom She Had Deliberately Used 
 As A Stepping-Stone To Fortune. 
   
   
   
 Gray Was Quite Unable To Conceal His Jealousy. He Seemed to Think That 
 He Had A Proprietary Right To Mrs. Monte Irvin'S Society, And During 
 The Week Preceding sir Lucien'S Departure Gray Came Perilously Near To 
 Making himself Ridiculous On More Than One Occasion. 
   
   
   
 One Night, On Leaving a Theatre, Rita Suggested to Pyne That They Should 
 Proceed to A Supper Club For An Hour. "It Will Be Like Old Times," She 
 Said. 
   
   
   
 "But Your Husband Is Expecting you," Protested sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 "Let'S Ring him Up And Ask Him To Join Us. He Won'T, But He Cannot Very 
 Well Object Then." 
   
   
   
 As A Result They Presently Found Themselves Descending a Broad Carpeted 
 Stairway. From The     Rooms Below Arose The     Strains Of     An American Melody. 
 Dancing was In progress, Or, Rather, One Of     Those Orgiastic Ceremonies 
 Which Passed for Dancing during this Pagan Period. Just By The     Foot Of 
 The Stairs They Paused and Surveyed the     Scene. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 201 
   
 "Why," Said Rita, "There Is Quentin--Glaring insanely, Silly Boy." 
   
   
   
 "Do You See Whom He Is With?" Asked sir Lucien. 
   
   
   
 "Mollie Gretna." 
   
   
   
 "But I Mean The     Woman Sitting down." 
   
   
   
 Rita Stood On Tiptoe, Trying to Obtain A View, And Suddenly: 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" She Exclaimed, "Mrs. Sin!" 
   
   
   
 The Dance At That Moment Concluding, They Crossed the     Floor And Joined 
 The Party. Mrs. Sin Greeted them With One Of     Her Rapid, Mirthless 
 Smiles. She Was Wearing a Gown Noticeable, But Not For Quantity, Even In 
 That Semi-Draped assembly. Mollie Gretna Giggled rapturously. But Gray'S 
 Swiftly Changing color Betrayed a Mood Which He Tried in vain To Conceal 
 By His Manner. Having exchanged a Few Words With The     New Arrivals, He 
 Evidently Realized that He Could Not Trust Himself To Remain Longer, 
 And: 
   
   
   
 "Now I Must Be Off," He Said Awkwardly. "I Have An 
 Appointment--Important Business. Good Night, Everybody." 
   
   
   
 He Turned away And Hurried from The     Room. Rita Flushed slightly And 
 Exchanged a Glance With Sir Lucien. Mrs. Sin, Who Had Been Watching 
 The Three Intently, Did Not Fail To Perceive This Glance. Mollie Gretna 
 Characteristically Said A Silly Thing. 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" She Cried. "I Wonder Whatever Is The     Matter With Him! He Looks As 
 Though He Had Gone Mad!" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 202 
   
 "It Is Perhaps His Heart," Said Mrs. Sin Harshly, And She Raised her 
 Bold Dark Eyes To Sir Lucien'S Face. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Please Don'T Talk About Hearts," Cried rita, Willfully 
 Misunderstanding. "Monte Has A Weak Heart, And It Frightens Me." 
   
   
   
 "So?" Murmured mrs. Sin. "Poor Fellow." 
   
   
   
 "I Think A Weak Heart Is Most Romantic," Declared mollie Gretna. 
   
   
   
 But Gray'S Behavior Had Cast A Shadow Upon The     Party Which Even Mollie'S 
 Empty Light-Hearted chatter Was Powerless To Dispel, And When, Shortly 
 After Midnight, Sir Lucien Drove Rita Home To Prince'S Gate, They Were 
 Very Silent Throughout The     Journey. Just Before The     Car Reached the 
 House: 
   
   
   
 "Where Does Mrs. Sin Live?" Asked rita, Although It Was Not Of     Mrs. Sin 
 That She Had Been Thinking. 
   
   
   
 "In Limehouse, I Believe," Replied sir Lucien; "At The     House. But I 
 Fancy She Has Rooms Somewhere In town Also." 
   
   
   
 He Stayed only A Few Minutes At Prince'S Gate, And As The     Car Returned 
 Along Piccadilly, Sir Lucien, Glancing upward Towards The     Windows Of     A 
 Tall Block Of     Chambers Facing the     Green Park, Observed a Light In one Of 
 Them. Acting upon A Sudden Impulse, He Raised the     Speaking-Tube. 
   
   
   
 "Pull Up, Fraser," He Directed. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 203 
 The Chauffeur Stopped the     Car And Sir Lucien Alighted, Glancing at The 
 Clock Inside As He Did So, And Smiling at His Own Quixotic Behavior. 
 He Entered an Imposing doorway And Rang One Of     The     Bells. There Was An 
 Interval Of     Two Minutes Or So, When The     Door Opened and A Man Looked 
 Out. 
   
   
   
 "Is That You, Willis?" Asked pyne. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I Beg Pardon, Sir Lucien. I Didn'T Know You In the     Dark." 
   
   
   
 "Has Mr. Gray Retired yet?" 
   
   
   
 "Not Yet. Will You Please Follow Me, Sir Lucien. The     Stairway Lights Are 
 Off." 
   
   
   
 A Few Moments Later Sir Lucien Was Shown Into The     Apartment Of     Gray'S 
 Which Oddly Combined the     Atmosphere Of     A Gymnasium With That Of     A 
 Study. Gray, Wearing a Dressing-Gown And Having a Pipe In his Mouth, 
 Was Standing up To Receive His Visitor, His Face Rather Pale And The 
 Expression Of     His Lips At Variance With That In his Eyes. But: 
   
   
   
 "Hello, Pyne," He Said Quietly. "Anything wrong--Or Have You Just Looked 
 In For A Smoke?" 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Smiled a Trifle Sadly. 
   
   
   
 "I Wanted a Chat, Gray," He Replied. "I'M Leaving town Tomorrow, Or I 
 Should Not Have Intruded at Such An Unearthly Hour." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 204 
 "No Intrusion," Muttered gray; "Try The     Armchair, No, The     Big One. It'S 
 More Comfortable." He Raised his Voice: "Willis, Bring some Fluid!" 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Sat Down, And From The     Pocket Of     His Dinner Jacket Took Out A 
 Plain Brown Packet Of     Cigarettes And Selected one. 
   
   
   
 "Here," Said Gray, "Have A Cigar!" 
   
   
   
 "No, Thanks," Replied pyne. "I Rarely Smoke Anything but These." 
   
   
   
 "Never Seen That Kind Of     Packet Before," Declared gray. "What Brand Are 
 They?" 
   
   
   
 "No Particular Brand. They Are Imported from Buenos Ayres, I Believe." 
   
   
   
 Willis Having brought In a Tray Of     Refreshments And Departed again, Sir 
 Lucien Came At Once To The     Point. 
   
   
   
 "I Really Called, Gray," He Said, "To Clear Up Any Misunderstanding 
 There May Be In regard To Rita Irvin." 
   
   
   
 Quentin Gray Looked up Suddenly When He Heard Rita'S Name, And: 
   
   
   
 "What Misunderstanding?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
 "Regarding the     Nature Of     My Friendship With Her," Answered sir Lucien 
 Coolly. "Now, I Am Going to Speak Quite Bluntly, Gray, Because I Like 
 Rita And I Respect Her. I Also Like And Respect Monte Irvin; And I Don'T 
   
 Want You, Or Anybody Else, To Think That Rita And I Are, Or Ever Have 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 206 
 Been, Anything more Than Pals. I Have Known Her Long Enough To Have 
 Learned that She Sails Straight, And Has Always Sailed straight. 
 Now--Listen, Gray, Please. You Embarrassed me Tonight, Old Chap, And You 
 Embarrassed rita. It Was Unnecessary." He Paused, And Then Added slowly: 
 "She Is As Sacred to Me, Gray, As She Is To You--And We Are Both Friends 
 Of Monte Irvin." 
   
   
   
 For A Moment Quentin Gray'S Fiery Temper Flickered up, As His Heightened 
 Color Showed, But The     Coolness Of     The     Older And Cleverer Man Prevailed. 
 Gray Laughed, Stood Up, And Held Out His Hand. 
   
   
   
 "You'Re Right, Pyne!" He Said. "But She'S Damn Pretty!" He Uttered a 
 Loud Sigh. "If Only She Were Not Married!" 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Gripped the     Outstretched hand, But His Answering smile Had 
 Much Pathos In it. 
   
   
   
 "If Only She Were Not, Gray," He Echoed. 
   
   
   
 He Took His Departure Shortly Afterwards, Absently Leaving a Brown 
 Packet Of     Cigarettes Upon The     Table. It Was An Accident. Yet There Were 
 Few, When The     Truth Respecting sir Lucien Pyne Became Known, Who Did Not 
 Believe It To Have Been A Deliberate Act, Designed to Lure Quentin Gray 
 Into The     Path Of     The     Poppy. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 Chapter Xxii. The     Strangle-Hold 
   
   
   
 Less Than A Month Later Rita Was In a State Of     Desperation Again. 
 Kazmah'S Prices Had Soared above Anything that He Had Hitherto Extorted. 
 Her Bank Account, As Usual, Was Greatly Overdrawn, And Creditors Of     All 
   
 Kinds Were Beginning to Press For Payment. Then, Crowning catastrophe, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 207 
 Monte Irvin, For The     First Time During their Married life, Began To Take 
 An Interest In rita'S Reckless Expenditure. By A Combination Of     Adverse 
 Circumstances, She, The     Wife Of     One Of     The     Wealthiest Aldermen Of     The 
 City Of     London, Awakened to The     Fact That Literally She Had No Money. 
   
   
   
 She Pawned as Much Of     Her Jewellery As She Could Safely Dispose Of, 
 And Temporarily Silenced the     More Threatening tradespeople; But Kazmah 
 Declined to Give Credit, And Cheques Had Never Been Acceptable At The 
 Establishment In old Bond Street. 
   
   
   
 Rita Feverishly Renewed her Old Quest, Seeking in all Directions 
 For Some Less Extortionate Purveyor. But None Was To Be Found. The 
 Selfishness And Secretiveness Of     The     Drug Slave Made It Difficult For 
 Her To Learn On What Terms Others Obtained kazmah'S Precious Goods; But 
 Although His Prices Undoubtedly Varied, She Was Convinced that No One Of 
 All His Clients Was So Cruelly Victimized as She. 
   
   
   
 Mollie Gretna Endeavored to Obtain An Extra Supply To Help Rita, But 
 Kazmah Evidently Saw Through The     Device, And The     Endeavor Proved a 
 Failure. 
   
   
   
 She Demanded to See Kazmah, But Rashid, The     Egyptian, Blandly Assured 
 Her That "The Sheikh-El-Kazmah" Was Away. She Cast Discretion To The 
 Winds And Wrote To Him, Protesting that It Was Utterly Impossible For 
 Her To Raise So Much Ready Money As He Demanded, And Begging him To 
 Grant Her A Small Supply Or To Accept The     Letter As A Promissory Note To 
 Be Redeemed in three Months. No Answer Was Received, But When Rita Again 
 Called at Old Bond Street, Rashid Proposed one Of     The     Few Compromises 
 Which The     Frenzied woman Found Herself Unwilling to Accept. 
   
   
   
 "The Sheikh-El-Kazmah Say, My Lady, Your Friend Mr. Gray Never Come To 
 Him. If You Bring him It Will Be All Right." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 208 
 Rita Found Herself Stricken Dumb By This Cool Proposal. The     Degradation 
 Which Awaits The     Drug Slave Had Never Been More Succinctly Expounded 
 To Her. She Was To Employ Gray'S Foolish Devotion For The     Commercial 
 Advantage Of     Kazmah. Of     Course Gray Might Any Day Become One Of     The 
 Three Wealthiest Peers In the     Realm. She Divined the     Meaning of     Kazmah'S 
 Hitherto Incomprehensible Harshness (Or Believed that She Did); She Saw 
 What Was Expected of     Her. "My God!" She Whispered. "I Have Not Come To 
 That Yet." 
   
   
   
 Rashid She Knew To Be Incorruptible Or Powerless, And She Turned away, 
 Trembling, And Left The     Place, Whose Faint Perfume Of     Frankincense Had 
 Latterly Become Hateful To Her. 
   
   
   
 She Was At This Time Bordering upon A State Of     Collapse. Insomnia, Which 
 Latterly Had Defied dangerously Increased doses Of     Veronal, Was Telling 
 Upon Nerve And Brain. Now, Her Head Aching so That She Often Wondered 
 How Long She Could Retain Sanity, She Found Herself Deprived not Only Of 
 Cocaine, But Also Of     Malourea. Margaret Halley Was Her Last Hope, And To 
 Margaret She Hastened on The     Day Before The     Tragedy Which Was Destined 
 To Bring to Light The     Sinister Operations Of     The     Kazmah Group. 
   
   
   
 Although, Perhaps Mercifully, She Was Unaware Of     The     Fact, 
 Representatives Of     Spinker'S Agency Had Been Following her During the 
 Whole Of     The     Preceding fortnight. That Rita Was In desperate Trouble Of 
 Some Kind Her Husband Had Not Failed to Perceive, And Her Reticence Had 
 Quite Naturally Led him To A Certain Conclusion. He Had Sought To Win 
 Her Confidence By Every Conceivable Means And Had Failed. At Last Had 
 Come Doubt--And The     Hateful Interview With Spinker. 
   
   
   
 As Rita Turned in at The     Doorway Below Margaret'S Flat, Then, Brisley 
 Was Lighting a Cigarette In the     Shelter Of     A Porch Nearly Opposite, And 
 Gunn Was Not Far Away. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 209 
   
 Margaret Immediately Perceived that Her Friend'S Condition Was Alarming. 
 But She Realized that Whatever The     Cause To Which It Might Be Due, It 
 Gave Her The     Opportunity For Which She Had Been Waiting. She Wrote A 
 Prescription Containing one Grain Of     Cocaine, But Declined firmly To 
 Issue Others Unless Rita Authorized her, In writing, To Undertake A Cure 
 Of The     Drug Habit. 
   
   
   
 Rita'S Disjointed statements Pointed to A Conspiracy Of     Some Kind On The 
 Part Of     Those Who Had Been Supplying her With Drugs, But Margaret Knew 
 From Experience That To Exhibit Curiosity In regard To The     Matter Would 
 Be Merely To Provoke Evasions. 
   
   
   
 A Hopeless Day And A Pain-Racked, Sleepless Night Found Kazmah'S Unhappy 
 Victim In the     Mood For Any Measure, However Desperate, Which Should 
 Promise Even Temporary Relief. Monte Irvin Went Out Very Early, And At 
 About Eleven O'Clock Rita Rang Up Kazmah'S, But Only To Be Informed by 
 Rashid, Who Replied, That Kazmah Was Still Away. "This Evening he Tell 
 Me That He See Your Friend If He Come, My Lady." As If The     Fates 
 Sought To Test Her Endurance To The     Utmost, Quentin Gray Called shortly 
 Afterwards And Invited her To Dine With Him And Go To A Theatre That 
 Evening. 
   
   
   
 For Five Age-Long Seconds Rita Hesitated. If No Plan Offered itself 
 By Nightfall She Knew That Her Last Scruple Would Be Conquered. "After 
 All," Whispered a Voice Within Her Brain, "Quentin Is A Man. Even If 
 I Took Him To Kazmah'S And He Was In some Way Induced to Try Opium, Or 
 Even Cocaine, He Would Probably Never Become Addicted to Drug-Taking. 
 But I Should Have Done My Part--" 
   
   
   
 "Very Well, Quentin," She Heard Herself Saying aloud. "Will You Call For 
 Me?" 
   
   
   
 But When He Had Gone Rita Sat For More Than Half An Hour, Quite Still, 
 Her Hands Clenched and Her Face A Tragic Mask. (Gunn, Of     Spinker'S 
 Agency, Reported telephonically To Monte Irvin In the     City That The     Hon. 
 Quentin Gray Had Called and Had Remained about Twenty-Five Minutes; That 
   
 He Had Proceeded to The     Prince'S Restaurant, And From There To Mudie'S, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 210 
 Where He Had Booked a Box At The     Gaiety Theatre.) 
   
   
   
 Towards The     Fall Of     Dusk The     More Dreadful Symptoms Which Attend Upon 
 A Sudden Cessation Of     The     Use Of     Cocaine By A Victim Of     Cocainophagia 
 Began To Assert Themselves Again. Rita Searched wildly In the     Lining of 
 Her Jewel-Case To Discover If Even A Milligram Of     The     Drug Had By Chance 
 Fallen There From The     Little Gold Box. But The     Quest Was In vain. 
   
   
   
 As A Final Resort She Determined to Go To Margaret Halley Again. 
   
   
   
 She Hurried to Dover Street, And Her Last Hope Was Shattered. Margaret 
 Was Out, And Janet Had No Idea When She Was Likely To Return. Rita Had 
 Much Ado To Prevent Herself From Bursting into Tears. She Scribbled a 
 Few Lines, Without Quite Knowing what She Was Writing, Sealed the     Paper 
 In An Envelope, And Left It On Margaret'S Table. 
   
   
   
 Of Returning to Prince'S Gate And Dressing for The     Evening she Had Only 
 A Hazy Impression. The     Hammer-Beats In her Head Were Depriving her Of 
 Reasoning power, And She Felt Cold, Numbed, Although A Big Fire Blazed 
 In Her Room. Then As She Sat Before Her Mirror, Drearily Wondering if 
 Her Face Really Looked as Drawn And Haggard As The     Image In the     Glass, 
 Or If Definite Delusions Were Beginning, Nina Came In and Spoke To Her. 
 Some Moments Elapsed before Rita Could Grasp The     Meaning of     The     Girl'S 
 Words. 
   
   
   
 "Sir Lucien Pyne Has Rung Up, Madam, And Wishes To Speak To You." 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien! Sir Lucien Had Come Back? Rita Experienced a Swift Return Of 
 Feverish Energy. Half Dressed as She Was, And Without Pausing to Take A 
 Wrap, She Ran Out To The     Telephone. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 211 
 Never Had A Man'S Voice Sounded so Sweet As That Of     Sir Lucien When He 
 Spoke Across The     Wires. He Was At Albemarle Street, And Rita, Wasting 
 No Time In explanations, Begged him To Await Her There. In another Ten 
 Minutes She Had Completed her Toilette And Had Sent Nina To 'Phone For A 
 Cab. (One Of     The     Minor Details Of     His Wife'S Behavior Which Latterly Had 
 Aroused irvin'S Distrust Was Her Frequent Employment Of     Public Vehicles 
 In Preference To Either Of     The     Cars.) 
   
   
   
 Quentin Gray She Had Quite Forgotten, Until, As She Was About To Leave: 
   
   
   
 "Is There Any Message For Mr. Gray, Madam?" Inquired nina Naively. 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Cried rita. "Of Course! Quick! Give Me Some Paper And A Pencil." 
   
   
   
 She Wrote A Hasty Note, Merely Asking gray To Proceed to The     Restaurant, 
 Where She Promised to Join Him, Left It In charge Of     The     Maid, And 
 Hurried off To Albemarle Street. 
   
   
   
 Mareno, The     Silent, Yellow-Faced servant Who Had Driven The     Car On The 
 Night Of     Rita'S First Visit To Limehouse, Admitted her. He Showed her 
 Immediately Into The     Lofty Study, Where Sir Lucien Awaited. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Lucy--Lucy!" She Cried, Almost Before The     Door Had Closed behind 
 Mareno. "I Am Desperate--Desperate!" 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Placed a Chair For Her. His Face Looked very Drawn And Grim. 
 But Rita Was In too Highly Strung A Condition To Observe This Fact, Or 
 Indeed to Observe Anything. 
   
   
   
 "Tell Me," He Said Gently. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 212 
   
 And In a Torrent Of     Disconnected, Barely Coherent Language, The     Tortured 
 Woman Told Him Of     Kazmah'S Attempt To Force Her To Lure Quentin Gray 
 Into The     Drug Coterie. Sir Lucien Stood Behind Her Chair, And The     Icy 
 Reserve Which Habitually Rendered his Face An Impenetrable Mask Deserted 
 Him As The     Story Of     Rita'S Treatment At The     Hands Of     The     Egyptian Of 
 Bond Street Was Unfolded in all Its Sordid Hideousness. Rita'S Soft, 
 Musical Voice, For Which Of     Old She Had Been Famous, Shook And Wavered; 
 Her Pose, Her Twitching gestures, All Told Of     A Nervous Agony Bordering 
 On Prostration Or Worse. Finally: 
   
   
   
 "He Dare Not Refuse You!" She Cried. "Ring him Up And Insist Upon Him 
 Seeing me Tonight!" 
   
   
   
 "I Will See Him, Rita." 
   
   
   
 She Turned to Him, Wild-Eyed. 
   
   
   
 "You Shall Not! You Shall Not!" She Said. "I Am Going to Speak To That 
 Man Face To Face, And If He Is Human He Must Listen To Me. Oh! I Have 
 Realized the     Hold He Has Upon Me, Lucy! I Know What It Means, This 
 Disappearance Of     All The     Others Who Used to Sell What Kazmah Sells. If 
 I Am To Suffer, He Shall Not Escape! I Swear It. Either He Listens To Me 
 Tonight Or I Go Straight To The     Police!" 
   
   
   
 "Be Calm, Little Girl," Whispered sir Lucien, And He Laid His Hand Upon 
 Her Shoulder. 
   
   
   
 But She Leapt Up, Her Pupils Suddenly Dilating and Her Delicate Nostrils 
 Twitching in a Manner Which Unmistakably Pointed to The     Impossibility Of 
 Thwarting her If Sanity Were To Be Retained. 
   
   
   
   
 "Ring him Up, Lucy," She Repeated in a Low Voice. "He Is There. Now That 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 21 (The     Cigarettes From Buenos Ayres ) Pg 213 
 I Have Someone Behind Me I See My Way At Last!" 
   
   
   
 "There May, Nevertheless, Be A Better Way," Said Sir Lucien; But He 
 Added quickly: "Very Well, Dear, I Will Do As You Wish. I Have A Little 
 Cocaine, Which I Will Give You." 
   
   
   
 He Went Out To The     Telephone, Carefully Closing the     Study Door. 
   
   
   
 That He Had Counted upon The     Influence Of     The     Drug To Reduce Rita To A 
 More Reasonable Frame Of     Mind Was Undoubtedly The     Fact, For Presently As 
 They Proceeded on Foot Towards Old Bond Street He Reverted to Something 
 Like His Old Ironical Manner. But Rita'S Determination Was Curiously 
 Fixed. Unmoved by Every Kind Of     Appeal, She Proceeded to The     Appointment 
 Which Sir Lucien Had Made--Ignorant Of     That Which Fate Held In store For 
 Her--And Sir Lucien, Also Humanly Blind, Walked on To Meet His Death. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 Part Third--The Man From Whitehall 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 "Come In," Said The     Assistant Commissioner. The     Door Opened and Chief 
 Inspector Kerry Entered. His Face Was As Fresh-Looking, His Attire As 
 Spruce And His Eyes Were As Bright, As Though He Had Slept Well, Enjoyed 
 His Bath And Partaken Of     An Excellent Breakfast. Whereas He Had Not 
 Been To Bed during the     Preceding twenty-Four Hours, Had Breakfasted 
 Upon Biscuits And Coffee, And Had Spent The     Night And Early Morning in 
   
 Ceaseless Toil. Nevertheless He Had Found Time To Visit A Hairdressing 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns) Pg 214 
   
   
   
 "Come In," Said The     Assistant Commissioner. The     Door Opened and Chief 
   
 Inspector Kerry Entered. His Face Was As Fresh-Looking, His Attire As 
   
 Spruce And His Eyes Were As Bright, As Though He Had Slept Well, Enjoyed 
   
 His Bath And Partaken Of     An Excellent Breakfast. Whereas He Had Not 
   
 Been To Bed during the     Preceding twenty-Four Hours, Had Breakfasted 
   
 Upon Biscuits And Coffee, And Had Spent The     Night And Early Morning in 
   
   
   
 Ceaseless Toil. Nevertheless He Had Found Time To Visit A Hairdressing 
 Saloon, For He Prided himself Upon The     Nicety Of     His Personal 
 Appearance. 
   
   
   
 He Laid His Hat, Cane And Overall Upon A Chair, And From A Pocket Of     His 
 Reefer Jacket Took Out A Big Notebook. 
   
   
   
 "Good Morning, Sir," He Said. 
   
   
   
 "Good Morning, Chief Inspector," Replied the     Assistant Commissioner. 
 "Pray Be Seated. No Doubt"--He Suppressed a Weary Sigh--"You Have A Long 
 Report To Make. I Observe That Some Of     The     Papers Have The     News Of     Sir 
 Lucien Pyne'S Death." 
   
   
   
 Chief Inspector Kerry Smiled savagely. 
   
   
   
 "Twenty Pressmen Are Sitting downstairs," He Said "Waiting for 
 Particulars. One Of     Them Got Into My Room." He Opened his Notebook. "He 
 Didn'T Stay Long." 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Gazed wearily At His Blotting-Pad, Striking 
 Imaginary Chords Upon The     Table-Edge With His Large Widely Extended 
 Fingers. He Cleared his Throat. 
   
   
   
 "Er--Chief Inspector," He Said, "I Fully Recognize The     Difficulties 
 Which--You Follow Me? But The     Press Is The     Press. Neither You Nor I 
 Could Hope To Battle Against Such An Institution Even If We Desired 
 To Do So. Where Active Resistance Is Useless, A Little Tact--You Quite 
 Understand?" 
   
   
   
 "Quite, Sir. Rely Upon Me," Replied kerry. "But I Didn'T Mean To Open 
 My Mouth Until I Had Reported to You. Now, Sir, Here Is A Precis Of 
 Evidence, Nearly Complete, Written Out Clearly By Sergeant Coombes. You 
 Would Probably Prefer To Read It?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter  23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns) Pg 215 
   
   
 "Yes, Yes, I Will Read It. But Has Sergeant Coombes Been On Duty All 
 Night?" 
   
   
   
 "He Has, Sir, And So Have I. Sergeant Coombes Went Home An Hour Ago." 
   
   
   
 "Ah," Murmured the     Assistant Commissioner 
   
   
   
 He Took The     Notebook From Kerry, And Resting his Head Upon His Hand 
 Began To Read. Kerry Sat Very Upright In his Chair, Chewing slowly And 
 Watching the     Profile Of     The     Reader With His Unwavering steel-Blue 
 Eyes. The     Reading was Twice Punctuated by Telephone Messages, But The 
 Assistant Commissioner Apparently Possessed the     Napoleonic Faculty Of 
 Doing two Things At Once, For His Gaze Travelled uninterruptedly Along 
 The Lines Of     The     Report Throughout The     Time That He Issued telephonic 
 Instructions. 
   
   
   
 When He Had Arrived at The     Final Page Of     Coombes' Neat, Schoolboy 
 Writing, He Did Not Look Up For A Minute Or More, Continuing to Rest His 
 Head In the     Palm Of     His Hand. Then: 
   
   
   
 "So Far You Have Not Succeeded in establishing the     Identity Of     The 
 Missing man, Kazmah?" He Said. 
   
   
   
 "Not So Far, Sir," Replied kerry, Enunciating the     Words With 
 Characteristic Swift Precision, Each Syllable Distinct As The     Rap Of 
 A Typewriter. "Inspector Whiteleaf, Of     Vine Street, Has Questioned 
 All Constables In the     Piccadilly Area, And We Have Seen Members Of     The 
 Staffs Of     Many Shops And Offices In the     Neighborhood, But No One Is 
 Familiar With The     Appearance Of     The     Missing man." 
   
   
   
 "Ah--Now, The     Egyptian Servant?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter  23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns)Pg 216 
   
 Inspector Kerry Moved his Shoulders Restlessly. 
   
   
   
 "Rashid Is His Name. Many Of     The     People In the     Neighborhood Knew Him 
 By Sight, And At Five O'Clock This Morning one Of     My Assistants Had The 
 Good Luck To Find Out, From An Arab Coffee-House Keeper Named abdulla, 
 Where Rashid Lived. He Paid A Visit To The     Place--It'S Off The     West 
 India Dock Road--Half An Hour Later. But Rashid Had Gone. I Regret To 
 Report That All Traces Of     Him Have Been Lost." 
   
   
   
 "Ah--Considering this Circumstance Side By Side With The     Facts That No 
 Scrap Of     Evidence Has Come To Light In the     Kazmah Premises And That The 
 Late Sir Lucien'S Private Books And Papers Cannot Be Found, What Do You 
 Deduce, Chief Inspector?" 
   
   
   
 "My Report Indicates What I Deduce, Sir! An Accomplice Of     Kazmah'S Must 
 Have Been In sir Lucien'S Household! Kazmah And Mrs. Irvin Can Only Have 
 Left The     Premises By Going up To The     Roof And Across The     Leads To Sir 
 Lucien'S Flat In albemarle Street. I Shall Charge The     Man Juan Mareno." 
   
   
   
 "What Has He To Say?" Murmured the     Assistant Commissioner, Absently 
 Turning over The     Pages Of     The     Notebook. "Ah, Yes. 'Claims To Be A 
 Citizen Of     The     United states But Has Produced no Papers. Engaged by Sir 
 Lucien Pyne In san Francisco. Professes To Have No Evidence To Offer. 
 Admitted mrs. Monte Irvin To Sir Lucien'S Flat On Night Of     Murder. Sir 
 Lucien And Mrs. Irvin Went Out Together Shortly Afterwards, And Sir 
 Lucien Ordered him (Mareno) To Go For The     Car To Garage In south Audley 
 Street And Drive To Club, Where Sir Lucien Proposed to Dine. Mareno 
 Claims To Have Followed instructions. After Waiting near Club For An 
 Hour, Learned from Hall Porter That Sir Lucien Had Not Been There That 
 Evening. Drove Car Back To Garage And Returned to Albemarle Street 
 Shortly After Eight O'Clock.' H'M. Is This Confirmed in any Way?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter  23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns) Pg 217 
 Kerry'S Teeth Snapped together Viciously. 
   
   
   
 "Up To A Point It Is, Sir. The     Club Porter Remembers Mareno Inquiring 
 About Sir Lucien, And The     People At The     Garage Testify That He Took Out 
 The Car And Returned it As Stated." 
   
   
   
 "No One Has Come Forward Who Actually Saw Him Waiting outside The     Club?" 
   
   
   
 "No One. But Unfortunately It Was A Dark, Misty Night, And Cars Waiting 
 For Club Members Stand In a Narrow Side Turning. Mareno Is A Surly 
 Brute, And He Might Have Waited an Hour Without Speaking to A Soul. 
 Unless Another Chauffeur Happened to Notice And Recognize The     Car Nobody 
 Would Be Any Wiser." 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Sighed, Glancing up For The     First Time. 
   
   
   
 "You Don'T Think He Waited outside The     Club At All?" He Said. 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T, Sir!" Rapped kerry. 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Rested his Head Upon His Hand Again. 
   
   
   
 "It Doesn'T Seem To Be Germane To Your Case, Chief Inspector, In any 
 Event. There Is No Question Of     An Alibi. Sir Lucien'S Wrist-Watch Was 
 Broken At Seven-Fifteen--Evidently At The     Time Of     His Death; And This 
 Man Mareno Does Not Claim To Have Left The     Flat Until After That Hour." 
   
   
   
 "I Know It, Sir," Said Kerry. "He Took Out The     Car At Half-Past Seven. 
   
 What I Want To Know Is Where He Went To!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter  23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns) Pg 218 
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Glanced rapidly Into The     Speaker'S Fierce 
 Eyes. 
   
   
   
 "From What You Have Gathered respecting the     Appearance Of     Kazmah, Does 
 It Seem Possible That Mareno May Be Kazmah?" 
   
   
   
 "It Does Not, Sir. Kazmah Has Been Described to Me, At First Hand And 
 At Second Hand. All Descriptions Tally In one Respect: Kazmah Has 
 Remarkably Large Eyes. In miss Halley'S Evidence You Will Note That She 
 Refers To Them As 'Larger Than Any Human Eyes I Have Ever Seen.' Now, 
 Mareno Has Eyes Like A Pig!" 
   
   
   
 "Then I Take It You Are Charging him As Accessory?" 
   
   
   
 "Exactly, Sir. Somebody Got Kazmah And Mrs. Irvin Away, And It Can Only 
 Have Been Mareno. Sir Lucien Had No Other Resident Servant; He Was A 
 Man Who Lived almost Entirely At Restaurants And Clubs. Again, Somebody 
 Cleaned up His Papers, And It Was Somebody Who Knew Where To Look For 
 Them." 
   
   
   
 "Quite So--Quite So," Murmured the     Assistant Commissioner. "Of Course, 
 We Shall Learn Today Something of     His Affairs From His Banker. He Must 
 Have Banked somewhere. But Surely, Chief Inspector, There Is A Safe Or 
 Private Bureau In his Flat?" 
   
   
   
 "There Is, Sir," Said Kerry Grimly; "A Safe. I Had It Opened at Six 
 O'Clock This Morning. It Had Been Hastily Cleaned out; Not A Doubt 
 Of It. I Expect Sir Lucien Carried the     Keys On His Person. You Will 
 Remember, Sir, That His Pockets Had Been Emptied?" 
   
   
   
 "H'M," Mused the     Assistant Commissioner. "This Cubanis Cigarette 
 Company, Chief Inspector?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns)Pg 219 
   
 "Dummy Goods!" Rapped kerry. "A Blind. Just A Back Entrance To Kazmah'S 
 Office. Premises Were Leased on Behalf Of     An Agent. This Agent--A 
 Reputable Man Of     Business--Paid The     Rent Quarterly. I'Ve Seen Him." 
   
   
   
 "And Who Was His Client?" Asked the     Assistant Commissioner, Displaying a 
 Faint Trace Of     Interest. 
   
   
   
 "A Certain Mr. Isaacs!" 
   
   
   
 "Who Can Be Traced?" 
   
   
   
 "Who Can'T Be Traced!" 
   
   
   
 "His Checks?" 
   
   
   
 Chief Inspector Kerry Smiled, So That His Large White Teeth Gleamed 
 Savagely. 
   
   
   
 "Mr. Isaacs Represented himself As A Dealer In covent Garden Who Was 
 Leasing the     Office For A Lady Friend, And Who Desired, For Domestic 
 Reasons, To Cover His Tracks. As Ready Money In large Amounts Changes 
 Hands In the     Market, Mr. Isaacs Paid Ready Money To The     Agent. Beyond 
 Doubt The     Real Source Of     The     Ready Money Was Kazmah'S." 
   
   
   
 "But His Address?" 
   
   
   
 "A Hotel In covent Garden." 
   
   
   
 "Where He Lives?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter  23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns) Pg 220 
   
   
 "Where He Is Known To The     Booking-Clerk, A Girl Who Allowed him To 
 Have Letters Addressed there. A Man Of     Smoke, Sir, Acting on Behalf Of 
 Someone In the     Background." 
   
   
   
 "Ah! And These Bond Street Premises Have Been Occupied by Kazmah For The 
 Past Eight Years?" 
   
   
   
 "So I Am Told. I Have Yet To See Representatives Of     The     Landlord. I May 
 Add That Sir Lucien Pyne Had Lived in albemarle Street For About The 
 Same Time." 
   
   
   
 Wearily Raising his Head: 
   
   
   
 "The Point Is Certainly Significant," Said The     Assistant Commissioner. 
 "Now We Come To The     Drug Traffic, Chief Inspector. You Have Found No 
 Trace Of     Drugs On The     Premises?" 
   
   
   
 "Not A Grain, Sir!" 
   
   
   
 "In The     Office Of     The     Cigarette Firm?" 
   
   
   
 "No." 
   
   
   
 "By The     Way, Was There No Staff Attached to The     Latter Concern?" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Chewed viciously. 
   
   
   
   
 "No Business Of     Any Kind Seems To Have Been Done There," He Replied. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter  23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns) Pg 221 
 An Office-Boy Employed by The     Solicitor On The     Same Floor As Kazmah 
 Has Seen A Man And Also A Woman, Go Up To The     Third Floor On Several 
 Occasions, And He Seems To Think They Went To The     Cubanis Office. But 
 He'S Not Sure, And He Can Give No Useful Description Of     The     Parties, 
 Anyway. Nobody In the     Building has Ever Seen The     Door Open Before This 
 Morning." 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Sighed yet More Wearily. 
   
   
   
 "Apart From The     Suspicions Of     Miss Margaret Halley, You Have No Sound 
 Basis For Supposing that Kazmah Dealt In prohibited drugs?" He Inquired. 
   
   
   
 "The Evidence Of     Miss Halley, The     Letter Left For Her By Mrs. Irvin, And 
 The Fact That Mrs. Irvin Said, In the     Presence Of     Mr. Quentin Gray, 
 That She Had 'A Particular Reason' For Seeing kazmah, Point To It 
 Unmistakably, Sir. Then, I Have Seen Mrs. Irvin'S Maid. (Mr. Monte Irvin 
 Is Still Too Unwell To Be Interrogated.) The     Girl Was Very Frightened, 
 But She Admitted outright That She Had Been In the     Habit Of     Going 
 Regularly To Kazmah For Certain Perfumes. She Wouldn'T Admit That She 
 Knew The     Flasks Contained cocaine Or Veronal, But She Did Admit That Her 
 Mistress Had Been Addicted to The     Drug Habit For Several Years. It Began 
 When She Was On The     Stage." 
   
   
   
 "Ah, Yes," Murmured the     Assistant Commissioner; "She Was Rita Dresden, 
 Was She Not--'The Maid Of     The     Masque' A Very Pretty And Talented 
 Actress. A Pity--A Great Pity. So The     Girl, Characteristically, Is 
 Trying to Save Herself?" 
   
   
   
 "She Is," Said Kerry Grimly. "But It Cuts No Ice. There Is Another 
 Point. After This Report Was Made Out, A Message Reached me From Miss 
 Halley, As A Result Of     Which I Visited mr. Quentin Gray Early This 
 Morning." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter  23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns)Pg 223 
   
 "Dear, Dear," Sighed the     Assistant Commissioner, "Your Intense Zeal And 
 Activity Are Admirable, Chief Inspector, But Appalling. And What Did You 
 Learn?" 
   
   
   
 From An Inside Pocket Chief Inspector Kerry Took Out A Plain Brown Paper 
 Packet Containing several Cigarettes And Laid The     Packet On The     Table. 
   
   
   
 "I Got These, Sir," He Said Grimly. "They Were Left At Mr. Gray'S Some 
 Weeks Ago By The     Late Sir Lucien. They Are Doped." 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner, His Head Resting upon His Hand, Gazed 
 Abstractedly At The     Packet. "If Only You Could Trace The     Source Of 
 Supply," He Murmured. 
   
   
   
 "That Brings Me To My Last Point, Sir. From Mrs. Irvin'S Maid I Learned 
 That Her Mistress Was Acquainted with A Certain Mrs. Sin." 
   
   
   
 "Mrs. Sin? Incredible Name." 
   
   
   
 "She'S A Woman Reputed to Be Married to A Chinaman. Inspector Whiteleaf, 
 Of Vine Street, Knows Her By Sight As One Of     The     Night-Club Birds--A 
 Sort Of     Mysterious Fungus, Sir, Flowering in the     Dark And Fattening on 
 Gilded fools. Unless I'M Greatly Mistaken, Mrs. Sin Is The     Link Between 
 The Doped cigarettes And The     Missing kazmah." 
   
   
   
 "Does Anyone Know Where She Lives?" 
   
   
   
 "Lots Of     'Em Know!" Snapped kerry. "But It'S Making them Speak." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns)Pg 224 
 "To Whom Do You More Particularly Refer, Chief Inspector?" 
   
   
   
 "To The     Moneyed asses And The     Brainless Women Belonging to A Certain 
 West End Set, Sir," Said Kerry Savagely. "They Go In for Every 
 Monstrosity From Buenos Ayres, Port Said And Pekin. They Get Up Dances 
 That Would Make A Wooden Horse Blush. They Eat Hashish And They Smoke 
 Opium. They Inject Morphine, And They Would Have Their Hair Dyed blue If 
 They Heard It Was 'Being done.'" 
   
   
   
 "Ah," Sighed the     Assistant Commissioner, "A Very Delicate And Complex 
 Case, Chief Inspector. The     Agony Of     Mind Which Mr. Irvin Must Be 
 Suffering is Too Horrible For One To Contemplate. An Admirable Man, 
 Too; Honorable And Generous. I Can Conceive No Theory To Account For 
 The Disappearance Of     Mrs. Irvin Other Than That She Was A Party To The 
 Murder." 
   
   
   
 "No, Sir," Said Kerry Guardedly. "But We Have The     Dope Clue To Work On. 
 That The     Chinese Receive Stuff In the     East End And That It'S Sold In 
 The West End Every Constable In the     Force Is Well Aware. Leman Street Is 
 Getting busy, And Every Shady Case In the     Piccadilly Area Will Be Beaten 
 Up Within The     Next Twenty-Four Hours, Too. It'S Purely Departmental, 
 Sir, From Now Onwards, And Merely A Question Of     Time. Therefore I Don'T 
 Doubt The     Issue." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Paused, Cleared his Throat, And Produced a Foolscap Envelope Which 
 He Laid Upon The     Table Before The     Assistant Commissioner. 
   
   
   
 "With Very Deep Regret, Sir," He Said, "After A Long And Agreeable 
 Association With The     Criminal Investigation Department, I Have To Tender 
 You This." 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Took Up The     Envelope And Stared at It 
 Vaguely. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 23 (Chief Inspector Kerry Resigns) Pg 225 
   
   
 "Ah, Yes, Chief Inspector," He Murmured. "Perhaps I Fail Entirely To 
 Follow You; I Am Somewhat Over-Worked, As You Know. What Does This 
 Envelope Contain?" 
   
   
   
 "My Resignation, Sir," Replied kerry. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 24 (To Introduce 719) Pg 226 
   
 Some Moments Of     Silence Followed. Sounds Of     Traffic From The     Embankment 
 Penetrated dimly To The     Room Of     The     Assistant Commissioner; Ringing 
 Of Tram Bells And That Vague Sustained noise Which Is Created by The 
 Whirring of     Countless Wheels Along Hard Pavements. Finally: 
   
   
   
 "You Have Selected a Curious Moment To Retire, Chief Inspector," Said 
 The Assistant Commissioner. "Your Prospects Were Never Better. No Doubt 
 You Have Considered the     Question Of     Your Pension?" 
   
   
   
 "I Know What I'M Giving up, Sir," Replied kerry. 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Slowly Revolved in his Chair And Gazed sadly 
 At The     Speaker. Chief Inspector Kerry Met His Glance With That Fearless, 
 Unflinching stare Which Lent Him So Formidable An Appearance. 
   
   
   
 "You Might Care To Favor Me With Some Explanation Which I Can Lay Before 
 The Chief Commissioner?" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Snapped his White Teeth Together Viciously. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 24 (To Introduce 719) Pg 227 
   
 "May I Take It, Sir, That You Accept My Resignation?" 
   
   
   
 "Certainly Not. I Will Place It Before The     Responsible Authority. I Can 
 Do No More." 
   
   
   
 "Without Disrespect, Sir, I Want To Speak To You As Man To Man. As A 
 Private Citizen I Could Do It. As Your Subordinate I Can'T." 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Sighed, Stroking his Neatly Brushed hair With 
 One Large Hand. 
   
   
   
 "Equally Without Disrespect, Chief Inspector," He Murmured, "It Is News 
 For Me To Learn That You Have Ever Refrained from Speaking your Mind 
 Either In my Presence Or In the     Presence Of     Any Man." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Smiled, Unable Wholly To Conceal A Sense Of     Gratified vanity. 
   
   
   
 "Well, Sir," He Said, "You Have My Resignation Before You, And I'M 
 Prepared to Abide By The     Consequences. What I Want To Say Is This: I'M A 
 Man That Has Worked hard All His Life To Earn The     Respect And The 
 Trust Of     His Employers. I Am Supposed to Be Chief Inspector Of     This 
 Department, And As Chief Inspector I'Ll Kow-Tow To Nothing on Two Legs 
 Once I'Ve Been Put In charge Of     A Case. I Work Right In the     Sunshine. 
 There'S No Grafting about Me. I Draw My Salary Every Week, And Any Man 
 That Says I Earn Sixpence In the     Dark Is At Liberty To Walk Right In 
 Here And Deposit His Funeral Expenses. If I'M Supposed to Be Under A 
 Cloud--There'S My Reply. But I Demand A Public Inquiry." 
   
   
   
 At Ever Increasing speed, Succinctly, Viciously He Rapped out The     Words. 
 His Red face Grew More Red, And His Steel-Blue Eyes More Fierce. The 
 Assistant Commissioner Exhibited bewilderment. As The     High Tones Ceased: 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 24 (To Introduce 719) Pg 228 
   
 "Really, Chief Inspector," He Said, "You Pain And Surprise Me. I Do Not 
 Profess To Be Ignorant Of     The     Cause Of     Your--Annoyance. But Perhaps If I 
 Acquaint You With The     Facts Of     My Own Position In the     Matter You Will Be 
 Open To Reconsider Your Decision." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Cleared his Throat Loudly. 
   
   
   
 "I Won'T Work In the     Dark, Sir," He Declared truculently. "I'D Rather Be 
 A Pavement Artist And My Own Master Than Chief Inspector With An Unknown 
 Spy Following me About." 
   
   
   
 "Quite So--Quite So." The     Assistant Commissioner Was Wonderfully 
 Patient. "Very Well, Chief Inspector. It Cannot Enhance My Personal 
 Dignity To Admit The     Fact, But I'M Nearly As Much In the     Dark As 
 Yourself." 
   
   
   
 "What'S That, Sir?" Kerry Sat Bolt Upright, Staring at The     Speaker. 
   
   
   
 "At A Late Hour Last Night The     Secretary Of     State Communicated in 
 Person With The     Chief Commissioner--At The     Latter'S Town Residence. He 
 Instructed him To Offer Every Facility To A Newly Appointed agent Of     The 
 Home Office Who Was Empowered to Conduct An Official Inquiry Into The 
 Drug Traffic. As A Result Vine Street Was Advised that The     Home Office 
 Investigator Would Proceed at Once To Kazmah'S Premises, And From Thence 
 Wherever Available Clues Might Lead Him. For Some Reason Which Has Not 
 Yet Been Explained to Me, This Investigator Chooses To Preserve A Strict 
 Anonymity." 
   
   
   
 Traces Of     Irritation Became Perceptible In the     Weary Voice. Kerry 
 Staring, In silence, The     Assistant Commissioner Continued: 
   
   
   
 "I Have Been Advised that This Nameless Agent Is In a Position To 
 Establish His Bona Fides At Any Time, As He Bears A Number Of     These 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 24 (To Introduce 719) Pg 229 
 Cards. You See, Chief Inspector, I Am Frank With You." 
   
   
   
 From A Table Drawer The     Assistant Commissioner Took A Visiting-Card, 
 Which He Handed to Kerry. The     Latter Stared at It As One Stares At 
 A Rare Specimen. It Was The     Card Of     Lord Wrexborough, His Majesty'S 
 Principal Secretary Of     State For The     Home Department, And In the     Cramped 
 Caligraphy Of     His Lordship It Bore A Brief Note, Initialled, Thus: 
   
   
   
     Lord Wrexborough 
     Great Cumberland Place, V. 1 
     "To Introduce 719. W." 
   
   
   
 Some Moments Of     Silence Followed; Then: 
   
   
   
 "Seven-One-Nine," Said Kerry In a High, Strained voice. "Why 
 Seven-One-Nine? And Why All This Hocus-Pocus? Am I To Understand, Sir, 
 That Not Only Myself But All The     Criminal Investigation Department Is 
 Under A Cloud?" 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Stroked his Hair. 
   
   
   
 "You Are To Understand, Chief Inspector, That For The     First Time 
 Throughout My Period Of     Office I Find Myself Out Of     Touch With The     Chief 
 Commissioner. It Is Not Departmental For Me To Say So, But I Believe 
 The Chief Commissioner Finds Himself Similarly Out Of     Touch With The 
 Secretary Of     State. Apparently Very Powerful Influences Are At Work, And 
 The Line Of     Conduct Taken Up By The     Home Office Suggests To My Mind That 
 Collusion Between The     Receivers And Distributors Of     Drugs And The     Police 
 Is Suspected by Someone. That Being so, Possibly Out Of     A Sense Of 
 Fairness To All Officially Concerned, The     Committee Which I Understand 
 Has Been Appointed to Inquire Into The     Traffic Has Decided to Treat 
 Us All Alike, From Myself Down To The     Rawest Constable. It'S Highly 
 Irritating and Preposterous, Of     Course, But I Cannot Disguise From You 
   
 Or From Myself That We Are On Trial, Chief Inspector!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 24 (To Introduce 719) Pg 230 
   
   
 Kerry Stood Up And Slowly Moved his Square Shoulders In the     Manner Of 
 An Athlete About To Attempt A Feat Of     Weight-Lifting. From The 
 Assistant Commissioner'S Table He Took The     Envelope Which Contained his 
 Resignation, And Tore It Into Several Portions. These He Deposited in a 
 Waste-Paper Basket. 
   
   
   
 "That'S That!" He Said. "I Am Very Deeply Indebted to You, Sir. I Know 
 Now What To Tell The     Press." 
   
   
   
 The Assistant Commissioner Glanced up. 
   
   
   
 "Not A Word About 719," He Said, "Of Course, You Understand This?" 
   
   
   
 "If We Don'T Exist As Far As 719 Is Concerned, Sir," Said Kerry In his 
 Most Snappy Tones, "719 Means Nothing to Me!" 
   
   
   
 "Quite So--Quite So. Of     Course, I May Be Wrong In the     Motives Which 
 I Ascribe To This Whitehall Agent, But Misunderstanding is Certain To 
 Arise Out Of     A System Of     Such Deliberate Mystification, Which Can Only 
 Be Compared to That Employed by The     Russian Police Under The     Tsars." 
   
   
   
 Half An Hour Later Chief Inspector Kerry Came Out Of     New Scotland Yard, 
 And, Walking down On To The     Embankment, Boarded a Norwood Tramcar. 
 The Weather Remained damp And Gloomy, But Upon The     Red face Of     Chief 
 Inspector Kerry, As He Mounted to The     Upper Deck Of     The     Car, Rested an 
 Expression Which Might Have Been Described as One Of     Cheery Truculence. 
 Where Other Passengers, Coat Collars Upturned, Gazed gloomily From The 
 Windows At The     Yellow Murk Overhanging the     River, Kerry Looked briskly 
 About Him, Smiling pleasurably. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 24 (To Introduce 719) Pg 231 
   
   
 He Was Homeward Bound, And When He Presently Alighted and Went Swinging 
 Along Spenser Road Towards His House, He Was Still Smiling. He Regarded 
 The Case As Having developed into A Competition Between Himself And 
 The Man Appointed by Whitehall. And It Was Just Such A Position, 
 Disconcerting to One Of     Less Aggressive Temperament, Which Stimulated 
 Chief Inspector Kerry And Put Him In high Good Humor. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Kerry, Arrayed in a Serviceable Rain-Coat, And Wearing a Plain Felt 
 Hat, Was Standing by The     Dining-Room Door As Kerry Entered. She Had A 
 Basket On Her Arm. "I Was Waiting for Ye, Dan," She Said Simply. 
   
   
   
 He Kissed her Affectionately, Put His Arm About Her Waist, And The     Two 
 Entered the     Cosy Little Room. By No Ordinary Human Means Was It Possible 
 That Mary Kerry Should Have Known That Her Husband Would Come Home At 
 That Time, But He Was So Used to Her Prescience In this Respect That He 
 Offered no Comment. She "Kenned" His Approach Always, And At Times 
 When His Life Had Been In danger--And These Were Not Of     Infrequent 
 Occurrence--Mary Kerry, If Sleeping, Had Awakened, Trembling, Though The 
 Scene Of     Peril Were A Hundred miles Away, And If Awake Had Blanched and 
 Known A Deadly Sudden Fear. 
   
   
   
 "Ye'Ll Be Goin' To Bed?" She Asked. 
   
   
   
 "For Three Hours, Mary. Don'T Fail To Rouse Me If I Oversleep." 
   
   
   
 "Is It Clear To Ye Yet?" 
   
   
   
 "Nearly Clear. The     Dark Thing you Saw Behind It All, Mary, Was Dope! 
 Kazmah'S Is A Secret Drug-Syndicate. They'Ve Appointed a Home Office 
 Agent, And He'S Working independently Of     Us, But..." 
   
   
   
 His Teeth Came Together With A Snap. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 24 (To Introduce 719) Pg 232 
 "Oh, Dan," Said His Wife, "It'S A Race? Drugs? A Home Office Agent? Dan, 
 They Think The     Force Is In it?" 
   
   
   
 "They Do!" Rapped kerry. "I'M For Leman Street In three Hours. If 
 There'S Double-Dealing behind It, Then The     Mugs Are In the     East End, 
 And It'S Folly, Not Knavery, I'M Looking for. It'S A Race, Mary, And The 
 Credit Of     The     Service Is At Stake! No, My Dear, I'Ll Have A Snack When I 
 Wake. You'Re Going shopping?" 
   
   
   
 "I Am, Dan. I'D Ha' Started, But I Wanted to See Ye When Ye Came Hame. 
 If Ye'Ve Only Three Hours Go Straight Up The     Now. I'Ll Ha' Something hot 
 A' Ready When Ye Waken." 
   
   
   
 Ten Minutes Later Kerry Was In bed, His Short Clay Pipe Between His 
 Teeth, And The     Meditations Of     Marcus Aurelius In his Hand. Such Was His 
 Customary Sleeping-Draught, And It Had Never Been Known To Fail. Half 
 A Pipe Of     Irish Twist And Three Pages Of     The     Sad Imperial Author 
 Invariably Plunged chief Inspector Kerry Into Healthy Slumber. 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 233 
 It Was Close Upon Midnight When Detective-Sergeant Coombes Appeared in a 
 Certain Narrow West End Thoroughfare, Which Was Lined with Taxicabs And 
 Private Cars. He Wore A Dark Overcoat And A Tweed cap, And Although His 
 Chin Was Buried in the     Genial Folds Of     A Woollen Comforter, And His Cap 
 Was Pulled down Over His Eyes, His Sly Smile Could Easily Be Detected 
 Even In the     Dim Light Afforded by The     Car Lamps. He Seemed to Have 
 Business Of     A Mysterious Nature Among The     Cabmen; For With Each Of     Them 
 In Turn He Conducted a Brief Conversation, Passing unobtrusively 
 From Cab To Cab, And Making certain Entries In a Notebook. Finally He 
 Disappeared. No One Actually Saw Him Go, And No One Had Actually Seen 
 Him Arrive. At One Moment, However, He Was There; In the     Next He Was 
 Gone. 
   
   
   
 Five Minutes Later Chief Inspector Kerry Entered the     Street. His Dark 
 Overcoat And White Silk Muffler Concealed a Spruce Dress Suit, A Fact 
 Betrayed by Black, Braided trousers, Unusually Tight-Fitting, And Boots 
 Which Almost Glittered. He Carried the     Silver-Headed malacca Cane, And 
 Had Retained his Narrow-Brimmed howler At Its Customary Jaunty Angle. 
   
   
   
 Passing the     Lines Of     Waiting vehicles, He Walked into The     Entrance Of 
 A Popular Night-Club Which Faced the     Narrow Street. On A Lounge 
 Immediately Inside The     Doorway A Heated young Man Was Sitting fanning 
 His Dancing partner And Gazing into Her Weakly Pretty Face In vacuous 
 Adoration. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Paused for A Moment, Staring at The     Pair. The     Man Returned his 
 Stare, Looking him Up And Down In a Manner Meant To Be Contemptuous. 
 Kerry'S Fierce, Intolerant Gaze Became Transferred to The     Face And Then 
 The Figure Of     The     Woman. He Tilted his Hat Further Forward And Turned 
 Aside. The     Woman'S Glance Followed him, To The     Marked disgust Of     Her 
 Companion. 
   
   
   
 "Oh," She Whispered, "What A Delightfully Savage Man! He Looks 
 Positively Uncivilized. I Have No Doubt He Drags Women About By Their 
 Hair. I Do Hope He'S A Member!" 
   
   
   
 Mollie Gretna Spoke Loudly Enough For Kerry To Hear Her, But Unmoved 
 By Her Admiration He Stepped up To The     Reception Office. He Was In high 
 Good Humor. He Had Spent The     Afternoon Agreeably, Interviewing certain 
 Officials Charged with Policing the     East End Of     London, And Had 
 Succeeded, To Quote His Own Language, "In Getting a Gale Up." 
 Despite The     Coldness Of     The     Weather, He Had Left Two Inspectors And A 
 Speechlessly Indignant Superintendent Bathed in perspiration. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 234 
 "Are You A Member, Sir?" Inquired the     Girl Behind The     Desk. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Smiled genially. A Newsboy Thrust Open The     Swing-Door, Yelling: 
 "Bond Street Murder! A Fresh Development. Late Speshul!" 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Cried mollie Gretna To Her Companion, "Get Me A Paper. Be Quick! I 
 Am So Excited!" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Took Up A Pen, And In large Bold Hand-Writing inscribed the 
 Following across Two Pages Of     The     Visitors' Book: 
   
   
   
 "Chief Inspector Kerry. Criminal Investigation Department." 
   
   
   
 He Laid A Card On The     Open Book, And, Thrusting his Cane Under His Arm, 
 Walked to The     Head Of     The     Stairs. 
   
   
   
 "Cloak-Room On The     Right, Sir," Said An Attendant. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Paused, Glancing over His Shoulder And Chewing audibly. Then He 
 Settled his Hat More Firmly Upon His Red head And Descended the     Stairs. 
 The Attendant Went To Inspect The     Visitors' Book, But Mollie Gretna Was 
 At The     Desk Before Him, And: 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Bill!" She Cried to Her Annoyed cavalier, "It'S Inspector 
 Kerry--Who Is In charge Of     Poor Lucy'S Murder! Oh, Bill! This Is Lovely! 
 Something is Going to Happen! Do Come Down!" 
   
   
   
 Followed by The     Obedient But Reluctant "Bill," Mollie Ran Downstairs, 
 And Almost Into The     Arms Of     A Tall Dark Girl, Who, Carrying a Purple 
 Opera Cloak, Was Coming up. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 235 
 "You'Re Not Going yet, Dickey?" Said Mollie, Throwing her Arm Around The 
 Other'S Waist. 
   
   
   
 "Ssh!" Whispered "Dickey." "Inspector Kerry Is Here! You Don'T Want To 
 Be Called as A Witness At Nasty Inquests And Things, Do You?" 
   
   
   
 "Good Heavens, My Dear, No! But Why Should I Be?" 
   
   
   
 "Why Should Any Of     Us? But Don'T You See They Are Looking for The     People 
 Who Used to Go To Kazmah'S? It'S In the     Paper Tonight. We Shall All Be 
 Served with Subpoenas. I'M Off!" 
   
   
   
 Escaping from Mollie'S Embrace, The     Tall Girl Ran Up The     Stairs, Kissing 
 Her Hand To Bill As She Passed. Mollie Hesitated, Looking all About The 
 Crowded room For Chief Inspector Kerry. Presently She Saw Him, Standing 
 Nearly Opposite The     Stairway, His Intolerant Blue Eyes Turning right And 
 Left, So That The     Fierce Glance Seemed to Miss Nothing and No One In the 
 Room. Hands Thrust In his Overcoat Pockets And His Cane Held Under 
 His Arm, He Inspected the     Place And Its Occupants As A Very Aggressive 
 Country Cousin Might Inspect The     Monkey-House At The     Zoo. To Mollie'S 
 Intense Disappointment He Persistently Avoided looking in her Direction. 
   
   
   
 Although A Popular Dance Was On The     Point Of     Commencing, Several 
 Visitors Had Suddenly Determined to Leave. Kerry Pretended to Be 
 Ignorant Of     The     Sensation Which His Appearance Had Created, Passing 
 Slowly Along The     Room And Submitting group After Group To Deliberate 
 Scrutiny; But As News Flies Through An Eastern Bazaar The     Name Of     The 
 Celebrated detective, Whose Association With London'S Latest Crime 
 Was Mentioned by Every Evening paper In the     Kingdom, Sped now On Magic 
 Wings, So That There Was A Muted charivari Out Of     Which, In every Key 
 From Bass To Soprano, Arose Ever And Anon The     Words "Chief Inspector 
   
 Kerry." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 236 
   
   
 "It'S Perfectly Ridiculous But Characteristically English," Drawled 
 One Young Man, Standing beside Mollie Gretna, "To Send Out A Bally 
 Red-Headed policeman In preposterous Glad-Rags To Look For A Clever 
 Criminal. Kerry Is Well Known To All The     Crooks, And Nobody Could 
 Mistake Him. Damn Silly--Damn Silly!" 
   
   
   
 As "Damn Silly" Kerry'S Open Scrutiny Of     The     Members And Visitors Must 
 Have Appeared to Others, But It Was A Deliberate Policy Very Popular 
 With The     Chief Inspector, And Termed by Him "Beating." Possessed of 
 An Undisguisable Personality, Kerry Had Found A Way Of     Employing his 
 Natural Physical Peculiarities To His Professional Advantage. Where 
 Other Investigators Worked in the     Dark, Secretly, Red kerry Sought The 
 Limelight--At The     Right Time. That Every Hour Lost In getting on 
 The Track Of     The     Mysterious Kazmah Was A Point Gained by The     Equally 
 Mysterious Man From Whitehall He Felt Assured, And Although The 
 Elaborate But Hidden Mechanism Of     New Scotland Yard Was At Work Seeking 
 Out The     Patrons Of     The     Bond Street Drug-Shop, Kerry Was Indisposed to 
 Await The     Result. 
   
   
   
 He Had Been In the     Night Club Only About Ten Minutes, But During those 
 Ten Minutes Fully A Dozen People Had More Or Less Hurriedly Departed. 
 Because Of     The     Arrangements Already Made By Sergeant Coombes, The 
 Addresses Of     Many Of     These Departing visitors Would Be In kerry'S 
 Possession Ere The     Night Was Much Older. And Why Should They Have Fled, 
 Incontinent, If Not For The     Reason That They Feared to Become Involved 
 In The     Kazmah Affair? All The     Cabmen Had Been Warned, And Those 
 Fugitives Who Had Private Cars Would Be Followed. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Curious Scene Which Kerry Surveyed, A Scene To Have Interested 
 Philosopher And Politician Alike. For Here Were Representatives Of     Every 
 Stratum Of     Society, Although Some Of     Those Standing for The     Lower Strata 
 Were Suitably Disguised. The     Peerage Was Well Represented, So Was Judah; 
   
 There Were Women Entitled to Wear Coronets Dancing with Men Entitled to 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 237 
 Wear The     Broad Arrow, And Men Whose Forefathers Had Signed magna Charta 
 Dancing with Chorus Girls From The     Revues And Musical Comedies. 
   
   
   
 Waiting until The     Dance Was Fully In progress, Inspector Kerry Walked 
 Slowly Around The     Room In the     Direction Of     The     Stair. Parties Seated at 
 Tables Were Treated each To An Intolerant Stare, Alcoves Were Inspected, 
 And More Than One Waiter Meeting the     Gaze Of     The     Steely Eyes, Felt A 
 Prickling of     Conscience And Recalled past Peccadilloes. 
   
   
   
 Bill Had Claimed mollie Gretna For The     Dance, But: 
   
   
   
 "No, Bill," She Had Replied, Watching kerry As If Enthralled; "I Don'T 
 Want To Dance. I Am Watching chief Inspector Kerry." 
   
   
   
 "That'S Evident," Complained the     Young Man. "Perhaps You Would Like To 
 Spend The     Rest Of     The     Night In bow Street?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh," Whispered mollie, "I Should Love It! I Have Never Been Arrested, 
 But If Ever I Am I Hope It Will Be By Chief Inspector Kerry. I Am 
 Positive He Would Haul Me Away In handcuffs!" 
   
   
   
 When Kerry Came To The     Foot Of     The     Stairs, Mollie Quite Deliberately Got 
 In His Way, Murmured an Apology, And Gave Him A Sidelong Gaze Through 
 Lowered lashes, Which Was More Eloquent Than Any Thesis. He Smiled with 
 Fierce Geniality, Looked her Up And Down, And Proceeded to Mount The 
 Stairs, With Never A Backward Glance. 
   
   
   
 His Genius For Criminal Investigation Possessed definite Limitations. He 
 Could Not Perhaps Have Been Expected in tactics So Completely Opposed to 
 Those Which He Had Anticipated to Recognize The     Presence Of     A Valuable 
 Witness. Student Of     Human Nature Though Undoubtedly He Was, He Had 
 Not Solved the     Mystery Of     That Outstanding exception Which Seems To Be 
   
 Involved in every Rule. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 238 
   
   
 Thus, A Fellow With A Low Forehead And A Weakly Receding chin, Kerry 
 Classified as A Dullard, A Witling, Unaware That If The     Brow Were But 
 Low Enough And The     Chin Virtually Absent Altogether He Might Stand In 
 The Presence Of     A Second Daniel. Physiognomy Is A Subtle Science, And 
 The Exceptions To Its Rules Are Often Of     A Sensational Character. In the 
 Same Way Kerry Looked for Evasion, And, Where Possible, Flight, On 
 The Part Of     One Possessing a Guilty Conscience. Mollie Gretna Was A 
 Phenomenal Exception To A Rule Otherwise Sound. And Even One Familiar 
 With Criminal Psychology Might Be Forgiven For Failing to Detect Guilt 
 In A Woman Anxious To Make The     Acquaintance Of     A Prominent Member Of     The 
 Criminal Investigation Department. 
   
   
   
 Pausing for A Moment In the     Entrance Of     The     Club, And Chewing 
 Reflectively, Kerry Swung Open The     Door And Walked out Into The     Street. 
 He Had One More Cover To "Beat," And He Set Off Briskly, Plunging into 
 The Mazes Of     Soho Crossing wardour Street Into Old Compton Street, And 
 Proceeding thence In the     Direction Of     Shaftesbury Avenue. Turning to 
 The Right On Entering the     Narrow Thoroughfare For Which He Was Bound, 
 He Stopped and Whistled softly. He Stood In the     Entrance To A Court; And 
 From Further Up The     Court Came An Answering whistle. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Came Out Of     The     Court Again, And Proceeded some Twenty Paces Along 
 The Street To A Restaurant. The     Windows Showed no Light, But The     Door 
 Remained open, And Kerry Entered without Hesitation, Crossed a Darkened 
 Room And Found Himself In a Passage Where A Man Was Seated in a Little 
 Apartment Like That Of     A Stage-Door Keeper. He Stood Up, On Hearing 
 Kerry'S Tread, Peering out At The     Newcomer. 
   
   
   
 "The Restaurant Is Closed, Sir." 
   
   
   
 "Tell Me A Better One," Rapped kerry. "I Want To Go Upstairs." 
   
   
   
   
 "Your Card, Sir." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 239 
   
 Kerry Revealed his Teeth In a Savage Smile And Tossed his Card On To The 
 Desk Before The     Concierge. He Passed on, Mounting the     Stairs At The     End 
 Of The     Passage. Dimly A Bell Rang; And On The     First Landing kerry Met A 
 Heavily Built Foreign Gentleman, Who Bowed. 
   
   
   
 "My Dear Chief Inspector," He Said Gutturally, "What Is This, Please? I 
 Trust Nothing is Wrong, Eh?" 
   
   
   
 "Nothing," Replied kerry. "I Just Want To Look Round." 
   
   
   
 "A Few Friends," Explained the     Suave Alien, Rubbing his Hands Together 
 And Still Bowing, "Remain Playing dominoes With Me." 
   
   
   
 "Very Good," Rapped kerry. "Well, If You Think We Have Given Them Time 
 To Hide The     'Wheel' We'Ll Go In. Oh, Don'T Explain. I'M Not Worrying 
 About Sticklebacks Tonight. I'M Out For Salmon." 
   
   
   
 He Opened a Door On The     Left Of     The     Landing and Entered a Large 
 Room Which Offered evidence Of     Having been Hastily Evacuated by A 
 Considerable Company. A Red and White Figured cloth Of     A Type Much 
 Used in continental Cafes Had Been Spread Upon A Long Table, And Three 
 Foreigners, Two Men And An Elderly Woman, Were Bending over A Row Of 
 Dominoes Set Upon One Corner Of     The     Table. Apparently The     Men Were 
 Playing and The     Woman Was Watching. But There Was A Dense Cloud Of     Cigar 
 Smoke In the     Room, And Mingled with Its Pungency Were Sweeter Scents. A 
 Number Of     Empty Champagne Bottles Stood Upon A Sideboard And An Elegant 
 Silk Theatre-Bag Lay On A Chair. 
   
   
   
 "H'M," Said Kerry, Glaring fiercely From The     Bottles To The     Players, Who 
   
 Covertly Were Watching him. "How You Two Smarts Can Tell A Domino From A 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 240 
 Door-Knocker After Cracking a Dozen Magnums Gets Me Guessing." 
   
   
   
 He Took Up The     Scented bag And Gravely Handed it To The     Old Woman. 
   
   
   
 "You Have Mislaid Your Bag, Madam," He Said. "But, Fortunately, I 
 Noticed it As I Came In." 
   
   
   
 He Turned the     Glance Of     His Fierce Eyes Upon The     Man Who Had Met Him On 
 The Landing, And Who Had Followed him Into The     Room. 
   
   
   
 "Third Floor, Von Hindenburg," He Rapped. "Don'T Argue. Lead The     Way." 
   
   
   
 For One Dangerous Moment The     Man'S Brow Lowered and His Heavy Face Grew 
 Blackly Menacing. He Exchanged a Swift Look With His Friends Seated at 
 The Disguised roulette Table. Kerry'S Jaw Muscles Protruded enormously. 
   
   
   
 "Give Me Another Answer Like That," He Said In a Tone Of     Cold Ferocity, 
 "And I'Ll Kick You From Here To Paradise." 
   
   
   
 "No Offense--No Offense," Muttered the     Man, Quailing before The     Savagery 
 Of The     Formidable Chief Inspector. "You Come This Way, Please. Some 
 Ladies Call Upon Me This Evening, And I Do Not Want To Frighten Them." 
   
   
   
 "No," Said Kerry, "You Wouldn'T, Naturally." He Stood Aside As A Door 
 At The     Further End Of     The     Room Was Opened. "After You, My Friend. I Said 
 'Lead The     Way.'" 
   
   
   
   
 They Mounted to The     Third Floor Of     The     Restaurant. The     Room Which They 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 241 
 Had Just Quitted was Used as An Auxiliary Dining and Supper-Room Before 
 Midnight, As Kerry Knew. After Midnight The     Centre Table Was Unmasked, 
 And From Thence Onward To Dawn, Sometimes, Was Surrounded by Roulette 
 Players. The     Third Floor He Had Never Visited, But He Had A Shrewd Idea 
 That It Was Not Entirely Reserved for The     Private Use Of     The     Proprietor. 
   
   
   
 A Babel Of     Voices Died away As The     Two Men Walked into A Room Rather 
 Smaller Than That Below And Furnished with Little Tables, Cafe Fashion. 
 At One End Was A Grand Piano And A Platform Before Which A Velvet 
 Curtain Was Draped. Some Twenty People, Men And Women, Were In the 
 Place, Standing looking towards The     Entrance. Most Of     The     Men And All 
 The Women But One Were In evening dress; But Despite This Common Armor 
 Of Respectability, They Did Not All Belong To Respectable Society. 
   
   
   
 Two Of     The     Women Kerry Recognized as Bearers Of     Titles, And One Was 
 Familiar To Him As A Screen-Beauty. The     Others Were Unclassifiable, But 
 All Were Fashionably Dressed with The     Exception Of     A Masculine-Looking 
 Lady Who Had Apparently Come Straight Off A Golf Course, And Who Later 
 Was Proved to Be A Well-Known Advocate Of     Woman'S Rights. The     Men All 
 Belonged to Familiar Types. Some Of     Them Were Jews. 
   
   
   
 Kerry, His Feet Widely Apart And His Hands Thrust In his Overcoat 
 Pockets, Stood Staring at Face After Face And Chewing slowly. The 
 Proprietor Glanced apologetically At His Patrons And Shrugged. Silence 
 Fell Upon The     Company. Then: 
   
   
   
 "I Am A Police Officer," Said Kerry Sharply. "You Will File Out Past Me, 
 And I Want A Card From Each Of     You. Those Who Have No Cards Will Write 
 Name And Address Here." 
   
   
   
 He Drew A Long Envelope And A Pencil From A Pocket Of     His Dinner Jacket. 
 Laying the     Envelope And Pencil On One Of     The     Little Tables: 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 242 
   
   
 "Quick March!" He Snapped. "You, Sir!" Shooting out His Forefinger In 
 The Direction Of     A Tall, Fair Young Man, "Step Out!" 
   
   
   
 Glancing helplessly About Him, The     Young Man Obeyed, And Approaching 
 Kerry: 
   
   
   
 "I Say, Officer," He Whispered nervously, "Can'T You Manage To Keep 
 My Name Out Of     It? I Mean To Say, My People Will Kick Up The     Deuce. 
 Anything up To A Tenner...." 
   
   
   
 The Whisper Faded away. Kerry'S Expression Had Grown Positively 
 Ferocious. 
   
   
   
 "Put Your Card On The     Table," He Said Tersely, "And Get Out While My 
 Hands Stay In my Pockets!" 
   
   
   
 Hurriedly The     Noble Youth (He Was The     Elder Son Of     An Earl) Complied, 
 And Departed. Then, One By One, The     Rest Of     The     Company Filed past The 
 Chief Inspector. He Challenged no One Until A Jew Smilingly Laid A Card 
 On The     Table Bearing the     Legend: "Mr. John Jones, Lincoln'S Inn Fields." 
   
   
   
 "Hi!" Rapped kerry, Grasping the     Man'S Arm. "One Moment, Mr. 'Jones'! 
 The Card I Want Is In the     Other Case. D'You Take Me For A Mug? That 
 'Jones' Trick Was Tried on Noah By The     Blue-Faced baboon!" 
   
   
   
 His Perception Of     Character Was Wonderful. At Some Of     The     Cards He Did 
 Not Even Glance; And Upon The     Women He Wasted no Time At All. He Took It 
 For Granted that They Would All Give False Names, But Since Each Of     Them 
 Would Be Followed it Did Not Matter. When At Last The     Room Was Emptied, 
   
 He Turned to The     Scowling proprietor, And: 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 25 (Night-Life Of     Soho) Pg 243 
   
   
 "That'S That!" He Said. "I'Ve Had No Instructions About Your 
 Establishment, My Friend, And As I'Ve Seen Nothing improper Going on I'M 
 Making no Charge, At The     Moment. I Don'T Want To Know What Sort Of     Show 
 Takes Place On Your Platform, And I Don'T Want To Know Anything about 
 You That I Don'T Know Already. You'Re A Swiss Subject And A Dark Horse." 
   
   
   
 He Gathered up The     Cards From The     Table, Glancing at Them Carelessly. 
 He Did Not Expect To Gain Much From His Possession Of     These Names And 
 Addresses. It Was Among The     Women That He Counted upon Finding patrons 
 Of Kazmah And Company. But As He Was About To Drop The     Cards Into His 
 Overcoat Pocket, One Of     Them, Which Bore A Written Note, Attracted his 
 Attention. 
   
   
   
 At This Card He Stared like A Man Amazed; His Face Grew More And More 
 Red, And: 
   
   
   
 "Hell!" He Said--"Hell! Which Of     'Em Was It?" 
   
   
   
 The Card Contained the     Following:-- 
   
   
   
     Lord Wrexborough 
     Great Cumberland Place, V. 1 
     "To Introduce 719. W." 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 26 (The     Moods Of     Mollie) Pg 244 
 Early The     Following morning margaret Halley Called upon Mollie Gretna. 
   
   
   
 Mollie'S Personality Did Not Attract Margaret. The     Two Had Nothing in 
 Common, But Margaret Was Well Aware Of     The     Nature Of     The     Tie Which Had 
 Bound Rita Irvin To This Empty And Decadent Representative Of     English 
 Aristocracy. Mollie Gretna Was Entitled to Append The     Words "The 
 Honorable" To Her Name, But Not Only Did She Refrain From Doing so But 
 She Even Preferred to Be Known As "Gretna"--The Style Of     One Of     The 
 Family Estates. 
   
   
   
 This Pseudonym She Had Adopted shortly After Her Divorce, When She Had 
 Attempted to Take Up A Stage Career. But Although The     Experience Had 
 Proved disastrous, She Had Retained the     Nom De Guerre, And During the 
 Past Four Years Had Several Times Appeared at War Charity Garden-Parties 
 As A Classical Dancer--To The     Great Delight Of     The     Guests And Greater 
 Disgust Of     Her Family. Her Maternal Uncle, Head Of     Her House, Said To 
 Be The     Most Blase Member Of     The     British Peerage And Known As "The Noble 
 Tortoise," Was Generally Considered to Have Pronounced the     Final Verdict 
 Upon His Golden-Haired niece When He Declared "She Is Almost Amusing." 
   
   
   
 Mollie Received her Visitor With Extravagant Expressions Of     Welcome. 
   
   
   
 "My Dear Miss Halley," She Cried, "How Perfectly Sweet Of     You To Come To 
 See Me! Of     Course, I Can Guess What You Have Called about. Look! I 
 Have Every Paper Published this Morning in london! Every One! Oh! Poor, 
 Darling little Rita! What Can Have Become Of     Her!" 
   
   
   
 Tears Glistened upon Her Carefully Made-Up Lashes, And So Deep Did Her 
 Grief Seem To Be That One Would Never Have Suspected that She Had Spent 
 The Greater Part Of     The     Night Playing bridge At A "Mixed" Club In dover 
 Street, And From Thence Had Proceeded to A Military "Breakfast-Dance." 
   
   
   
 "It Is Indeed a Ghastly Tragedy," Said Margaret. "It Seems Incredible 
 That She Cannot Be Traced." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 26 (The     Moods Of     Mollie) Pg 245 
   
 "Absolutely Incredible!" Declared mollie, Opening a Large Box Of 
 Cigarettes. "Will You Have One, Dear?" 
   
   
   
 "No, Thanks. By The     Way, They Are Not From Buenos Ayres, I Suppose?" 
   
   
   
 Mollie, Cigarette In hand, Stared, Round-Eyed, And: 
   
   
   
 "Oh, My Dear Miss Halley!" She Cried, "What An Idea! Such A Funny Thing 
 To Suggest." 
   
   
   
 Margaret Smiled coolly. 
   
   
   
 "Poor Sir Lucien Used to Smoke Cigarettes Of     That Kind," She Explained, 
 "And I Thought Perhaps You Smoked them, Too." 
   
   
   
 Mollie Shook Her Head And Lighted the     Cigarette. 
   
   
   
 "He Gave Me One Once, And It Made Me Feel Quite Sick," She Declared. 
   
   
   
 Margaret Glanced at The     Speaker, And Knew Immediately That Mollie Had 
 Determined to Deny All Knowledge Of     The     Drug Coterie. Because There Is 
 No Problem Of     Psychology Harder Than That Offered by A Perverted mind, 
 Margaret Was Misled in ascribing this Secrecy To A Desire To Avoid 
 Becoming involved in a Scandal. Therefore: 
   
   
   
 "Do You Quite Realize, Miss Gretna," She Said Quietly, "That Every Hour 
 Wasted now In tracing rita May Mean, Must Mean, An Hour Of     Agony For 
 Her?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Don'T! Please Don'T!" Cried mollie, Clasping her Hands. "I  
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 26 (The     Moods Of     Mollie) Pg 246 
 Bear To Think Of     It." 
   
   
   
 "God Knows In whose Hands She Is. Then There Is Poor Mr. Irvin. He Is 
 Utterly Prostrated. One Shudders To Contemplate His Torture As The     Hours 
 And The     Days Go By And No News Comes Of     Rita." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, My Dear! You Are Making me Cry!" Exclaimed mollie. "If Only I Could 
 Do Something to Help...." 
   
   
   
 Margaret Was Studying her Closely, And Now For The     First Time She 
 Detected sincere Emotion In mollie'S Voice--And Unforced tears In her 
 Eyes. Hope Was Reborn. 
   
   
   
 "Perhaps You Can," She Continued, Speaking gently. "You Knew All Rita'S 
 Friends And All Sir Lucien'S. You Must Have Met The     Woman Called mrs. 
 Sin?" 
   
   
   
 "Mrs. Sin," Whispered mollie, Staring in a Frightened way So That The 
 Pupils Of     Her Eyes Slowly Enlarged. "What About Mrs. Sin?" 
   
   
   
 "Well, You See, They Seem To Think That Through Mrs. Sin They Will Be 
 Able To Trace Kazmah; And Wherever Kazmah Is One Would Expect To Find 
 Poor Rita." 
   
   
   
 Mollie Lowered her Head For A Moment, Then Glanced quickly At The 
 Speaker, And Quickly Away Again. 
   
   
   
 "Please Let Me Explain Just What I Mean," Continued margaret. "It Seems 
 To Be Impossible To Find Anybody In london Who Will Admit Having known 
 Mrs. Sin Or Kazmah. They Are All Afraid Of     Being involved in the     Case, 
 Of Course. Now, If You Can Help, Don'T Hesitate For That Reason. A 
 Special Commission Has Been Appointed by Lord Wrexborough To Deal With 
 The Case, And Their Agent Is Working quite Independently Of     The 
 Police. Anything which You Care To Tell Him Will Be Treated as Strictly 
 Confidential; But Think What It May Mean To Rita." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 26 (The     Moods Of     Mollie) Pg 247 
   
   
 Mollie Clasped her Hands About Her Right Knee And Rocked to And Fro In 
 Her Chair. 
   
   
   
 "No One Knows Who Kazmah Is," She Said. 
   
   
   
 "But A Number Of     People Seem To Know Mrs. Sin. I Am Sure You Must Have 
 Met Her?" 
   
   
   
 "If I Say That I Know Her, Shall I Be Called as A Witness?" 
   
   
   
 "Certainly Not. I Can Assure You Of     That." 
   
   
   
 Mollie Continued to Rock To And Fro. 
   
   
   
 "But If I Were To Tell The     Police I Should Have To Go To Court, I 
 Suppose?" 
   
   
   
 "I Suppose So," Replied margaret. "I Am Afraid I Am Dreadfully Ignorant 
 Of Such Matters. It Might Depend Upon Whether You Spoke To A High 
 Official Or To A Subordinate One; An Ordinary Policeman For Instance. 
 But The     Home Office Agent Has Nothing whatever To Do With Scotland 
 Yard." 
   
   
   
 Mollie Stood Up In order To Reach An Ash-Tray, And: 
   
   
   
 "I Really Don'T Think I Have Anything to Say, Miss Halley," She 
 Declared. "I Have Certainly Met Mrs. Sin, But I Know Nothing whatever 
 About Her, Except That I Believe She Is A Jewess." 
   
   
   
 Margaret Sighed, Looking up Wistfully Into Mollie'S Face. "Are You 
   
 Quite Sure?" She Pleaded. "Oh, Miss Gretna, If You Know 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 26 (The     Moods Of     Mollie) Pg 248 
 Anything--Anything--Don'T Hide It Now. It May Mean So Much." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I Quite Understand That," Cried mollie. "My Heart Simply Aches And 
 Aches When I Think Of     Poor, Sweet Little Rita. But--Really I Don'T Think 
 I Can Be Of     The     Least Tiny Bit Of     Use." 
   
   
   
 Their Glances Met, And Margaret Read Hostility In the     Shallow Eyes. 
 Mollie, Who Had Been Wavering, Now For Some Reason Had Become Confirmed 
 In Her Original Determination To Remain Silent. Margaret Stood Up. 
   
   
   
 "It Is No Good, Then," She Said. "We Must Hope That Rita Will Be Traced 
 By The     Police. Good-Bye, Miss Gretna. I Am So Sorry You Cannot Help." 
   
   
   
 "And So Am I!" Declared mollie. "It Is Perfectly Sweet Of     You To Take 
 Such An Interest, And I Feel A Positive Worm. But What Can I Do?" 
   
   
   
 As Margaret Was Stepping into Her Little Runabout Car, Which Awaited her 
 At The     Door, A Theory Presented itself To Account For Mollie'S Sudden 
 Hostility. It Had Developed, Apparently, As A Result Of     Margaret'S 
 Reference To The     Home Office Inquiry. Of     Course! Mollie Would Naturally 
 Be Antagonistic To A Commission Appointed to Suppress The     Drug Traffic. 
   
   
   
 Convinced that This Was The     Correct Explanation, Margaret Drove Away, 
 Reflecting bitterly That She Had Been Guilty Of     A Strategical Error 
 Which It Was Now Too Late To Rectify. 
   
   
   
 In Common With Others, Kerry Among Them, Who Had Come In contact With 
 That Perverted intelligence, She Misjudged mollie'S Motives. In the 
 First Place, The     Latter Had No Wish To Avoid Publicity, And In the 
 Second Place--Although She Sometimes Wondered vaguely What She Should 
 Do When Her Stock Of     Drugs Became Exhausted--Mollie Was Prompted by 
 No Particular Animosity Toward The     Home Office Inquiry. She Had Merely 
 Perceived a Suitable Opportunity To Make The     Acquaintance Of     The     Fierce 
 Red chief Inspector, And At The     Same Time To Secure Notoriety For 
   
 Herself. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 26 (The     Moods Of     Mollie) Pg 249 
   
   
 Ere Margaret'S Car Had Progressed a Hundred yards From The     Door, Mollie 
 Was At The     Telephone. 
   
   
   
 "City 400, Please," She Said. 
   
   
   
 An Interval Elapsed, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Is That The     Commissioner'S Office, New Scotland Yard?" She Asked. 
   
   
   
 A Voice Replied that It Was. 
   
   
   
 "Could You Put Me Through To Chief Inspector Kerry?" 
   
   
   
 "What Name?" Inquired the     Voice. 
   
   
   
 Mollie Hesitated for Three Seconds, And Then Gave Her Family Name. 
   
   
   
 "Very Well, Madam," Said The     Voice Respectfully. "Please Hold On, And I 
 Will Enquire If The     Chief Inspector Is Here." 
   
   
   
 Mollie'S Heart Was Beating rapidly With Pleasurable Excitement, And She 
 Was As Confused as A Maiden At Her First Rendezvous. Then: 
   
   
   
 "Hello," Said The     Voice. 
   
   
   
 "Yes?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 26 (The     Moods Of     Mollie) Pg 250 
   
 "I Am Sorry, Madam. But Chief Inspector Kerry Is Off Duty." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Dear!" Sighed mollie, "What A Pity. Can You Tell Me Where I Could 
 Find Him?" 
   
   
   
 "I Am Afraid Not, Madam. It Is Against The     Rules To Give Private 
 Addresses Of     Members Of     Any Department." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Very Well." She Sighed again. "Thank You." 
   
   
   
 She Replaced the     Receiver And Stood Biting her Finger Thoughtfully. She 
 Was Making a Mental Inventory Of     Her Many Admirers And Wondering which 
 Of Them Could Help Her. Suddenly She Came To A Decision On The     Point. 
 Taking up The     Receiver: 
   
   
   
 "Victoria 8440, Please," She Said. 
   
   
   
 Still Biting one Finger She Waited, Until: 
   
   
   
 "Foreign Office," Announced a Voice. 
   
   
   
 "Please Put Me Through To Mr. Archie Boden-Shaw," She Said. 
   
   
   
 Ere Long That Official'S Secretary Was Inquiring her Name, And A Moment 
 Later: 
   
   
   
 "Is That You, Archie?" Said Mollie. "Yes! Mollie Speaking. No, Please 
 Listen, Archie! You Can Get To Know Everything at The     Foreign Office, 
   
 And I Want You To Find Out For Me The     Private Address Of     Chief Inspector 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 26 (The     Moods Of     Mollie) Pg 251 
 Kerry, Who Is In charge Of     The     Bond Street Murder Case. Don'T Be Silly! 
 I'Ve Asked scotland Yard, But They Won'T Tell Me. You Can Find Out.... 
 It Doesn'T Matter Why I Want To Know.... Just Ring me Up And Tell Me. 
 I Must Know In half An Hour. Yes, I Shall Be Seeing you Tonight. 
 Good-Bye...." 
   
   
   
 Less Than Half An Hour Later, The     Obedient Archie Rang Up, And Mollie, 
 All Excitement, Wrote The     Following address In a Dainty Scented notebook 
 Which She Carried in her Handbag. 
   
   
   
     Chief Inspector Kerry, 
     67 Spenser Road, Brixton. 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 252 
   
 The Appearance Of     The     Violet-Enamelled motor Brougham Upholstered in 
 Cream, And Driven By A Chauffeur In a Violet And Cream Livery, Created 
 Some Slight Sensation In spenser Road, S.E. Mollie Gretna'S Conspicuous 
 Car Was Familiar Enough To Residents In the     West End Of     London, But To 
 Lower Middle-Class Suburbia It Came As Something of     A Shock. More Than 
 One Window Curtain Moved suspiciously, Suggesting a Hidden But Watchful 
 Presence, When The     Glittering vehicle Stopped before The     Gate Of     Number 
 67; And The     Lady At Number 68 Seized an Evidently Rare Opportunity To 
 Come Out And Polish Her Letter-Box. 
   
   
   
 She Was Rewarded by An Unobstructed view Of     The     Smartest Woman In london 
 (Thus Spake Society Paragraphers) And Of     The     Most Expensive Set Of 
 Furs In europe, Also Of     A Perfectly Gowned slim Figure. Of     Mollie'S 
 Disdainful Face, With Its Slightly Uptilted nose, She Had No More Than A 
   
 Glimpse. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 253 
   
 A Neat Maid, Evidently Scotch, Admitted the     Dazzling visitor To Number 
 67; And Spenser Road Waited and Wondered. It Was Something to Do With 
 The Bond Street Murder! Small Girls Appeared from Doorways Suddenly 
 Opened and Darted off To Advise Less-Watchful Neighbors. 
   
   
   
 Kerry, Who Had Been At Work Until Close Upon Dawn In the     Mysterious 
 Underworld Of     Soho Was Sleeping, But Mrs. Kerry Received mollie In a 
 Formal Little Drawing-Room, Which, Unlike The     Cosy, Homely Dining-Room, 
 Possessed that Frigid Atmosphere Which Belongs To Uninhabited 
 Apartments. In a Rather Handsome Cabinet Were A Number Of     Trophies 
 Associated with The     Detective'S Successful Cases. The     Cabinet Itself 
 Was A Present From A Regent Street Firm For Whom Kerry Had Recovered 
 Valuable Property. 
   
   
   
 Mary Kerry, Dressed in a Plain Blouse And Skirt, Exhibited no Trace Of 
 Nervousness In the     Presence Of     Her Aristocratic And Fashionable Caller. 
 Indeed, Mollie Afterwards Declared that "She Was Quite A Ladylike 
 Person. But Rather Tin Tabernacley, My Dear." 
   
   
   
 "Did Ye Wish To See Chief Inspector Kerry Parteecularly?" Asked mary, 
 Watching her Visitor With Calm, Observant Eyes. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Most Particularly!" Cried mollie, In a Flutter Of     Excitement. "Of 
 Course I Don'T Know What You Must Think Of     Me For Calling at Such A 
 Preposterous Hour, But There Are Some Things That Simply Can'T Wait." 
   
   
   
 "Aye," Murmured mrs. Kerry. "'Twill Be Yon Bond Street Affair?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Yes, It Is, Mrs. Kerry. Doesn'T The     Very Name Of     Bond Street Turn 
 Your Blood Cold? I Am Simply Shivering with Fear!" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 254 
 "As The     Wife Of     A Chief Inspector I Am Maybe More Used to Tragedies Than 
 Yoursel', Madam. But It Surely Is A Sair Grim Business. My Husband 
 Is Resting now. He Was Hard At Work A' The     Night. Nae Doubt Ye'Ll Be 
 Wishin' Tee See Him Privately?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, If You Please. I Am So Sorry To Disturb Him. I Can Imagine That He 
 Must Be Literally Exhausted after Spending a Whole Night Among Dreadful 
 People." 
   
   
   
 Mary Kerry Stood Up. 
   
   
   
 "If Ye'Ll Excuse Me For A Moment I'Ll Awaken Him," She Said. "Our 
 Household Is Sma'." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Of     Course! I Quite Understand, Mrs. Kerry! So Sorry. But So Good Of 
 You." 
   
   
   
 "Might I Offer Ye A Glass O' Sherry An' A Biscuit?" 
   
   
   
 "I Simply Couldn'T Dream Of     Troubling you! Please Don'T Suggest Such A 
 Thing. I Feel Covered with Guilt Already. Many Thanks Nevertheless." 
   
   
   
 Mary Kerry Withdrew, Leaving mollie Alone. As Soon As The     Door Closed 
 Mollie Stood Up And Began To Inspect The     Trophies In the     Cabinet. She 
 Was Far Too Restless And Excited to Remain Sitting down. She Looked 
 At The     Presentation Clock On The     Mantelpiece And Puzzled over The 
 Signatures Engraved upon A Large Silver Dish Which Commemorated the     Joy 
 Displayed by The     Criminal Investigation Department Upon The     Occasion Of 
 Kerry'S Promotion To The     Post Of     Chief Inspector. 
   
   
   
 The Door Opened and Kerry Came In. He Had Arisen And Completed his 
   
 Toilet In several Seconds Less Than Five Minutes. But His Spotlessly 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 255 
 Neat Attire Would Have Survived inspection By The     Most Lynx-Eyed 
 Martinet In the     Brigade Of     Guards. As He Smiled at His Visitor With 
 Fierce Geniality, Mollie Blushed like A Young Girl. 
   
   
   
 Chief Inspector Kerry Was A Much Bigger Man Than She Had Believed him To 
 Be. The     Impression Left Upon Her Memory By His Brief Appearance At The 
 Night Club Had Been That Of     A Small, Dapper Figure. Now, As He Stood In 
 The Little Drawing-Room, She Saw That He Was Not Much If Anything below 
 The Average Height Of     Englishmen, And That He Possessed wonderfully 
 Broad Shoulders. In fact, Kerry Was Deceptive. His Compact Neatness And 
 The Smallness Of     His Feet And Hands, Together With Those Swift, Lithe 
 Movements Which Commonly Belong To Men Of     Light Physique, Curiously 
 Combined to Deceive The     Beholder, But Masked eleven Stones (*Note: 1 
 Stone = 14 Pounds) Of     Bone And Muscle. 
   
   
   
 "Very Good Of     You To Offer Information, Miss," He Said. "I'M Willing to 
 Admit That I Can Do With It." 
   
   
   
 He Opened a Bureau And Took Out A Writing-Block And A Fountain Pen. Then 
 He Turned and Stared hard At Mollie. She Quickly Lowered her Eyes. 
   
   
   
 "Excuse Me," Said Kerry, "But Didn'T I See You Somewhere Last Night?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes," She Said. "I Was Sitting just Inside The     Door At--" 
   
   
   
 "Right! I Remember," Interrupted kerry. He Continued to Stare. "Before 
 You Say Any More, Miss, I Have To Remind You That I Am A Police Officer, 
 And That You May Be Called upon To Swear To The     Truth Of     Any Information 
 You May Give Me." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Of     Course! I Know." 
   
   
   
   
 "You Know? Very Well, Then; We Can Get On. Who Gave You My Address?" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 256 
   
   
   
 At The     Question, So Abruptly Asked, Mollie Felt Herself Blushing again. 
 It Was Delightful To Know That She Could Still Blush. "Oh--I... That Is, 
 I Asked scotland Yard " 
   
   
   
 She Bestowed a Swift, Half-Veiled glance At Her Interrogator, But He 
 Offered her No Help, And: 
   
   
   
 "They Wouldn'T Tell Me," She Continued. "So--I Had To Find Out. You See, 
 I Heard You Were Trying to Get Information Which I Thought Perhaps I 
 Could Give." 
   
   
   
 "So You Went To The     Trouble To Find My Private Address Rather Than To 
 The Nearest Police Station," Said Kerry. "Might I Ask You From Whom You 
 Heard That I Wanted this Information?" 
   
   
   
 "Well--It'S In the     Papers, Isn'T It?" 
   
   
   
 "It Is Certainly. But It Occurred to Me That Someone... Connected might 
 Have Told You As Well." 
   
   
   
 "Actually, Someone Did: Miss Margaret Halley." 
   
   
   
 "Good!" Rapped kerry. "Now We'Re Coming to It. She Told You To Come To 
 Me?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, No!" Cried mollie--"She Didn'T. She Told Me To Tell Her So That She 
 Could Tell The     Home Office." 
   
   
   
 "Eh?" Said Kerry, "Eh?" He Bent Forward, Staring fiercely. "Please Tell 
 Me Exactly What Miss Halley Wanted to Know." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 257 
   
 The Intensity Of     His Gaze Mollie Found Very Perturbing, But: 
   
   
   
 "She Wanted me To Tell Her Where Mrs. Sin Lived," She Replied. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Experienced a Quickening of     The     Pulse. In the     Failure Of     The 
 C.I.D. To Trace The     Abode Of     The     Notorious Mrs. Sin He Had Suspected 
 Double-Dealing. He Counted it Unbelievable That A Figure So Conspicuous 
 In Certain Circles Could Evade Official Quest Even For Forty-Eight 
 Hours. K Division'S Explanation, Too, That There Were No Less Than 
 Eighty Chinamen Resident In and About Limehouse Whose Names Either Began 
 Or Ended with Sin, He Looked upon As A Paltry Evasion. That Very Morning 
 He Had Awakened from A Species Of     Nightmare Wherein 719 Had Affected 
 The Arrest Of     Kazmah And Mrs. Sin And Had Rescued mrs. Irvin From The 
 Clutches Of     The     Former. Now--Here Was Hope. 719 Would Seem To Be As 
 Hopelessly In the     Dark As Everybody Else. 
   
   
   
 "You Refused?" He Rapped. 
   
   
   
 "Of Course I Did, Inspector," Said Mollie, With A Timid, Tender Glance. 
 "I Thought You Were The     Proper Person To Tell." 
   
   
   
 "Then You Know?" Asked kerry, Unable To Conceal His Eagerness. 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Sighed mollie. "Unfortunately--I Know. Oh Inspector, How Can I 
 Explain It To You?" 
   
   
   
 "Don'T Trouble, Miss. Just Give Me The     Address And I'Ll Ask No 
 Questions!" 
   
   
   
 His Keenness Was Thrilling, Infectious. As A Result Of     The     Night'S 
 "Beating" He Had A List Of     Some Twenty Names Whose Owners Might Have 
   
 Been Patrons Of     Kazmah And Some Of     Whom Might Know Mrs. Sin. But He 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 258 
 Had Learned from Bitter Experience How Difficult It Was To Induce 
 Such People To Give Useful Evidence. There Was Practically No Means Of 
 Forcing them To Speak If They Chose, From Selfish Motives, To Be Silent. 
 They Could Be Forced to Appear In court, But Anything elicited in public 
 Was Worse Than Useless. Furthermore, Kerry Could Not Afford To Wait. 
 Mollie Replied excitedly: 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Inspector, I Know You Will Think Me Simply An Appalling person When 
 I Tell You; But I Have Been To Mrs. Sin'S House--'The House Of     A Hundred 
 Raptures' She Calls It--" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Yes! But--The Address?" 
   
   
   
 "However Can I Tell You The     Address, Inspector? I Could Drive You There, 
 But I Haven'T The     Very Haziest Idea Of     The     Name Of     The     Horrible Street! 
 One Drives Along Dreadful Roads Where There Are Stalls And Jews For 
 Quite An Interminable Time, And Then Over A Sort Of     Canal, And Then 
 Round To The     Right All Among Ships And Horrid Chinamen. Then, There Is 
 A Doorway In a Little Court, And Mrs. Sin'S Husband Sits Inside A 
 Smelly Room With A Positively Ferocious Raven Who Shrieks About Legs And 
 Policemen! Oh! Can I Ever Forget It!" 
   
   
   
 "One Moment, Miss, One Moment," Said Kerry, Keeping an Iron Control Upon 
 Himself. "What Is The     Name Of     Mrs. Sin'S Husband?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Let Me Think! I Can Always Remember It By Recalling the     Croak Of 
 The Raven." She Raised one Hand To Her Brow, Posing reflectively, And 
 Began To Murmur: 
   
   
   
 "Sin Sin Ah... Sin Sin Jar... Sin Sin--Oh! I Have It! Sin Sin Wa!" 
   
   
   
 "Good!" Rapped kerry, And Made A Note On The     Block. "Sin Sin Wa, And He 
 Has A Pet Raven, You Say, Who Talks?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 259 
 "Who Positively Talks Like Some Horrid Old Woman!" Cried mollie. "He Has 
 Only One Eye." 
   
   
   
 "The Raven?" 
   
   
   
 "The Raven, Yes--And Also The     Chinaman." 
   
   
   
 "What!" 
   
   
   
 "Oh! It'S A Nightmare To Behold Them Together!" Declared mollie, 
 Clasping her Hands And Bending forward. 
   
   
   
 She Was Gaining courage, And Now Looked almost Boldly Into The     Fierce 
 Eyes Of     The     Chief Inspector. 
   
   
   
 "Describe The     House," He Said Succinctly. "Take Your Time And Use Your 
 Own Words." 
   
   
   
 Thereupon Mollie Launched into A Description Of     Sin Sin Wa'S 
 Opium-House. Kerry, His Eyes Fixed upon Her Face, Listened silently. 
 Then: 
   
   
   
 "These Little Rooms Are Really Next Door?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
 "I Suppose So, Inspector. We Always Went Through The     Back Of     A 
 Cupboard!" 
   
   
   
 "Can You Give Me Names Of     Others Who Used this Place?" 
   
   
   
   
 "Well"--Mollie Hesitated--"Poor Rita, Of     Course And Sir Lucien. Then, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 260 
 Cyrus Kilfane Used to Go." 
   
   
   
 "Kilfane? The     American Actor?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
   
 "H'M. He'S Back In america, Sir Lucien Is Dead, And Mrs. Irvin Is 
 Missing. Nobody Else?" 
   
   
   
 Mollie Shook Her Head. 
   
   
   
 "Who First Took You There?" 
   
   
   
 "Cyrus Kilfane." 
   
   
   
 "Not Sir Lucien?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, No. But Both Of     Them Had Been Before." 
   
   
   
 "What Was Kazmah'S Connection With Mrs. Sin And Her Husband?" 
   
   
   
 "I Have No Idea, Inspector. Kazmah Used to Supply Cocaine And Veronal 
 And Trional And Heroin, But Those Who Wanted to Smoke Opium He Sent To 
 Mrs. Sin." 
   
   
   
 "What! He Gave Them Her Address?" 
   
   
   
 "No, No! He Gave Her Their Address." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 261 
   
 "I See. She Called?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. Oh, Inspector"--Mollie Bent Farther Forward--"I Can See In your 
 Eyes That You Think I Am Fabulously Wicked! Shall I Be Arrested?" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Coughed drily And Stood Up. 
   
   
   
 "Probably Not, Miss. But You May Be Required to Give Evidence." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Actually?" Cried mollie, Also Standing up And Approaching nearer. 
   
   
   
 "Yes. Shall You Object?" 
   
   
   
 Mollie Looked into His Eyes. 
   
   
   
 "Not If I Can Be Of     The     Slightest Assistance To You, Inspector." 
   
   
   
 A Theory To Explain Why This Social Butterfly Had Sought Him Out As A 
 Recipient Of     Her Compromising confidences Presented itself To Kerry'S 
 Mind. He Was A Modest Man, Having neither Time Nor Inclination For 
 Gallantries, And This Was The     First Occasion Throughout His Professional 
 Career Upon Which He Had Obtained valuable Evidence On The     Strength Of 
 His Personal Attractions. He Doubted the     Accuracy Of     His Deduction. But, 
 Mollie At That Moment Lowering her Lashes And Then Rapidly Raising them 
 Again, Kerry Was Compelled to Accept His Own Astonishing theory. 
   
   
   
 "And She Is The     Daughter Of     A Peer!" He Reflected. "No Wonder It Has 
 Been Hard To Get Evidence." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 27 (Crown Evidence) Pg 262 
 He Glanced rapidly In the     Direction Of     The     Door. There Were Several 
 Details Which Were By No Means Clear, But He Decided to Act Upon The 
 Information Already Given And To Get Rid Of     His Visitor Without Delay. 
 Where Some Of     The     Most Dangerous Criminals In europe And America Had 
 Failed, Mollie Gretna Had Succeeded in making red kerry Nervous. 
   
   
   
 "I Am Much Indebted to You, Miss," He Said, And Opened the     Door. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, It Has Been Delightful To Confess To You, Inspector!" Declared 
 Mollie. "I Will Give You My Card, And I Shall Expect You To Come To Me 
 For Any Further Information You May Want. If I Have To Be Brought To 
 Court, You Will Tell Me, Won'T You?" 
   
   
   
 "Rely Upon Me, Miss," Replied kerry Shortly. 
   
   
   
 He Escorted mollie To Her Brougham, Observed by No Less Than Six 
 Discreetly Hidden Neighbors. And As The     Brougham Was Driven Off She 
 Waved her Hand To Him! Kerry Felt A Hot Flush Spreading over His Red 
 Countenance, For The     Veiled onlookers Had Not Escaped his Attention. As 
 He Re-Entered the     House: 
   
   
   
 "Yon'S A Bad Woman," Said His Wife, Emerging from The     Dining-Room. 
   
   
   
 "I Believe You May Be Right, Mary," Replied kerry Confusedly. 
   
   
   
 "I Kenned it When Fairst I Set Een Upon Her Painted face. I Kenned it 
 The Now When She Lookit Sideways At Ye. If Yon'S A Grand Lady, She'S A 
 Woman O' Puir Repute. The     Lord Gi'E Us Grace." 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 263 
   
 London Was Fog-Bound. The     Threat Of     The     Past Week Had Been No Empty 
 One. Towards The     Hour Of     Each Wintry Sunset Had Come The     Yellow Racks, 
 Hastening dusk And Driving folks More Speedily Homeward To Their 
 Firesides. The     Dull Reports Of     Fog-Signals Had Become A Part Of     The 
 Metropolitan Bombilation, But Hitherto The     Choking mist Had Not Secured 
 A Strangle-Hold. 
   
   
   
 Now, However, It Had Triumphed, Casting its Thick Net Over The     City 
 As If Eager To Stifle The     Pulsing life Of     The     New Babylon. In the 
 Neighborhood Of     The     Docks Its Density Was Extraordinary, And The 
 Purlieus Of     Limehouse Became Mere Mysterious Gullies Of     Smoke Impossible 
 To Navigate Unless One Were Very Familiar With Their Intricacies And 
 Dangers. 
   
   
   
 Chief Inspector Kerry, Wearing a Cardigan Under His Oilskins, Tapped the 
 Pavement With The     Point Of     His Malacca Like A Blind Man. No Glimmer Of 
 Light Could He Perceive. He Could Not Even See His Companion. 
   
   
   
 "Hell!" He Snapped irritably, As His Foot Touched a Brick Wall, "Where 
 The Devil Are You, Constable?" 
   
   
   
 "Here Beside You, Sir," Answered p.C. Bryce, Of     K Division, His Guide. 
   
   
   
 "Which Side?" 
   
   
   
 "Here, Sir." 
   
   
   
 The Constable Grasped kerry'S Arm. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 264 
   
   
 "But We'Ve Walked slap Into A Damn Brick Wall!" 
   
   
   
 "Keep The     Wall On Your Left, Sir, And It'S All Clear Ahead." 
   
   
   
 "Clear Be Damned!" Said Kerry. "Are We Nearly There?" 
   
   
   
 "About A Dozen Paces And We Shall See The     Lamp--If It'S Been Lighted." 
   
   
   
 "And If Not We Shall Stroll Into The     River, I Suppose?" 
   
   
   
 "No Danger Of     That. Even If The     Lamp'S Out, We Shall Strike The     Iron 
 Pillar." 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T Doubt It," Said Kerry Grimly. 
   
   
   
 They Proceeded at A Slow Pace. Dull Reports And A Vague Clangor Were 
 Audible. These Sounds Were So Deadened by The     Clammy Mist That They 
 Might Have Proceeded from Some Gnome'S Workshop Deep In the     Bowels 
 Of The     Earth. The     Blows Of     A Pile-Driver At Work On The     Surrey Shore 
 Suggested to Kerry'S Mind The     Phantom Crew Of     Hendrick Hudson At Their 
 Game Of     Ninepins In the     Katskill Mountains. Suddenly: 
   
   
   
 "Is That You, Bryce?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
 "I'M Here, Sir," Replied the     Voice Of     The     Constable From Beside Him. 
   
   
   
   
 "H'M, Then There'S Someone Else About." He Raised his Voice. "Hi, There! 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 265 
 Have You Lost Your Way?" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stood Still, Listening. But No One Answered to His Call. 
   
   
   
 "I'Ll Swear There Was Someone Just Behind Us, Bryce!" 
   
   
   
 "There Was, Sir. I Saw Someone, Too. A Chinese Resident, Probably. Here 
 We Are!" 
   
   
   
 A Sound Of     Banging became Audible, And On Advancing another Two Paces, 
 Kerry Found Himself Beside Bryce Before A Low Closed door. 
   
   
   
 "Hello! Hello!" Croaked a Dim Voice. "Number One P'Lice Chop, Lo! Sin 
 Sin Wa!" 
   
   
   
 The Flat Note Of     A Police Whistle Followed. 
   
   
   
 "Sin Sin Is At Home," Declared bryce. "That'S The     Raven." 
   
   
   
 "Does He Take The     Thing about With Him, Then?" 
   
   
   
 "I Don'T Think So. But He Puts It In a Cupboard When He Goes Out, And It 
 Never Talks Unless It Can See A Light." 
   
   
   
 Bolts Were Unfastened and The     Door Was Opened. Out Through The     Moving 
 Curtain Of     Fog Shone The     Red glow From A Stove. A Grotesque Silhouette 
 Appeared outlined upon The     Dim Redness. 
   
   
   
   
 "You Wantchee Me?" Crooned sin Sin Wa. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 266 
   
 "I Do!" Rapped kerry. "I'Ve Called to Look For Opium." 
   
   
   
 He Stepped past The     Chinaman Into The     Dimly Lighted room. As He Did So, 
 The Cause Of     An Apparent Deformity Which Had Characterized the     Outline 
 Of Sin Sin Wa Became Apparent. From His Left Shoulder The     Raven Partly 
 Arose, Moving his Big Wings, And: 
   
   
   
 "Smartest Leg!" It Shrieked in kerry'S Ear And Rattled imaginary 
 Castanets. 
   
   
   
 The Chief Inspector Started, Involuntarily. 
   
   
   
 "Damn The     Thing!" He Muttered. "Come In, Bryce, And Shut The     Door. 
 What'S This?" 
   
   
   
 On A Tea-Chest Set Beside The     Glowing stove, The     Little Door Of     Which 
 Was Open, Stood A Highly Polished squat Wooden Image, Gilded and Colored 
 Red and Green. It Was That Of     A Leering chinaman, Possibly Designed to 
 Represent Buddha, And Its Jade Eyes Seemed to Blink Knowingly In the 
 Dancing rays From The     Stove. 
   
   
   
 "Sin Sin Wa'S Joss," Murmured the     Proprietor, As Bryce Closed the     Outer 
 Door. "Me Shinee Him Up; Makee Joss Glad. Number One Piecee Joss." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Turned and Stared into The     Pock-Marked smiling face. Seen In that 
 Dim Light It Was Not Unlike The     Carved face Of     The     Image, Save That The 
   
 Latter Possessed two Open Eyes And The     Chinaman But One. The     Details Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 267 
 The Room Were Indiscernible, Lost In yellowish Shadow, But The     Eye Of 
 The Raven And The     Eye Of     Sin Sin Wa Glittered like Strange Jewels. 
   
   
   
 "H'M," Said Kerry. "Sorry To Interrupt Your Devotions. Light Us." 
   
   
   
 "Allee Velly Proper," Crooned sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 He Took Up The     Joss Tenderly And Bore It Across The     Room. Opening a 
 Little Cupboard Set Low Down Near The     Floor He Discovered a Lighted 
 Lantern. This He Took Out And Set Upon The     Dirty Table. Then He Placed 
 The Image On A Shelf In the     Cupboard And Turned smilingly To His 
 Visitors. 
   
   
   
 "Number One P'Lice!" Shrieked the     Raven. 
   
   
   
 "Here!" Snapped kerry. "Put That Damn Thing to Bed!" 
   
   
   
 "Velly Good," Murmured sin Sin Wa Complacently. 
   
   
   
 He Raised his Hand To His Shoulder And The     Raven Stepped sedately From 
 Shoulder To Wrist. Sin Sin Wa Stooped. 
   
   
   
 "Come, Tling-A-Ling," He Said Softly. "You Catchee Sleepee." 
   
   
   
 The Raven Stepped down From His Wrist And Walked into The     Cupboard. 
   
   
   
 "So Fashion, Lo!" Said Sin Sin Wa, Closing the     Door. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 268 
 He Seated himself Upon A Tea-Chest Beside The     Useful Cupboard, Resting 
 His Hands Upon His Knees And Smiling. 
   
   
   
 Kerry, Chewing steadily, Had Watched the     Proceedings In silence, But 
 Now: 
   
   
   
 "Constable Bryce," He Said Crisply, "You Recognize This Man As Sin Sin 
 Wa, The     Occupier Of     The     House?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sir," Replied bryce. 
   
   
   
 He Was Not Wholly At Ease, And Persistently Avoided the     Chinaman'S 
 Oblique, Beady Eye. 
   
   
   
 "In The     Ordinary Course Of     Your Duty You Frequently Pass Along This 
 Street?" 
   
   
   
 "It'S The     Limit Of     The     Limehouse Beat, Sir. Poplar Patrols On The     Other 
 Side." 
   
   
   
 "So That At This Point, Or Hereabout, You Would Sometimes Meet The 
 Constable On The     Next Beat?" 
   
   
   
 "Well, Sir," Bryce Hesitated, Clearing his Throat, "This Street Isn'T 
 Properly In his District." 
   
   
   
 "I Didn'T Say It Was!" Snapped kerry, Glaring fiercely At The 
 Embarrassed constable. "I Said You Would Sometimes Meet Him Here." 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sometimes." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 269 
 Sometimes. Right. Did You Ever Come In here?" 
   
   
   
 The Constable Ventured a Swift Glance At The     Savage Red face, And: 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sir, Now And Then," He Confessed. "Just For A Warm On A Cold 
 Night, Maybe." 
   
   
   
 "Allee Velly Welcome," Murmured sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Never For A Moment Removed his Fixed gaze From The     Face Of     Bryce. 
   
   
   
 "Now, My Lad," He Said, "I'M Going to Ask You Another Question. I'M Not 
 Saying a Word About The     Warm On A Cold Night. We'Re All Human. But--Did 
 You Ever See Or Hear Or Smell Anything suspicious In this House?" 
   
   
   
 "Never," Affirmed the     Constable Earnestly. 
   
   
   
 "Did Anything ever Take Place That Suggested to Your Mind That Sin Sin 
 Wa Might Be Concealing something--Upstairs, For Instance?" 
   
   
   
 "Never A Thing, Sir. There'S Never Been A Complaint About Him." 
   
   
   
 "Allee Velly Proper," Crooned sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stared intently For Some Moments At Bryce; Then, Turning suddenly 
 To Sin Sin Wa: 
   
   
   
   
 "I Want To See Your Wife," He Said. "Fetch Her." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 270 
 Sin Sin Wa Gently Patted his Knees. 
   
   
   
 "She Velly Bad Woman," He Declared. "She No Hate Topside Pidgin." 
   
   
   
 "Don'T Talk!" Shouted kerry. "Fetch Her!" 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Turned his Hands Palms Upward. 
   
   
   
 "Me No Hate Gotchee Wifee," He Murmured. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Took One Pace Forward. 
   
   
   
 "Fetch Her," He Said; "Or--" He Drew A Pair Of     Handcuffs From The     Pocket 
 Of His Oilskin. 
   
   
   
 "Velly Bad Luck," Murmured sin Sin Wa. "Catchee Trouble For Wifee No 
 Got." 
   
   
   
 He Extended his Wrists, Meeting the     Angry Glare Of     The     Chief Inspector 
 With A Smile Of     Resignation. Kerry Bit Savagely At His Chewing-Gum, 
 Glancing aside At Bryce. 
   
   
   
 "Did You Ever See His Wife?" He Snapped. 
   
   
   
 "No, Sir. I Didn'T Know He Had One." 
   
   
   
   
 "No Habgotchee," Murmured sin Sin Wa, "Velly Bad Woman." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 271 
   
   
 "For The     Last Time," Said Kerry, Stooping and Thrusting his Face Forward 
 So That His Nose Was Only Some Six Inches From That Of     Sin Sin Wa, 
 "Where'S Mrs. Sin?" 
   
   
   
 "Catchee Lun Off," Replied the     Chinaman Blandly. "Velly Bad Woman. Tlief 
 Woman. Catchee Stealee Alla My Dollars!" 
   
   
   
 "Eh!" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stood Upright, Moving his Shoulders And Rattling the     Handcuffs. 
   
   
   
 "Comee Here When Sin Sin Wa Hate Gone For Catchee Shavee, Liftee Alla My 
 Dollars, And-Pff! Chee-Lo!" 
   
   
   
 He Raised his Hand And Blew Imaginary Fluff Into Space. Kerry Stared 
 Down At Him With An Expression In which Animal Ferocity And Helplessness 
 Were Oddly Blended. Then: 
   
   
   
 "Bryce," He Said, "Stay Here. I'M Going to Search The     House." 
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Turned again To The     Chinaman. 
   
   
   
 "Is There Anyone Upstairs?" He Demanded. 
   
   
   
 "Nobody Hate. Sin Sin Wa Alla Samee Lonesome. Catchee Shinum Him Joss." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 272 
   
 Kerry Dropped the     Handcuffs Back Into The     Pocket Of     His Overall And Took 
 Out An Electric Torch. With Never Another Glance At Sin Sin Wa He Went 
 Out Into The     Passage And Began To Mount The     Stairs, Presently Finding 
 Himself In a Room Filled with All Sorts Of     Unsavory Rubbish And 
 Containing a Large Cupboard. He Uttered an Exclamation Of     Triumph. 
   
   
   
 Crossing the     Littered floor, And Picking his Way Amid Broken Cane 
 Chairs, Tea-Chests, Discarded garments And Bedlaths, He Threw Open The 
 Cupboard Door. Before Him Hung A Row Of     Ragged clothes And A Number 
 Of Bowler Hats. Directing the     Ray Of     The     Torch Upon The     Unsavory 
 Collection, He Snatched coats And Hats From The     Hooks Upon Which They 
 Depended and Hurled them Impatiently Upon The     Floor. 
   
   
   
 When The     Cupboard Was Empty He Stepped into It And Began To Bang Upon 
 The Back. The     Savagery Of     His Expression Grew More Marked than Usual, 
 And As He Chewed his Maxillary Muscles Protruded extraordinarily. 
   
   
   
 "If Ever I Sounded a Brick Wall," He Muttered, "I'M Doing it Now." 
   
   
   
 Tap Where He Would--And He Tapped with His Knuckles And With The     Bone 
 Ferrule Of     His Cane--There Was Nothing in the     Resulting sound To Suggest 
 That That Part Of     The     Wall Behind The     Cupboard Was Less Solid Than Any 
 Other Part. 
   
   
   
 He Examined the     Room Rapidly, Then Passed into Another One Adjoining 
 It, Which Was Evidently Used as A Bedroom. The     Latter Faced towards 
 The Court And Did Not Come In contact With The     Wall Of     The     Neighboring 
 House. In both Rooms The     Windows Were Fastened, And Judging from 
 The State Of     The     Fasteners Were Never Opened. In that Containing the 
 Cupboard Outside Shutters Were Also Closed. Despite This Sealing-Up 
 Of The     Apartments, Traces Of     Fog Hung In the     Air. Kerry Descended the 
   
 Stairs. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 273 
   
 Snapping off The     Light Of     His Torch, He Stood, Feet Wide Apart, Staring 
 At Sin Sin Wa. The     Latter, Smiling imperturbably, Yellow Hands Resting 
 Upon Knees, Sat Quite Still On The     Tea-Chest. Constable Bryce Was 
 Seated on A Corner Of     The     Table, Looking curiously Awkward In his Tweed 
 Overcoat And Bowler Hat, Which Garments Quite Failed to Disguise The 
 Policeman. He Stood Up As Kerry Entered. Then: 
   
   
   
 "There Used to Be A Door Between This House And The     Next," Said Kerry 
 Succinctly. "My Information Is Exact And Given By Someone Who Has Often 
 Used that Door." 
   
   
   
 "Bloody Liar," Murmured sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 "What!" Shouted kerry. "What Did You Say, You Yellow-Faced mongrel!" 
   
   
   
 He Clenched his Fists And Strode Towards The     Chinaman. 
   
   
   
 "Sarcee Feller Catchee Pullee Leg," Explained the     Unmoved sin Sin Wa. 
 "Velly Bad Man Tellee Lie For Makee Bhoberry--Getchee Poor Chinaman In 
 Tlouble." 
   
   
   
 In The     Fog-Bound Silence Kerry Could Very Distinctly Be Heard Chewing. 
 He Turned suddenly To Bryce. 
   
   
   
 "Go Back And Fetch Two Men," He Directed. "I Should Never Find My Way." 
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir." 
   
   
   
 Bryce Stepped to The     Door, Unable To Hide The     Relief Which He 
   
 Experienced, And Opened it. The     Fog Was So Dense That It Looked like A 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 28 (The     Gilded joss) Pg 274 
 Yellow Curtain Hung In the     Opening. 
   
   
   
 "Phew!" Said Bryce. "I May Be Some Little Time, Sir." 
   
   
   
 "Quite Likely. But Don'T Stop To Pick Daisies." 
   
   
   
 The Constable Went Out, Closing the     Door. Kerry Laid His Cane On The 
 Table, Then Stooped and Tossed a Cud Of     Chewing-Gum Into The     Stove. From 
 His Waistcoat Pocket He Drew Out A Fresh Piece And Placed it Between His 
 Teeth. Drawing a Tea-Chest Closer To The     Stove, He Seated himself And 
 Stared intently Into The     Glowing heart Of     The     Fire. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Extended his Arm And Opened the     Little Cupboard. 
   
   
   
 "Number One P'Lice," Croaked the     Raven Drowsily. 
   
   
   
 "You Catchee Sleepee, Tling-A-Ling," Said Sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 He Took Out The     Green-Eyed joss, Set It Tenderly Upon A Corner Of     The 
 Table, And Closed the     Cupboard Door. With A Piece Of     Chamois Leather, 
 Which He Sometimes Dipped into A Little Square Tin, He Began To Polish 
 The Hideous Figure. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 Chapter Xxix. Doubts And Fears 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Raised his Head And Stared dully At Margaret Halley. It Was 
   
 Very Quiet In the     Library Of     The     Big Old-Fashioned house At Prince'S 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 29 (Doubts And Fears) Pg 275 
   
 Monte Irvin Raised his Head And Stared dully At Margaret Halley. It Was 
 Very Quiet In the     Library Of     The     Big Old-Fashioned house At Prince'S 
 Gate. A Faint Crackling sound Which Proceeded from The     Fire Was Clearly 
 Audible. Margaret'S Grey Eyes Were Anxiously Watching the     Man Whose 
 Pose As He Sat In the     Deep, Saddle-Back Chair So Curiously Suggested 
 Collapse. 
   
   
   
 "Drugs," He Whispered. "Drugs." 
   
   
   
 Few Of     His City Associates Would Have Recognized the     Voice; All Would 
 Have Been Shocked to See The     Change Which Had Taken Place In the     Man. 
   
   
   
 "You Really Understand Why I Have Told You, Mr. Irvin, Don'T You?" Said 
 Margaret Almost Pleadingly. "Dr. Burton Thought You Should Not Be Told, 
 But Then Dr. Burton Did Not Know You Were Going to Ask Me Point Blank. 
 And I Thought It Better That You Should Know The     Truth, Bad As It Is, 
 Rather Than--" 
   
   
   
 "Rather Than Suspect--Worse Things," Whispered irvin. "Of Course, You 
 Were Right, Miss Halley. I Am Very, Very Grateful To You For Telling 
 Me. I Realize What Courage It Must Have Called for. Believe Me, I Shall 
 Always Remember--" 
   
   
   
 He Broke Off, Staring across The     Room At His Wife'S Portrait. Then: 
   
   
   
 "If Only I Had Known," He Added. 
   
   
   
 Irvin Exhibited greater Composure Than Margaret Had Ventured to 
 Anticipate. She Was Confirmed in her Opinion That He Should Be Told The 
 Truth. 
   
   
   
 "I Would Have Told You Long Ago," She Said, "If I Had Thought That Any 
 Good Could Result From My Doing so. Frankly, I Had Hoped to Cure Rita Of 
 The Habit, And I Believe I Might Have Succeeded in time." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 29 (Doubts And Fears) Pg 276 
 "There Has Been No Mention Of     Drugs In connection With The     Case," Said 
 Monte Irvin, Speaking monotonously. "In The     Press, I Mean." 
   
   
   
 "Hitherto There Has Not," She Replied. "But There Is A Hint Of     It In one 
 Of This Evening'S Papers, And I Determined to Give You The     Exact Facts 
 So Far As They Are Known To Me Before Some Garbled account Came To Your 
 Ears." 
   
   
   
 "Thank You," He Said, "Thank You. I Had Felt For A Long Time That I Was 
 Getting out Of     Touch With Rita, That She Had Other Confidants. Have You 
 Any Idea Who They Were, Miss Halley?" 
   
   
   
 He Raised his Eyes, Looking at Her Pathetically. Margaret Hesitated, 
 Then: 
   
   
   
 "Well," She Replied, "I Am Afraid Nina Knew." 
   
   
   
 "Her Maid?" 
   
   
   
 "I Think She Must Have Known." 
   
   
   
 He Sighed. 
   
   
   
 "The Police Have Interrogated her," He Said. "Probably She Is Being 
 Watched." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I Don'T Think She Knows Anything about The     Drug Syndicate," 
 Declared margaret. "She Merely Acted as Confidential Messenger. Poor Sir 
 Lucien Pyne, I Am Sure, Was Addicted to Drugs." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 29 (Doubts And Fears) Pg 277 
 "Do You Think"--Irvin Spoke In a Very Low Voice--"Do You Think He Led 
 Her Into The     Habit?" 
   
   
   
 Margaret Bit Her Lip, Staring down At The     Red carpet. 
   
   
   
 "I Would Hate To Slander A Man Who Can Never Defend Himself," She 
 Replied finally. "But--I Have Sometimes Thought He Did." 
   
   
   
 Silence Fell. Both Were Contemplating a Theory Which Neither Dared to 
 Express In words. 
   
   
   
 "You See," Continued margaret, "It Is Evident That This Man Kazmah Was 
 Patronized by People So Highly Placed that It Is Hopeless To Look 
 For Information From Them. Again, Such People Have Influence. I Don'T 
 Suggest That They Are Using it To Protect Kazmah, But I Have No Doubt 
 They Are Doing so To Protect Themselves." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Raised his Eyes To Her Face. A Weary, Sad Look Had Come Into 
 Them. 
   
   
   
 "You Mean That It May Be To Somebody'S Interest To Hush Up The     Matter As 
 Much As Possible?" 
   
   
   
 Margaret Nodded her Head. 
   
   
   
 "The Prevalence Of     The     Drug Habit In society--Especially In london 
 Society--Is A Secret Which Has Remained hidden So Long From The     General 
 Public," She Replied, "That One Cannot Help Looking for Bribery And 
 Corruption. The     Stage Is Made The     Scapegoat Whenever The     Voice Of 
 Scandal Breathes The     Word 'Dope,' But We Rarely Hear The     Names Of     The 
 Worst Offenders Even Whispered. I Have Thought For A Long Time That The 
   
 Authorities Must Know The     Names Of     The     Receivers And Distributors Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 29 (Doubts And Fears) Pg 278 
 Cocaine, Veronal, Opium, And The     Other Drugs, Huge Quantities Of 
 Which Find Their Way Regularly To The     West End Of     London. Pharmacists 
 Sometimes Experience The     Greatest Difficulty In obtaining the     Drugs 
 Which They Legitimately Require, And The     Prices Have Increased 
 Extraordinarily. Cocaine, For Instance, Has Gone Up From Five And 
 Sixpence An Ounce To Eighty-Seven Shillings, And Heroin From Three And 
 Sixpence To Over Forty Shillings, While Opium That Was Once About Twenty 
 Shillings A Pound Is Now Eight Times The     Price." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Listened attentively. 
   
   
   
 "In The     Course Of     My Guildhall Duties," He Said Slowly, "I Have Been 
 Brought In contact Frequently With Police Officers Of     All Ranks. If 
 Influential People Are Really At Work Protecting these Villains Who Deal 
 Illicitly In drugs, I Don'T Think, And I Am Not Prepared to Believe, 
 That They Have Corrupted the     Police." 
   
   
   
 "Neither Do I Believe So, Mr. Irvin!" Said Margaret Eagerly. 
   
   
   
 "But," Irvin Pursued, Exhibiting greater Animation, "You Inform Me That 
 A Home Office Commissioner Has Been Appointed. What Does This Mean, If 
 Not That Lord Wrexborough Distrusts The     Police?" 
   
   
   
 "Well, You See, The     Police Seemed to Be Unable, Or Unwilling, To Do 
 Anything in the     Matter. Of     Course, This May Have Been Due To The 
 Fact That The     Traffic Was So Skilfully Handled that It Defied their 
 Inquiries." 
   
   
   
 "Take, As An Instance, Chief Inspector Kerry," Continued irvin. "He Has 
 Exhibited the     Utmost Delicacy And Consideration In his Dealings With Me, 
 But I'Ll Swear That A Whiter Man Never Breathed." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Really, Mr. Irvin, I Don'T Think For A Moment That Men Of     That 
 Class Are Suspected of     Being concerned. Indeed, I Don'T Believe Any 
 Active Collusion Is Suspected at All." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 29 (Doubts And Fears) Pg 279 
   
 "Lord Wrexborough Thinks That Scotland Yard Hasn'T Got An Officer Clever 
 Enough For The     Dope People?" 
   
   
   
 "Quite Possibly." 
   
   
   
 "I Take It That He Has Put Up A Secret Service Man?" 
   
   
   
 "I Believe--That Is, I Know He Has." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Was Watching margaret'S Face, And Despite The     Dull Misery 
 Which Deadened his Usually Quick Perceptions, He Detected a Heightened 
 Color And A Faint Change Of     Expression. He Did Not Question Her Further 
 Upon The     Point, But: 
   
   
   
 "God Knows I Welcome All The     Help That Offers," He Said. "Lord 
 Wrexborough Is Your Uncle, Miss Halley; But Do You Think This Secret 
 Commission Business Quite Fair To Scotland Yard?" 
   
   
   
 Margaret Stared for Some Moments At The     Carpet, Then Raised her Grey 
 Eyes And Looked earnestly At The     Speaker. She Had Learned in the     Brief 
 Time That Had Elapsed since This Black Sorrow Had Come Upon Him To 
 Understand What It Was In the     Character Of     Monte Irvin Which Had 
 Attracted rita. It Afforded an Illustration Of     That Obscure Law 
 Governing the     Magnetism Which Subsists Between Diverse Natures. For Not 
 All The     Agony Of     Mind Which He Suffered could Hide Or Mar The     Cleanness 
 And Honesty Of     Purpose Which Were Monte Irvin'S Outstanding qualities. 
   
   
   
 "No," Margaret Replied, "Honestly, I Don'T. And I Feel Rather Guilty 
 About It, Too, Because I Have Been Urging uncle To Take Such A Step 
 For Quite A Long Time. You See"--She Glanced at Irvin Wistfully--"I Am 
 Brought In contact With So Many Victims Of     The     Drug Habit. I Believe The 
   
 Police Are Hampered; And These People Who Deal In drugs Manage In some 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 29 (Doubts And Fears) Pg 280 
 Way To Evade The     Law. The     Home Office Agent Will Report To A Committee 
 Appointed by Lord Wrexborough, And Then, You See, If It Is Found 
 Necessary To Do So, There Will Be Special Legislation." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Sighed wearily, And His Glance Strayed in the     Direction Of 
 The Telephone On The     Side-Table. He Seemed to Be Constantly Listening 
 For Something which He Expected but Dreaded to Hear. Whenever The     Toy 
 Spaniel Which Lay Curled up On The     Rug Before The     Fire Moved or Looked 
 Towards The     Door, Irvin Started and His Expression Changed. 
   
   
   
 "This Suspense," He Said Jerkily, "This Suspense Is So Hard To Bear." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Mr. Irvin, Your Courage Is Wonderful," Replied margaret Earnestly. 
 "But He"--She Hastily Corrected herself--"Everybody Is Convinced that 
 Rita Is Safe. Under Some Strange Misapprehension Regarding this Awful 
 Tragedy She Has Run Away Into Hiding. Probably She Has Been Induced to 
 Do So By Those Interested in preventing her From Giving evidence." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin'S Eyes Lighted up Strangely. "Is That The     Opinion Of     The 
 Home Office Agent?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
   
 "Inspector Kerry Shares It," Declared irvin. "Please God They Are 
 Right." 
   
   
   
 "It Is The     Only Possible Explanation," Said Margaret. "Any Hour Now We 
 May Expect News Of     Her." 
   
   
   
 "You Don'T Think," Pursued monte Irvin, "That Anybody--Anybody--Suspects 
 Rita Of     Being concerned in the     Death Of     Sir Lucien?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 29 (Doubts And Fears) Pg 281 
   
 He Fixed a Gaze Of     Pathetic Inquiry Upon Her Face. 
   
   
   
 "Of Course Not!" She Cried. "How Ridiculous It Would Be." 
   
   
   
 "Yes," He Murmured, "It Would Be Ridiculous." 
   
   
   
 Margaret Stood Up. 
   
   
   
 "I Am Quite Relieved now That I Have Done What I Conceived to Be My 
 Duty, Mr. Irvin," She Said. "And, Bad As The     Truth May Be, It Is Better 
 Than Doubt, After All. You Must Look After Yourself, You Know. When Rita 
 Comes Back We Shall Have A Big Task Before Us To Wean Her From Her Old 
 Habits." She Met His Glance Frankly. "But We Shall Succeed." 
   
   
   
 "How You Cheer Me," Whispered monte Irvin Emotionally. "You Are The 
 Truest Friend That Rita Ever Had, Miss Halley. You Will Keep In touch 
 With Me, Will You Not?" 
   
   
   
 "Of Course. Next To Yourself There Is No One So Sincerely Interested 
 As I Am. I Love Rita As I Should Have Loved a Sister If I Had Had One. 
 Please Don'T Stand Up. Dr. Burton Has Told You To Avoid All Exertion For 
 A Week Or More, I Know." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Grasped her Outstretched hand. 
   
   
   
 "Any News Which Reaches Me," He Said, "I Will Communicate Immediately. 
 Thank You. In times Of     Trouble We Learn To Know Our Real Friends." 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 30 (The     Fight In the     Dark) Pg 282 
   
   
 Towards Eleven O'Clock At Night The     Fog Began Slightly To Lift. As Kerry 
 Crossed the     Bridge Over Limehouse Canal He Could Vaguely Discern The 
 Dirty Water Below, And Street Lamps Showed dimly, Surrounded each By A 
 Halo Of     Yellow Mist. Fog Signals Were Booming on The     Railway, And From 
 The Great Docks In the     Neighborhood Mechanical Clashings And Hammerings 
 Were Audible. 
   
   
   
 Turning to The     Right, Kerry Walked on For Some Distance, And Then 
 Suddenly Stepped into The     Entrance To A Narrow Cul-De-Sac And Stood 
 Quite Still. 
   
   
   
 A Conviction Had Been Growing upon Him During the     Past Twelve Hours 
 That Someone Was Persistently And Cleverly Dogging his Footsteps. He 
 Had First Detected the     Presence Of     This Mysterious Follower Outside The 
 House Of     Sin Sin Wa, But The     Density Of     The     Fog Had Made It Impossible 
 For Him To Obtain A Glimpse Of     The     Man'S Face. He Was Convinced, Too, 
 That He Had Been Followed back To Leman Street, And From There To New 
 Scotland Yard. Now, Again He Became Aware Of     This Persistent Presence, 
 And Hoped at Last To Confront The     Spy. 
   
   
   
 Below Footsteps, The     Footsteps Of     Someone Proceeding with The     Utmost 
 Caution, Came Along The     Pavement. Kerry Stood Close To The     Wall Of     The 
 Court, One Hand In a Pocket Of     His Overall, Waiting and Chewing. 
   
   
   
 Nearer Came The     Footsteps--And Nearer. A Shadowy Figure Appeared only A 
 Yard Or So Away From The     Watchful Chief Inspector. Thereupon He Acted. 
   
   
   
 With One Surprising spring he Hurled himself Upon The     Unprepared man, 
 Grasped him By His Coat Collar, And Shone The     Light Of     An Electric Torch 
   
 Fully Into His Face. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter30 (The     Fight In the     Dark) Pg 283 
   
   
   
 "Hell!" He Snapped. "The Smart From Spinker'S!" 
   
   
   
 The Ray Of     The     Torch Lighted up The     Mean, Pinched face Of     Brisley, 
 Blanched now By Fright, Gleamed upon The     Sharp, Hooked nose And Into The 
 Cunning little Brown Eyes. Brisley Licked his Lips. In kerry'S Muscular 
 Grip He Bore Quite A Remarkable Resemblance To A Rat In the     Jaws Of     A 
 Terrier. 
   
   
   
 "Ho, Ho!" Continued the     Chief Inspector, Showing his Teeth Savagely. "So 
 We Let Scotland Yard Make The     Pie, And Then We Steal All The     Plums, Do 
 We?" 
   
   
   
 He Shook The     Frightened man Until Brisley'S Broad-Brimmed bowler Was 
 Shaken Off, Revealing the     Receding brow And Scanty Neutral-Colored hair. 
   
   
   
 "We Let Scotland Yard Work Night And Day, And Then We Present Our 
 Rat-Faced selves To Mr. Monte Irvin And Say We Have 'Found The     Lady' Do 
 We?" Another Vigorous Shake Followed. "We Track Chief Inspectors Of 
 The Criminal Investigation Department, Do We? We Do, Eh? We Are Dirty, 
 Skulking mongrels, Aren'T We? We Require To Be Kicked from Limehouse To 
 Paradise, Don'T We?" He Suddenly Released brisley. "So We Shall Be!" He 
 Shouted furiously. 
   
   
   
 Hot Upon The     Promise Came The     Deed. 
   
   
   
 Brisley Sent Up A Howl Of     Pain As Kerry'S Right Brogue Came Into Violent 
 Contact With His Person. The     Assault Almost Lifted him Off His Feet, And 
 Hatless As He Was He Set Off, Running as A Man Runs Whose Life Depends 
   
 Upon His Speed. The     Sound Of     His Pattering footsteps Was Echoed from 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 30 (The     Fight In the     Dark)  Pg 284 
 Wall To Wall Of     The     Cul-De-Sac Until Finally It Was Swallowed up In the 
 Fog. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stood Listening for Some Moments, Then, Directing a Furious Kick 
 Upon The     Bowler Which Lay At His Feet, He Snapped off The     Light Of 
 The Torch And Pursued his Way. The     Lesser Mystery Was Solved, But The 
 Greater Was Before Him. 
   
   
   
 He Had Made A Careful Study Of     The     Geography Of     The     Neighborhood, And 
 Although The     Fog Was Still Dense Enough To Be Confusing, He Found His 
 Way Without Much Difficulty To The     Street For Which He Was Bound. 
 Some Fifteen Paces Along The     Narrow Thoroughfare He Came Upon Someone 
 Standing by A Closed door Set In a High Brick Wall. The     Street Contained 
 No Dwelling houses, And Except For The     Solitary Figure By The     Door Was 
 Deserted and Silent. Kerry Took Out His Torch And Shone A White Ring 
 Upon The     Smiling countenance Of     Detective-Sergeant Coombes. 
   
   
   
 "If That Smile Gets Any Worse," He Said Irritably, "They'Ll Have To Move 
 Your Ears Back. Anything to Report?" 
   
   
   
 "Sin Sin Wa Went To Bed an Hour Ago." 
   
   
   
 "Any Visitors?" 
   
   
   
 "No." 
   
   
   
 "Has He Been Out?" 
   
   
   
 "No." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 30 (The     Fight In the     Dark)  Pg 285 
 "Got The     Ladder?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
   
 "All Quiet In the     Neighborhood?" 
   
   
   
 "All Quiet." 
   
   
   
 "Good." 
   
   
   
 The Street In which This Conversation Took Place Was One Running roughly 
 Parallel With That In which The     House Of     Sin Sin Wa Was Situated. A 
 Detailed search Of     The     Chinaman'S Premises Had Failed to Bring to Light 
 Any Scrap Of     Evidence To Show That Opium Had Ever Been Smoked there. Of 
 The Door Described by Mollie Gretna, And Said To Communicate With The 
 Adjoining establishment, Not A Trace Could Be Found. But The     Fact That 
 Such A Door Had Existed did Not Rest Solely Upon Mollie'S Testimony. 
 From One Of     The     "Beat-Ups" Interviewed that Day, Kerry Had Succeeded in 
 Extracting confirmatory Evidence. 
   
   
   
 Inquiries Conducted in the     Neighborhood Of     Poplar Had Brought To Light 
 The Fact That Four Of     The     Houses In this Particular Street, Including 
 That Occupied by Sin Sin Wa And That Adjoining it, Belonged to A Certain 
 Mr. Jacobs, Said To Reside Abroad. Mr. Jacob'S Rents Were Collected 
 By An Estate Agent, And Sent To An Address In san Francisco. For Some 
 Reason Not Evident To This Man Of     Business, Mr. Jacobs Demanded a Rental 
 For The     House Next To Sin Sin Wa'S, Which Was Out Of     All Proportion To 
 The Value Of     The     Property. Hence It Had Remained vacant For A Number Of 
 Years. The     Windows Were Broken And Boarded up, As Was The     Door. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 30 (The     Fight In the     Dark) Pg 286 
 Kerry Realized that The     Circumstance Of     The     Landlord Of     "The House Of 
 A Hundred raptures" Being named jacobs, And The     Lessee Of     The     Cubanis 
 Cigarette Company'S Premises In old Bond Street Being named isaacs, 
 Might Be No More Than A Coincidence. Nevertheless It Was Odd. He 
 Had Determined to Explore The     Place Without Unduly Advertising his 
 Intentions. 
   
   
   
 Two Modes Of     Entrance Presented themselves. There Was A Trap On The 
 Roof, But In order To Reach It Access Would Have To Be Obtained to One 
 Of The     Other Houses In the     Row, Which Also Possessed a Roof-Trap; Or 
 There Were Four Windows Overlooking a Little Back Yard, Two Upstairs And 
 Two Down. 
   
   
   
 By Means Of     A Short Ladder Which Coombes Had Brought For The     Purpose 
 Kerry Climbed on To The     Wall And Dropped into The     Yard. 
   
   
   
 "The Jemmy!" He Said Softly. 
   
   
   
 Coombes, Also Mounting, Dropped the     Required implement. Kerry Caught It 
 Deftly, And In a Very Few Minutes Had Wrenched away The     Rough Planking 
 Nailed over One Of     The     Lower Windows, Without Making very Much Noise. 
   
   
   
 "Shall I Come Down?" Inquired coombes In muffled tones From The     Top Of 
 The Wall. 
   
   
   
 "No," Rapped kerry. "Hide The     Ladder Again. If I Want Help I'Ll Whistle. 
 Catch!" 
   
   
   
   
 He Tossed the     Jemmy Up To Coombes, And Coombes Succeeded in catching it. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 30 (The     Fight In the     Dark) Pg 287 
 Then Kerry Raised the     Glass-Less Sash Of     The     Window And Stepped into A 
 Little Room, Which He Surveyed by The     Light Of     His Electric Torch. It 
 Was Filthy And Littered with Rubbish, But Showed no Sign Of     Having been 
 Occupied for A Long Time. The     Ceiling was Nearly Black, And So Were The 
 Walls. He Went Out Into A Narrow Passage Similar To That In the     House Of 
 Sin Sin Wa And Leading to A Stair. 
   
   
   
 Walking quietly, He Began To Ascend. Mollie Gretna'S Description Of     The 
 Opium-House Had Been Most Detailed and Lurid, And He Was Prepared for 
 Some Extravagant Scene. 
   
   
   
 He Found Three Bare, Dirty Rooms, Having all The     Windows Boarded up. 
   
   
   
 "Hell!" He Said Succinctly. 
   
   
   
 Resting his Torch Upon A Dust-Coated ledge Of     The     Room, Which 
 Presumably Was Situated in the     Front Of     The     House, He Deposited a Cud Of 
 Chewing-Gum In the     Empty Grate And Lovingly Selected a Fresh Piece From 
 The Packet Which He Always Carried. Once More Chewing he Returned to The 
 Narrow Passage, Which He Knew Must Be That In which The     Secret Doorway 
 Had Opened. 
   
   
   
 It Was Uncarpeted and Dirty, And The     Walls Were Covered with Faded 
 Filthy Paper, The     Original Color And Design Of     Which Were Quite Lost. 
 There Was Not The     Slightest Evidence That A Door Had Ever Existed in any 
 Part Of     The     Wall. Following a Detailed examination Kerry Returned his 
 Magnifying glass To The     Washleather Bag And The     Bag To His Waistcoat 
 Pocket. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 30 (The     Fight In the     Dark) Pg 288 
 H'M," He Said, Thinking aloud, "Sin Sin Wa May Have Only One Eye, But 
 It'S A Good Eye." 
   
   
   
 He Raised his Glance To The     Blackened ceiling of     The     Passage, And Saw 
 That The     Trap Giving access To The     Roof Was Situated immediately Above 
 Him. He Directed the     Ray Of     The     Torch Upon It. In the     Next Moment He Had 
 Snapped off The     Light And Was Creeping silently Towards The     Door Of     The 
 Front Room. 
   
   
   
 The Trap Had Moved slightly! 
   
   
   
 Gaining the     Doorway, Kerry Stood Just Inside The     Room And Waited. He 
 Became Conscious Of     A Kind Of     Joyous Excitement, Which Claimed him At 
 Such Moments; An Eagerness And A Lust Of     Action. But He Stood Perfectly 
 Still, Listening and Waiting. 
   
   
   
 There Came A Faint Creaking sound, And A New Damp Chilliness Was Added 
 To The     Stale Atmosphere Of     The     Passage. Someone Had Quietly Raised the 
 Trap. 
   
   
   
 Cutting through The     Blackness Like A Scimitar Shone A Ray Of     Light 
 From Above, Widening as It Descended and Ending in a White Patch On 
 The Floor. It Was Moved to And Fro. Then It Disappeared. Another Vague 
 Creaking sound Followed--That Caused by A Man'S Weight Being imposed 
 Upon A Wooden Framework. 
   
   
   
 Finally Came A Thud On The     Bare Boards Of     The     Floor. 
   
   
   
 Complete Silence Ensued. Kerry Waited, Muscles Tense And Brain Alert. He 
   
 Even Suspended the     Chewing operation. A Dull, Padding sound Reached his 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 30 (The     Fight In the     Dark)  Pg 289 
 Ears. 
   
   
   
 From The     Quality Of     The     Thud Which Had Told Of     The     Intruder'S Drop 
 From The     Trap To The     Floor, Kerry Had Deduced that He Wore Rubber-Soled 
 Shoes. Now, The     Sound Which He Could Hear Was That Of     The     Stranger'S 
 Furtive Footsteps. He Was Approaching the     Doorway In which Kerry Was 
 Standing. 
   
   
   
 Just Behind The     Open Door Kerry Waited. And Unheralded by Any Further 
 Sound To Tell Of     His Approach, The     Intruder Suddenly Shone A Ray Of 
 Light Right Into The     Room. He Was On The     Threshold; Only The     Door 
 Concealed him From Kerry, And Concealed kerry From The     New-Comer. 
   
   
   
 The Disc Of     Light Cast Into The     Dirty Room Grew Smaller. The     Man With 
 The Torch Was Entering. A Hand Which Grasped a Magazine Pistol Appeared 
 Beyond The     Edge Of     The     Door, And Kerry'S Period Of     Inactivity Came To An 
 End. Leaning back He Adroitly Kicked the     Weapon From The     Hand Of     The     Man 
 Who Held It! 
   
   
   
 There Was A Smothered cry Of     Pain, And The     Pistol Fell Clattering on 
 The Floor. The     Light Went Out, Too. As It Vanished kerry Leapt From His 
 Hiding-Place. Snapping on The     Light Of     His Own Pocket Lamp, He Ran Out 
 Into The     Passage. 
   
   
   
 Crack! Came The     Report Of     A Pistol. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Dropped flat On The     Floor. He Had Not Counted on The     Intruder 
 Being armed with Two Pistols! His Pocket Lamp, Still Alight, Fell Beside 
 Him, And He Lay In a Curiously Rigid Attitude On His Side, One Knee 
   
 Drawn Up And His Arm Thrown Across His Face. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 30 (The     Fight In the     Dark) ) Pg 290 
   
 Carefully Avoiding the     Path Of     Light Cast By The     Fallen Torch, The 
 Unseen Stranger Approached silently. Pistol In hand, He Bent, Nearer And 
 Nearer, Striving to See The     Face Of     The     Prostrate Man. Kerry Lay Deathly 
 Still. The     Other Dropped on One Knee And Bent Closely Over Him.... 
   
   
   
 Swiftly As A Lash Kerry'S Arm Was Whipped around The     Man'S Neck, And 
 Helpless He Pitched over On To His Head! Uttering a Dull Groan, He Lay 
 Heavy And Still Across Kerry'S Body. 
   
   
   
 "Flames!" Muttered the     Chief Inspector, Extricating himself; "I Didn'T 
 Mean To Break His Neck." 
   
   
   
 He Took Up The     Electric Torch, And Shone It Upon The     Face Of     The     Man On 
 The Floor. It Was A Dirty, Unshaven Face, Unevenly Tanned, As Though 
 The Man Had Worn A Beard Until Quite Recently And Had Come From A Hot 
 Climate. He Was Attired in a Manner Which Suggested that He Might Be A 
 Ship'S Fireman Save That He Wore Canvas Shoes Having rubber Soles. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stood Watching him For Some Moments. Then He Groped behind Him 
 With One Foot Until He Found The     Pistol, The     Second Pistol Which The     Man 
 Had Dropped as He Pitched on His Skull. Kerry Picked it Up, And Resting 
 The Electric Torch Upon The     Crown Of     His Neat Bowler Hat--Which Lay Upon 
 The Floor--He Stooped, Pistol In hand, And Searched the     Pockets Of     The 
 Prostrate Man, Who Had Begun To Breathe Stertorously. In the     Breast 
 Pocket He Found A Leather Wallet Of     Good Quality; And At This He Stared, 
 A Curious Expression Coming into His Fierce Eyes. He Opened it, And 
 Found Treasury Notes, Some Official-Looking papers, And A Number Of 
 Cards. Upon One Of     These Cards Be Directed the     Light, And This Is What 
 He Read: 
   
   
   
     Lord Wrexborough 
   
     Great Cumberland Place, V. 1 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 30 (The     Fight In the     Dark)  Pg 291 
     "To Introduce 719. W." 
   
   
   
 "God'S Truth!" Gasped kerry. "It'S The     Man From Whitehall!" 
   
   
   
 The Stertorous Breathing ceased, And A Very Dirty Hand Was Thrust Up To 
 Him. 
   
   
   
 "I'M Glad You Spoke, Chief Inspector Kerry," Drawled a Vaguely Familiar 
 Voice. "I Was Just About To Kick You In the     Back Of     The     Neck!" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Dropped the     Wallet And Grasped the     Proffered hand. "719" Stood 
 Up, Smiling grimly. Footsteps Were Clattering on The     Stairs. Coombes Had 
 Heard The     Shot. 
   
   
   
 "Sir," Said Kerry, "If Ever You Need a Testimonial To Your Efficiency 
 At This Game, My Address Is Sixty-Seven Spenser Road, Brixton. We'Ve Met 
 Before." 
   
   
   
 "We Have, Chief Inspector," Was The     Reply. "We Met At Kazmah'S, And 
 Later At A Certain Gambling den In soho." 
   
   
   
 The Pseudo Fireman Dragged a Big Cigar-Case From His Hip-Pocket. 
   
   
   
 "I'M Known As Seton Pasha. Can I Offer You A Cheroot?" 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 31 ( The     Story Of     719)  Pg 292 
 In A Top Back Room Of     The     End House In the     Street Which Also Boasted the 
 Residence Of     Sin Sin Wa, Seton Pasha And Chief Inspector Kerry Sat One 
 On Either Side Of     A Dirty Deal Table. Seton Smoked and Kerry Chewed. A 
 Smoky Oil-Lamp Burned upon The     Table, And Two Notebooks Lay Beside It. 
   
   
   
 "It Is Certainly Odd," Seton Was Saying, "That You Failed to Break My 
 Neck. But I Have Made It A Practice Since Taking up My Residence Here 
 To Wear A Cap Heavily Padded. I Apprehend Sandbags And Pieces Of     Loaded 
 Tubing." 
   
   
   
 "The Tube Is Not Made," Declared kerry, "Which Can Do The     Job. You'Re 
 Harder To Kill Than A Chinese-Jew." 
   
   
   
 "Your Own Escape Is Almost Equally Remarkable," Added seton. "I Rarely 
 Miss At Such Short Range. But You Had Nearly Broken My Wrist With That 
 Kick." 
   
   
   
 "I'M Sorry," Said Kerry. "You Should Always Bang A Door Wide Open 
 Suddenly Before You Enter Into A Suspected room. Anybody Standing behind 
 Usually Stops It With His Head." 
   
   
   
 "I Am Indebted for The     Hint, Chief Inspector. We All Have Something to 
 Learn." 
   
   
   
 "Well, Sir, We'Ve Laid Our Cards On The     Table, And You'Ll Admit We'Ve 
 Both Got A Lot To Learn Before We See Daylight. I'Ll Be Obliged if 
 You'Ll Put Me Wise To Your Game. I Take It You Began Work On The     Very 
 Night Of     The     Murder?" 
   
   
   
 "I Did. By A Pure Accident--The Finding of     An Opiated cigarette In mr. 
   
 Gray'S Rooms--I Perceived that The     Business Which Had Led to My Recall 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 31 ( The     Story Of     719)  Pg 293 
 From The     East Was Involved in the     Bond Street Mystery. Frankly, Chief 
 Inspector, I Doubted at That Time If It Were Possible For You And Me To 
 Work Together. I Decided to Work Alone. A Beard Which I Had Worn In the 
 East, For Purposes Of     Disguise, I Shaved off; And Because The     Skin Was 
 Whiter Where The     Hair Had Grown Than Elsewhere, I Found It Necessary 
 After Shaving to Powder My Face Heavily. This Accounts For The 
 Description Given To You Of     A Man With A Pale Face. Even Now The 
 Coloring is Irregular, As You May Notice. 
   
   
   
 "Deciding to Work Anonymously, I Went Post Haste To Lord Wrexhorough 
 And Made Certain Arrangements Whereby I Became Known To The     Responsible 
 Authorities As 719. The     Explanation Of     These Figures Is A Simple One. My 
 Name Is Greville Seton. G Is The     Seventh Letter In the     Alphabet, And S 
 The Nineteenth; Hence--'Seven-Nineteen.' 
   
   
   
 "The Increase Of     The     Drug Traffic And The     Failure Of     The     Police To Cope 
 With It Had Led to The     Institution Of     A Home Office Inquiry, You See. 
 It Was Suspected that The     Traffic Was In the     Hands Of     Orientals, And In 
 Looking about For A Confidential Agent To Make Certain Inquiries My Name 
 Cropped up. I Was At That Time Employed by The     Foreign Office, But Lord 
 Wrexborough Borrowed me." Seton Smiled at His Own Expression. "Every 
 Facility Was Offered to Me, As You Know. And That My Investigations Led 
 Me To The     Same Conclusion As Your Own, My Presence As Lessee Of     This 
 Room, In the     Person Of     John Smiles, Seaman, Sufficiently Demonstrates." 
   
   
   
 "H'M," Said Kerry, "And I Take It Your Investigations Have Also Led you 
 To The     Conclusion That Our Hands Are Clean?" 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Fixed his Cool Regard Upon The     Speaker. 
   
   
   
 "Personally, I Never Doubted this, Chief Inspector," He Declared. "I 
   
 Believed, And I Still Believe, That The     People Who Traffic In drugs Are 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 31 ( The     Story Of     719)  Pg 294 
 Clever Enough To Keep In the     Good Books Of     The     Local Police. It Is A 
 Case Of     Clever Camouflage, Rather Than Corruption." 
   
   
   
 "Ah," Snapped kerry. "I Was Waiting to Hear You Mention It. So Long As 
 We Know. I'M Not A Man That Stands For Being pointed at. I'Ve Got A 
 Boy At A Good Public School, But If Ever He Said He Was Ashamed of     His 
 Father, The     Day He Said It Would Be A Day He'D Never Forget!" 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Smiled grimly And Changed the     Topic. 
   
   
   
 "Let Us See," He Said, "If We Are Any Nearer To The     Heart Of     The     Mystery 
 Of Kazmah. You Were At The     Regent Street Bank Today, I Understand, At 
 Which The     Late Sir Lucien Pyne Had An Account?" 
   
   
   
 "I Was," Replied kerry. "Next To His Theatrical Enterprises His Chief 
 Source Of     Income Seems To Have Been A Certain Jose Santos Company, Of 
 Buenos Ayres. We'Ve Traced kazmah'S Account, Too. But No One At The     Bank 
 Has Ever Seen Him. The     Missing rashid Always Paid In. Checks Were Signed 
 'Mohammed el-Kazmah,' In which Name The     Account Had Been Opened. From 
 The Amount Standing to His Credit There It'S Evident That The     Proceeds 
 Of The     Dope Business Went Elsewhere." 
   
   
   
 "Where Do You Think They Went?" Asked seton Quietly, Watching kerry. 
   
   
   
 "Well," Rapped kerry, "I Think The     Same As You. I'Ve Got Two Eyes And I 
 Can See Out Of     Both Of     Them." 
   
   
   
 "And You Think?" 
   
   
   
 "I Think They Went To The     Jose Santos Company, Of     Buenos Ayres!" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 31 ( The     Story Of     719)  Pg 295 
   
   
 "Right!" Cried seton. "I Feel Sure Of     It. We May Never Know How It Was 
 All Arranged or Who Was Concerned, But I Am Convinced that Mr. Isaacs, 
 Lessee Of     The     Cubanis Cigarette Company Offices, Mr. Jacobs (My 
 Landlord!), Mohammed el-Kazmah--Whoever He May Be--The Untraceable 
 Mrs. Sin Sin Wa, And Another, Were All Shareholders Of     The     Jose Santos 
 Company." 
   
   
   
 "I'M With You. By 'Another' You Mean?" 
   
   
   
 "Sir Lucien! It'S Horrible, But I'M Afraid It'S True." 
   
   
   
 They Became Silent For A While. Kerry Chewed and Seton Smoked. Then: 
   
   
   
 "The Significance Of     The     Fact That Sir Lucien'S Study Window Was No 
 More Than Forty Paces Across The     Leads From A Well-Oiled window Of     The 
 Cubanis Company Will Not Have Escaped you," Said Seton. "I Performed 
 The Journey Just Ahead Of     You, I Believe. Then Sir Lucien Had Lived in 
 Buenos Ayres; That Was Before He Came Into The     Title, And At A Time, I 
 Am Told, When He Was Not Overburdened with Wealth. His Man, Mareno, 
 Is Indisputably Some Kind Of     A South American, And He Can Give No 
 Satisfactory Account Of     His Movements On The     Night Of     The     Murder. 
   
   
   
 "That We Have To Deal With A Powerful Drug Syndicate There Can Be No 
 Doubt. The     Late Sir Lucien May Not Have Been A Director, But I Feel Sure 
 He Was Financially Interested. Kazmah'S Was The     Distributing office, And 
 The Importer--" 
   
   
   
 "Was Sin Sin Wa!" Cried kerry, His Eyes Gleaming savagely. "He'S As 
 Clever And Cunning as All The     Rest Of     Chinatown Put Together. Somewhere 
   
 Not A Hundred miles From This Spot Where We Are Now There'S A Store Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 31 ( The     Story Of     719)  Pg 296 
 Stuff Big Enough To Dope All Europe!" 
   
   
   
 "And There'S Something else," Said Seton Quietly, Knocking a Cone Of 
 Grey Ash From His Cheroot On To The     Dirty Floor. "Kazmah Is Hiding there 
 In All Probability, If He Hasn'T Got Clear Away--And Mrs. Monte Irvin Is 
 Being held A Prisoner!" 
   
   
   
 "If They Haven'T--" 
   
   
   
 "For Irvin'S Sake I Hope Not, Chief Inspector. There Are Two Very 
 Curious Points In the     Case--Apart From The     Mystery Which Surrounds The 
 Man Kazmah: The     Fact That Mareno, Palpably An Accomplice, Stayed to Face 
 The Music, And The     Fact That Sin Sin Wa Likewise Has Made No Effort To 
 Escape. Do You See What It Means? They Are Covering the     Big Man--Kazmah. 
 Once He And Mrs. Irvin Are Out Of     The     Way, We Can Prove Nothing against 
 Mareno And Sin Sin Wa! And The     Most We Could Do For Mrs. Sin Would Be To 
 Convict Her Of     Selling opium." 
   
   
   
 "To Do Even That We Should Have To Take A Witness To Court," Said Kerry 
 Gloomily; "And All The     Satisfaction We'D Get Would Be To See Her Charged 
 Ten Pounds!" 
   
   
   
 Silence Fell Between Them Again. It Was That Kind Of     Sympathetic Silence 
 Which Is Only Possible Where Harmony Exists; And, Indeed, Of     All The 
 Things Strange And Bizarre Which Characterized the     Inquiry, This Sudden 
 Amity Between Kerry And Seton Pasha Was Not The     Least Remarkable. It 
 Represented the     Fruit Of     A Mutual Respect. 
   
   
   
 There Was Something about The     Lean, Unshaven Face Of     Seton Pasha, And 
 Something, Too, In his Bright Grey Eyes Which, Allowing for Difference 
   
 Of Coloring, Might Have Reminded a Close Observer Of     Kerry'S Fierce 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 31 ( The     Story Of     719)  Pg 297 
 Countenance. The     Tokens Of     Iron Determination And Utter Indifference To 
 Danger Were Perceptible In both. And Although Seton Was Dark And Turning 
 Slightly Grey, While Kerry Was As Red as A Man Well Could Be, That 
 They Possessed several Common Traits Of     Character Was A Fact Which The 
 Dissimilarity Of     Their Complexions Wholly Failed to Conceal. But While 
 Seton Pasha Hid The     Grimness Of     His Nature Beneath A Sort Of     Humorous 
 Reserve, The     Dangerous Side Of     Kerry Was Displayed in his Open 
 Truculence. 
   
   
   
 Seated there In that Limehouse Attic, A Smoky Lamp Burning on The     Table 
 Between Them, And One Gripping the     Stump Of     A Cheroot Between His Teeth, 
 While The     Other Chewed steadily, They Presented a Combination Which None 
 But A Fool Would Have Lightly Challenged. 
   
   
   
 "Sin Sin Wa Is Cunning," Said Seton Suddenly. "He Is A Very Clever Man. 
 Watch Him As Closely As You Like, He Will Never Lead You To The     'Store.' 
 In The     Character Of     John Smiles I Had Some Conversation With Him This 
 Morning, And I Formed the     Same Opinion As Yourself. He Is Waiting for 
 Something; And He Is Certain Of     His Ground. I Have A Premonition, Chief 
 Inspector, That Whoever Else May Fall Into The     Net, Sin Sin Wa Will Slip 
 Out. We Have One Big Chance." 
   
   
   
 "What'S That?" Rapped kerry. 
   
   
   
 "The Dope Syndicate Can Only Have Got Control Of     'The Traffic' In one 
 Way--By Paying big Prices And Buying out Competitors. If They Cease To 
 Carry On For Even A Week They Lose Their Control. The     People Who Bring 
 The Stuff Over From Japan, South America, India, Holland, And So Forth 
 Will Sell Somewhere Else If They Can'T Sell To Kazmah And Company. 
 Therefore We Want To Watch The     Ships From Likely Ports, Or, Better 
 Still, Get Among The     Men Who Do The     Smuggling. There Must Be Resorts 
   
 Along The     Riverside Used by People Of     That Class. We Might Pick Up 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 31 ( The     Story Of     719)  Pg 298 
 Information There." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Smiled savagely. 
   
   
   
 "I'Ve Got Half A Dozen Good Men Doing every Dive From Wapping to 
 Gravesend," He Answered. "But If You Think It Worth Looking into 
 Personally, Say The     Word." 
   
   
   
 "Well, My Dear Sir,"--Seton Pasha Tossed the     End Of     His Cheroot Into The 
 Empty Grate--"What Else Can We Do?" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Banged his Fist On The     Table. 
   
   
   
 "You'Re Right!" He Snapped. "We'Re Stuck! But Anything'S Better Than 
 Nothing. We'Ll Start Here And Now; And The     First Joint We'Ll Make For Is 
 Dougal'S." 
   
   
   
 "Dougal'S?" Echoed seton Pasha. 
   
   
   
 "That'S It--Dougal'S. A Danger Spot On The     Isle Of     Dogs Used by The 
 Lowest Type Of     Sea-Faring men And Not Barred to Arabs, Chinks, And Other 
 Gaily-Colored fowl. If There'S Any Chat Going on About Dope, We'Ll Hear 
 It In dougal'S." 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Stood Up, Smiling grimly. "Dougal'S It Shall Be," He Said. 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 299 
   
   
 As The     Police Beat Left Limehouse Pier, A Clammy South-Easterly Breeze 
 Blowing up-Stream Lifted the     Fog In clearly Defined layers, An Effect 
 Very Singular To Behold. At One Moment A Great Arc-Lamp Burning above 
 The Lavender Pond Of     The     Surrey Commercial Dock Shot Out A Yellowish 
 Light Across The     Thames. Then, As Suddenly As It Had Come, The     Light 
 Vanished again As A Stratum Of     Mist Floated before It. 
   
   
   
 The Creaking of     The     Oars Sounded muffled and Ghostly, And None Of     The 
 Men In the     Boat Seemed to Be Inclined to Converse. Heading across Stream 
 They Made For The     Unseen Promontory Of     The     Isle Of     Dogs. Navigation Was 
 Suspended, And They Reached midstream Without Seeing a Ship'S Light. 
 Then Came The     Damp Wind Again To Lift The     Fog, And Ahead Of     Them They 
 Discerned one Of     The     General Steam Navigation Company'S Boats Awaiting 
 An Opportunity To Make Her Dock At The     Head Of     Deptford Creek. The 
 Clamor Of     An Ironworks On The     Millwall Shore Burst Loudly Upon Their 
 Ears, And Away Astern The     Lights Of     The     Surrey Dock Shone Out Once More. 
 Hugging the     Bank They Pursued a Southerly Course, And From Limehouse 
 Reach Crept Down To Greenwich Reach. 
   
   
   
 Fog Closed in upon Them, A Curtain Obscuring both Light And Sound. 
 When The     Breeze Came Again It Had Gathered force, And It Drove The     Mist 
 Before It In wreathing banks, And Brought To Their Ears A Dull Lowing 
 And To Their Nostrils A Farmyard Odor From The     Cattle Pens. Ghostly 
 Flames, Leaping and Falling, Leaping and Falling, Showed where A 
 Gasworks Lay On The     Greenwich Bank Ahead. 
   
   
   
 Eastward Swept The     River Now, And Fresher Blew The     Breeze. As They 
 Rounded the     Blunt Point Of     The     "Isle" The     Fog Banks Went Swirling past 
 Them Astern, And The     Lights On Either Shore Showed clearly Ahead. A 
 Ship'S Siren Began To Roar Somewhere Behind Them. The     Steamer Which They 
   
 Had Passed was About To Pursue Her Course. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 300 
   
   
 Closer In-Shore Drew The     Boat, Passing a Series Of     Wharves, And Beyond 
 These A Tract Of     Waste, Desolate Bank Very Gloomy In the     Half Light 
 And Apparently Boasting no Habitation Of     Man. The     Activities Of     The 
 Greenwich Bank Seemed remote, And The     Desolation Of     The     Isle Of     Dogs 
 Very Near, Touching them Intimately With Its Peculiar Gloom. 
   
   
   
 A Light Sprang Into View Some Little Distance Inland, Notable Because 
 It Shone Lonely In an Expanse Of     Utter Blackness. Kerry Broke The     Long 
 Silence. 
   
   
   
 "Dougal'S," He Said. "Put Us Ashore Here." 
   
   
   
 The Police Boat Was Pulled in under A Rickety Wooden Structure, 
 Beneath Which The     Thames Water Whispered eerily; And Kerry And Seton 
 Disembarked, Mounting a Short Flight Of     Slimy Wooden Steps And Crossing 
 A Roughly Planked place On To A Shingly Slope. Climbing this, They Were 
 On Damp Waste Ground, Pathless And Uninviting. 
   
   
   
 "Dougal'S Is Being watched," Said Kerry. "I Think I Told You?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Replied seton. "But I Have Formed the     Opinion That The     Dope Gang 
 Is Too Clever For The     Ordinary Type Of     Man. Sin Sin Wa Is An Instance 
 Of What I Mean. Neither You Nor I Doubt That He Is A Receiver Of 
 Drugs--Perhaps The     Receiver; But Where Is Our Case? The     Only Real 
 Link Connecting him With The     West-End Habitue Is His Wife. And She Has 
 Conveniently Deserted him! We Cannot Possibly Prove That She Hasn'T 
 While He Chooses To Maintain That She Has." 
   
   
   
 "H'M," Grunted kerry, Abruptly Changing the     Subject. "I Hope I'M Not 
 Recognized here." 
   
   
   
 "Have You Visited the     Place Before?" 
   
   
   
 "Some Years Ago. Unless There Are Any Old Hands On View Tonight, I Don'T 
 Think I Shall Be Spotted." 
   
   
   
 He Wore A Heavy And Threadbare Overcoat, Which Was Several Sizes Too 
 Large For Him, A Muffler, And A Weed cap--The Outfit Supplied by Seton 
 Pasha; And He Had A Very Vivid And Unpleasant Recollection Of     His 
 Appearance As Viewed in his Little Pocket-Mirror Before Leaving seton'S 
 Room. As They Proceeded across The     Muddy Wilderness Towards The     Light 
 Which Marked the     Site Of     Dougal'S, They Presented a Picture Of     A 
 Sufficiently Villainous Pair. 
   
   
   
 The Ground Was Irregular, And The     Path Wound Sinuously About Mounds Of 
 Rubbish; So That Often The     Guiding light Was Lost, And They Stumbled 
 Blindly Among Nondescript Litter, Which Apparently Represented the 
 Accumulation Of     Centuries. But Finally They Turned a Corner Formed by A 
 Stack Of     Rusty Scrap Iron, And Found A Long, Low Building before Them. 
 From A Ground-Floor Window Light Streamed out Upon The     Fragments Of 
 Rubbish Strewing the     Ground, From Amid Which Sickly Weeds Uprose As If 
 In Defiance Of     Nature'S Laws. Seton Paused, And: 
   
   
   
 "What Is Dougal'S Exactly?" He Asked; "A Public House?" 
   
   
   
 "No," Rapped kerry. "It'S A Coffee-Shop Used by The     Dockers. You'Ll See 
 When We Get Inside. The     Place Never Closes So Far As I Know, And If We 
 Made 'Em Close There Would Be A Dock Strike." 
   
   
   
 He Crossed and Pushed open The     Swing door. As Seton Entered at His 
 Heels, A Babel Of     Coarse Voices Struck Upon His Ears And  
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 301 
 He Found 
 Himself In a Superheated atmosphere Suggestive Of     Shag, Stale Spirits, 
 And Imperfectly Washed humanity. 
   
   
   
 Dougal'S Proved to Be A Kind Of     Hut Of     Wood And Corrugated iron, Not 
 Unlike An Army Canteen. There Were Two Counters, One At Either End, 
 And Two Large American Stoves. Oil Lamps Hung From The     Beams, And The 
 Furniture Was Made Up Of     Trestle Tables, Rough Wooden Chairs, And Empty 
 Barrels. Coarse, Thick Curtains Covered all The     Windows But One. The 
 Counter Further From The     Entrance Was Laden With Articles Of     Food, Such 
 As Pies, Tins Of     Bully-Beef, And "Saveloys," While The     Other Was Devoted 
 To Liquid Refreshment In the     Form Of     Ginger-Beer And Cider (Or So The 
 Casks Were Conspicuously Labelled), Tea, Coffee, And Cocoa. 
   
   
   
 The Place Was Uncomfortably Crowded; The     Patrons Congregating more 
 Especially Around The     Two Stoves. There Were Men Who Looked like Dock 
 Laborers, Seamen, And Riverside Loafers; Lascars, Chinese, Arabs, And 
 Dagoes; And At The     "Solid" Counter There Presided a Red-Armed, Brawny 
 Woman, Fierce Of     Mien And Ready Of     Tongue, While A Huge Irishman, 
 Possessing a Broken Nose And Deficient Teeth, Ruled the     "Liquid" 
 Department With A Rod Of     Iron And A Flow Of     Language Which Shocked 
 Even Kerry. This Formidable Ruffian, A Retired warrior Of     The     Ring, Was 
 Dougal, Said To Be The     Strongest Man From Tower Hill To The     River Lea. 
   
   
   
 As They Entered, Several Of     The     Patrons Glanced at Them Curiously, But 
 No One Seemed to Be Particularly Interested. Kerry Wore His Cap Pulled 
 Well Down Over His Fierce Eyes, And Had The     Collar Of     His Topcoat Turned 
 Up. 
   
   
   
 He Looked about Him, As If Expecting to Recognize Someone; And As They 
 Made Their Way To Dougal'S Counter, A Big Fellow Dressed in the     Manner 
 Of A Dock Laborer Stepped up To The     Chief Inspector And Clapped him On 
 The Shoulder. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 302 
   
 "Have One With Me, Mike," He Said, Winking. "The Coffee'S Good." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Bent Towards Him Swiftly, And: 
   
   
   
 "Anybody Here, Jervis?" He Whispered. 
   
   
   
 "George Martin Is At The     Bar. I'Ve Had The     Tip That He 'Traffics.' 
 You'Ll Remember He Figured in my Last Report, Sir." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Nodded, And The     Trio Elbowed their Way To The     Counter. The 
 Pseudo-Dock Hand Was A Detective Attached to Leman Street, And One Who 
 Knew The     Night Birds Of     East End London As Few Men Outside Their Own 
 Circles Knew Them. 
   
   
   
 "Three Coffees, Pat," He Cried, Leaning across The     Shoulder Of     A Heavy, 
 Red-Headed fellow Who Lolled against The     Counter. "And Two Lumps Of 
 Sugar In each." 
   
   
   
 "To Hell Wid Yer Sugar!" Roared dougal, Grasping three Cups Deftly In 
 One Hairy Hand And Filling them From A Steaming urn. "There'S No More 
 Sugar Tonight." 
   
   
   
 "Not Any Brown Sugar?" Asked the     Customer. 
   
   
   
 "Yez Can Have One Tayspoon Of     Brown, And No More Tonight," Cried dougal. 
   
   
   
 He Stooped rapidly Below The     Counter, Then Pushed the     Three Cups Of 
   
 Coffee Towards The     Detective. The     Latter Tossed a Shilling down, At 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 303 
 Which Dougal Glared ferociously. 
   
   
   
 "'Twas Wid Sugar Ye Said!" He Roared. 
   
   
   
 A Second Shilling followed. Dougal Swept Both Coins Into A Drawer And 
 Turned to Another Customer, Who Was Also Clamoring for Coffee. Securing 
 Their Cups With Difficulty, For The     Red-Headed man Surlily Refused to 
 Budge, They Retired to A Comparatively Quiet Spot, And Seton Tasted the 
 Hot Beverage. 
   
   
   
 "H'M," He Said. "Rum! Good Rum, Too!" 
   
   
   
 "It'S A Nice Position For Me," Snapped kerry. "I Don'T Think I Would 
 Remind You That There'S A Police Station Actually On This Blessed 
 Island. If There Was A Dive Like Dougal'S Anywhere West It Would Be 
 Raided as A Matter Of     Course. But To Shut Dougal'S Would Be To Raise 
 Hell. There Are Two Laws In england, Sir; One For Piccadilly And The 
 Other For The     Isle Of     Dogs!" He Sipped his Coffee With Appreciation. 
 Jervis Looked about Him Cautiously, And: 
   
   
   
 "That'S George--The Red-Headed hooligan Against The     Counter," He Said. 
 "He'S Been Liquoring up Pretty Freely, And I Shouldn'T Be Surprised to 
 Find That He'S Got A Job On Tonight. He Has A Skiff Beached below Here, 
 And I Think He'S Waiting for The     Tide." 
   
   
   
 "Good!" Rapped kerry. "Where Can We Find A Boat?" 
   
   
   
 "Well," Jervis Smiled. "There Are Several Lying there If You Didn'T Come 
 In An R.P. Boat." 
   
   
   
 "We Did. But I'Ll Dismiss It. We Want A Small Boat." 
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir. We Shall Have To Pinch One!" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 304 
   
   
 "That Doesn'T Matter," Declared kerry Glancing at Seton With A Sudden 
 Twinkle Discernible In his Steely Eyes. "What Do You Say, Sir?" 
   
   
   
 "I Agree With You Entirely," Replied seton Quietly. "We Must Find A 
 Boat, And Lie Off Somewhere To Watch For George. He Should Be Worth 
 Following." 
   
   
   
 "We'Ll Be Moving, Then," Said The     Leman Street Detective. "It Will Be 
 High Tide In an Hour." 
   
   
   
 They Finished their Coffee As Quickly As Possible; The     Stuff Was Not Far 
 Below Boiling-Point. Then Jervis Returned the     Cups To The     Counter. "Good 
 Night, Pat!" He Cried, And Rejoined seton And Kerry. 
   
   
   
 As They Came Out Into The     Desolation Of     The     Scrap Heaps, The     Last Traces 
 Of Fog Had Disappeared and A Steady Breeze Came Up The     River, Fresh 
 And Salty From The     Nore. Jervis Led them In a North-Easterly Direction, 
 Threading a Way Through Pyramids Of     Rubbish, Until With The     Wind In 
 Their Teeth They Came Out Upon The     River Bank At A Point Where The     Shore 
 Shelved steeply Downwards. A Number Of     Boats Lay On The     Shingle. 
   
   
   
 "We'Re Pretty Well Opposite Greenwich Marshes," Said Jervis. "You Can 
 Just See One Of     The     Big Gasometers. The     End Boat Is George'S." 
   
   
   
 "Have You Searched it?" Rapped kerry, Placing a Fresh Piece Of 
 Chewing-Gum Between His Teeth. 
   
   
   
 "I Have, Sir. Oh, He'S Too Wise For That!" 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 305 
 "I Propose," Said Seton Briskly, "That We Borrow One Of     The     Other Boats 
 And Pull Down Stream To Where That Short Pier Juts Out. We Can Hide 
 Behind It And Watch For Our Man. I Take It He'Ll Be Bound Up-Stream, And 
 The Tide Will Help Us To Follow Him Quietly." 
   
   
   
 "Right," Said Kerry. "We'Ll Take The     Small Dinghy. It'S Big Enough." 
   
   
   
 He Turned to Jervis. 
   
   
   
 "Nip Across To The     Wooden Stairs," He Directed, "And Tell Inspector 
 White To Stand By, But To Keep Out Of     Sight. If We'Ve Started before You 
 Return, Go Back And Join Him." 
   
   
   
 "Very Good, Sir." 
   
   
   
 Jervis Turned and Disappeared into The     Mazes Of     Rubbish, As Seton And 
 Kerry Grasped the     Boat And Ran It Down Into The     Rising tide. Kerry 
 Boarding, Seton Thrust It Out Into The     River And Climbed in over The 
 Stern. 
   
   
   
 "Phew! The     Current Drags Like A Tow-Boat!" Said Kerry. 
   
   
   
 They Were Being drawn Rapidly Up-Stream. But As Kerry Seized the     Oars 
 And Began To Pull Steadily, This Progress Was Checked. He Could Make 
 Little Actual Headway, However. 
   
   
   
 "The Tide Races Round This Bend Like Fury," He Said. "Bear On The     Oars, 
 Sir." 
   
   
   
 Seton Thereupon Came To Kerry'S Assistance, And Gradually The     Dinghy 
   
 Crept Upon Its Course, Until, Below The     Little Pier, They Found A 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 306 
 Sheltered spot, Where It Was Possible To Run In and Lie Hidden. As They 
 Won This Haven: 
   
   
   
 "Quiet!" Said Seton. "Don'T Move The     Oars. Look! We Were Only Just In 
 Time!" 
   
   
   
 Immediately Above Them, Where The     Boats Were Beached, A Man Was Coming 
 Down The     Slope, Carrying a Hurricane Lantern. As Kerry And Seton 
 Watched, The     Man Raised the     Lantern And Swung It To And Fro. 
   
   
   
 "Watch!" Whispered seton. "He'S Signalling to The     Greenwich Bank!" 
   
   
   
 Kerry'S Teeth Snapped savagely Together, And He Chewed but Made No 
 Reply, Until: 
   
   
   
 "There It Is!" He Said Rapidly. "On The     Marshes!" 
   
   
   
 A Speck Of     Light In the     Darkness It Showed, A Distant Moving lantern On 
 The Curtain Of     The     Night. Although Few Would Have Credited kerry With 
 The Virtue, He Was A Man Of     Cultured imagination, And It Seemed to Him, 
 As It Seemed to Seton Pasha, That The     Dim Light Symbolized the     Life Of 
 The Missing woman, Of     The     Woman Who Hovered between The     Gay World From 
 Which Tragically She Had Vanished and Some Chinese Hell Upon Whose Brink 
 She Hovered. Neither Of     The     Watchers Was Thinking of     The     Crime And 
 The Criminal, Of     Sir Lucien Pyne Or Kazmah, But Of     Mrs. Monte Irvin, 
 Mysterious Victim Of     A Mysterious Tragedy. "Oh, Dan! Ye Must Find Her! 
 Ye Must Find Her! Puir Weak Hairt--Dinna Ye Ken How She Is Suffering!" 
 Clairvoyantly, To Kerry'S Ears Was Borne An Echo Of     His Wife'S Words. 
   
   
   
 "The Traffic!" He Whispered. "If We Lose George Martin Tonight We 
   
 Deserve To Lose The     Case!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 307 
   
   
 "I Agree, Chief Inspector," Said Seton Quietly. 
   
   
   
 The Grating sound Made By A Boat Thrust Out From A Shingle Beach Came To 
 Their Ears Above The     Whispering of     The     Tide. A Ghostly Figure In the     Dim 
 Light, George Martin Clambered into His Craft And Took To The     Oars. 
   
   
   
 "If He'S For The     Greenwich Bank," Said Seton Grimly, "He Has A Stiff 
 Task." 
   
   
   
 But For The     Greenwich Bank The     Boat Was Headed; And Pulling mightily 
 Against The     Current, The     Man Struck Out Into Mid-Stream. They Watched 
 Him For Some Time, Silently, Noting how He Fought Against The     Tide, 
 Sturdily Heading for The     Point At Which The     Signal Had Shown. Then: 
   
   
   
 "What Do You Suggest?" Asked seton. "He May Follow The     Surrey Bank 
 Up-Stream." 
   
   
   
 "I Suggest," Said Kerry, "That We Drift. Once In limehouse Reach We'Ll 
 Hear Him. There Are No Pleasure Parties Punting about That Stretch." 
   
   
   
 "Let Us Pull Out, Then. I Propose That We Wait For Him At Some 
 Convenient Point Between The     West India Dock And Limehouse Basin." 
   
   
   
 "Good," Rapped kerry, Thrusting the     Boat Out Into The     Fierce Current. 
 "You May Have Spent A Long Time In the     East, Sir, But You'Re Fairly Wise 
 On The     Geography Of     The     Lower Thames." 
   
   
   
   
 Gripped in the     Strongly Running tide They Were Borne Smoothly Up-Stream, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 308 
 Using the     Oars Merely For The     Purpose Of     Steering. The     Gloomy Mystery 
 Of The     London River Claimed them And Imposed silence Upon Them, Until 
 Familiar Landmarks Told Of     The     Northern Bend Of     The     Thames, And The 
 Light Above The     Lavender Pond Shone Out Upon The     Unctuously Moving 
 Water. 
   
   
   
 Each Pulling a Scull They Headed in for The     Left Bank. 
   
   
   
 "There'S A Wharf Ahead," Said Seton, Looking back Over His Shoulder. "If 
 We Put In beside It We Can Wait There Unobserved." 
   
   
   
 "Good Enough," Said Kerry. 
   
   
   
 They Bent To The     Oars, Stealing stroke By Stroke Out Of     The     Grip Of     The 
 Tide, And Presently Came To A Tiny Pool Above The     Wharf Structure, Where 
 It Was Possible To Lie Undisturbed by The     Eager Current. 
   
   
   
 Those Limitations Which Are Common To All Humanity And That Guile Which 
 Is Peculiar To The     Chinese Veiled the     Fact From Their Ken That The 
 Deserted wharf, In whose Shelter They Lay, Was At Once The     Roof And The 
 Gateway Of     Sin Sin Wa'S Receiving office! 
   
   
   
 As The     Boat Drew In to The     Bank, A Chinese Boy Who Was Standing on The 
 Wharf Retired into The     Shadows. From A Spot Visible Down-Stream But 
 Invisible To The     Men In the     Boat, He Signalled constantly With A 
 Hurricane Lantern. 
   
   
   
 Three Men From New Scotland Yard Were Watching the     House Of     Sin Sin Wa, 
 And Sin Sin Wa Had Given No Sign Of     Animation Since, Some Hours Earlier, 
   
 He Had Extinguished his Bedroom Light. Yet George, Drifting noiselessly 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 32 ( On The     Isle Of     Dogs) Pg 309 
 Up-Stream, Received a Signal To The     Effect "Police" While Seton Pasha 
 And Chief Inspector Kerry Lay Below The     Biggest Dope Cache In london. 
 Seton Sometimes Swore Under His Breath. Kerry Chewed incessantly. But 
 George Never Came. 
   
   
   
 At That Eerie Hour Of     The     Night When All Things Living, From The     Lowest 
 To The     Highest, Nor Excepting mother Earth Herself, Grow Chilled, When 
 All Nature'S Perishable Handiwork Feels The     Touch Of     Death--A Wild, 
 Sudden Cry Rang Out, A Wailing, Sorrowful Cry, That Seemed to Come From 
 Nowhere, From Everywhere, From The     Bank, From The     Stream; That Rose And 
 Fell And Died sobbing into The     Hushed whisper Of     The     Tide. 
   
   
   
 Seton'S Hand Fastened like A Vise On To Kerry'S Shoulder, And: 
   
   
   
 "Merciful God!" He Whispered; "What Was It? Who Was It?" 
   
   
   
 "If It Wasn'T A Spirit It Was A Woman," Replied kerry Hoarsely; "And A 
 Woman Very Near To Her End." 
   
   
   
 "Kerry!"--Seton Pasha Had Dropped all Formality--"Kerry--If It Calls 
 For All The     Men That Scotland Yard Can Muster, We Must Search Every 
 Building, Down To The     Smallest Rathole In the     Floor, On This Bank--And 
 Do It By Dawn!" 
   
   
   
 "We'Ll Do It," Rapped kerry. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 Part Fourth--The Eye Of     Sin Sin Wa 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 33 (  Chinese Magic ) Pg 310 
   
 Detective-Sergeant Coombes And Three Assistants Watched the     House Of     Sin 
 Sin Wa, And Any One Of     The     Three Would Have Been Prepared to Swear "On 
 The Book" That Sin Sin Wa Was Sleeping. But He Who Watches A Chinaman 
 Watches An Illusionist. He Must Approach His Task In the     Spirit Of     A 
 Psychical Inquirer Who Seeks To Trap A Bogus Medium. The     Great Robert 
 Houdin, One Of     The     Master Wizards Of     Modern Times, Quitted petrograd 
 By Two Gates At The     Same Hour According to Credible Witnesses; But 
 His Performance Sinks Into Insignificance Beside That Of     A Chinese 
 Predecessor Who Flourished under One Of     The     Ming emperors. The     Palace 
 Of This Potentate Was Approached by Gates, Each Having twelve Locks, And 
 Each Being watched by Twelve Guards. Nevertheless A Distinguished member 
 Of The     Wizard Family Not Only Gained access To The     Imperial Presence 
 But Also Departed again Unseen By Any Of     The     Guards, And Leaving all The 
 Gates Locked behind Him! If Detective-Sergeant Coombes Had Known This 
 Story He Might Not Have Experienced such Complete Confidence. 
   
   
   
 That Door Of     Sin Sin Wa'S Establishment Which Gave Upon A Little 
 Backyard Was Oiled both Lock And Hinge So That It Opened noiselessly. 
 Like A Shadow, Like A Ghost, Sin Sin Wa Crept Forth, Closing the     Door 
 Behind Him. He Carried a Sort Of     Canvas Kit-Bag, So That One Observing 
 Him Might Have Concluded that He Was "Moving." 
   
   
   
 Resting his Bag Against The     End Wall, He Climbed up By Means Of     Holes In 
 The Neglected brickwork Until He Could Peer Over The     Top. A Faint Smell 
 Of Tobacco Smoke Greeted him: A Detective Was Standing in the     Lane 
 Below. Soundlessly, Sin Sin Wa Descended again. Raising his Bag He 
 Lifted it Lovingly Until It Rested upright Upon The     Top Of     The     Wall 
 And Against The     Side Of     The     House. The     Night Was Dark And Still. Only 
   
 A Confused beating sound On The     Surrey Bank Rose Above The     Murmur Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 33 (  Chinese Magic ) Pg 311 
 Sleeping london. 
   
   
   
 From The     Rubbish Amid Which He Stood, Sin Sin Wa Selected a Piece Of 
 Rusty Barrel-Hoop. Cautiously He Mounted upon A Wooden Structure Built 
 Against The     End Wall And Raised himself Upright, Surveying the     Prospect. 
 Then He Hurled the     Fragment Of     Iron Far Along The     Lane, So That It 
 Bounded upon A Strip Of     Corrugated roofing in a Yard Twice Removed from 
 His Own, And Fell Clattering among A Neighbor'S Rubbish. 
   
   
   
 A Short Exclamation Came From The     Detective In the     Lane. He Could Be 
 Heard Walking swiftly Away In the     Direction Of     The     Disturbance. And Ere 
 He Had Gone Six Paces, Sin Sin Wa Was Bending like An Inverted u Over 
 The Wall And Was Lowering his Precious Bag To The     Ground. Like A Cat He 
 Sprang Across And Dropped noiselessly Beside It. 
   
   
   
 "Hello! Who'S There?" Cried the     Detective, Standing by The     Wall Of     The 
 House Which Sin Sin Wa Had Selected as A Target. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa, Bag In hand, Trotted, Soft Of     Foot, Across The     Lane And Into 
 The Shadow Of     The     Dock-Building. By The     Time That The     C.I.D. Man Had 
 Decided to Climb Up And Investigate The     Mysterious Noise, Sin Sin Wa Was 
 On The     Other Side Of     The     Canal And Rapping gently Upon The     Door Of     Sam 
 Tuk'S Hairdressing establishment. 
   
   
   
 The Door Was Opened so Quickly As To Suggest That Someone Had Been 
 Posted there For The     Purpose. Sin Sin Wa Entered and The     Door Was Closed 
 Again. 
   
   
   
 "Light, Ah Fung," He Said In chinese. "What News?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 33 (  Chinese Magic ) Pg 312 
   
 The Boy Who Had Admitted him Took A Lamp From Under A Sort Of     Rough 
 Counter And Turned to Sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 "George Came With The     Boat, Master, But I Signalled to Him That The     Red 
 Policeman And The     Agent Who Has Hired the     End Room Were Watching." 
   
   
   
 "They Are Gone?" 
   
   
   
 "They Gather Men At The     Head Depot And Are Searching house From House. 
 She Who Sleeps Below Awoke And Cried out. They Heard Her Cry." 
   
   
   
 "George Waits?" 
   
   
   
 "He Waits, Master. He Will Wait Long If The     Gain Is Great." 
   
   
   
 "Good." 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Shuffled across To The     Cellar Stairs, Followed by Ah Fung 
 With The     Lamp. He Descended, And, Brushing away The     Carefully Spread 
 Coal Dust, Inserted the     Piece Of     Bent Wire Into The     Crevice And Raised 
 The Secret Trap. Bearing his Bag Upon His Shoulder He Went Down Into The 
 Tunnel. 
   
   
   
 "Reclose The     Door, Ah Fung," He Said Softly; "And Be Watchful." 
   
   
   
 As The     Boy Replaced the     Stone Trap, Sin Sin Wa Struck A Match. Then, 
   
 Having the     Lighted match Held In one Hand And Carrying the     Bag In the 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 33 (  Chinese Magic ) Pg 313 
 Other, He Crept Along The     Low Passage To The     Door Of     The     Cache. Dropping 
 The Smouldering match-End, He Opened the     Door And Entered that Secret 
 Warehouse For Which So Many People Were Seeking. 
   
   
   
 Seated in a Cane Chair By The     Oil-Stove Was The     Shrivelled figure Of 
 Sam Tuk, His Bald Head Lolling sideways So That His Big Horn-Rimmed 
 Spectacles Resembled a Figure 8. On The     Counter Was Set A Ship'S 
 Lantern. As Sin Sin Wa Came In sam Tuk Slowly Raised his Head. 
   
   
   
 No Greetings Were Exchanged, But Sin Sin Wa Untied the     Neck Of     His 
 Kit-Bag And Drew Out A Large Wicker Cage. Thereupon: "Hello! Hello!" 
 Remarked the     Occupant Drowsily. "Number One P'Lice Chop Lo! Sin Sin 
 Wa--Sin Sin...." 
   
   
   
 "Come, My Tling-A-Ling," Crooned sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 He Opened the     Front Of     The     Cage And Out Stepped the     Raven Onto His 
 Wrist. Sin Sin Wa Raised his Arm And Tling-A-Ling settled himself 
 Contentedly Upon His Master'S Shoulder. 
   
   
   
 Placing the     Empty Cage On The     Counter. Sin Sin Wa Plunged his Hand Down 
 Into The     Bag And Drew Out The     Gleaming wooden Joss. This He Set Beside 
 The Cage. With Never A Glance At The     Mummy Figure Of     Sam Tuk, He Walked 
 Around The     Counter, Raven On Shoulder, And Grasping the     End Of     The     Laden 
 Shelves, He Pulled the     Last Section Smoothly To The     Left, Showing that 
 It Was Attached to A Sliding door. The     Establishments Of     Sin Sin Wa Were 
 As Full Of     Surprises As A Sicilian Trinketbox. 
   
   
   
 The Double Purpose Of     The     Timbering which Had Been Added to This Old 
   
 Storage Vault Was Now Revealed. It Not Only Served to Enlarge The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 33 (  Chinese Magic ) Pg 314 
 Store-Room, But Also Shut Off From View A Second Portion Of     The     Cellar, 
 Smaller Than The     First, And Containing appointments Which Indicated that 
 It Was Sometimes Inhabited. 
   
   
   
 There Was An Oil-Stove In the     Room, Which, Like That Adjoining it, 
 Was Evidently Unprovided with Any Proper Means Of     Ventilation. A 
 Paper-Shaded lamp Hung From The     Low Roof. The     Floor Was Covered 
 With Matting, And There Were Arm-Chairs, A Divan And Other Items 
 Of Furniture, Which Had Been Removed from Mrs. Sin'S Sanctum In the 
 Dismantled house Of     A Hundred raptures. In a Recess A Bed was Placed, 
 And As Sin Sin Wa Came In mrs. Sin Was Standing by The     Bed looking down 
 At A Woman Who Lay There. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Wore Her Kimona Of     Embroidered green Silk And Made A 
 Striking picture In that Sordid Setting. Her Black Hair She Had Dyed a 
 Fashionable Shade Of     Red. She Glanced rapidly Across Her Shoulder At Sin 
 Sin Wa--A Glance Of     Contempt With Which Was Mingled faint Distrust. 
   
   
   
 "So," She Said, In chinese, "You Have Come At Last." Sin Sin Wa Smiled. 
 "They Watched the     Old Fox," He Replied. "But Their Eyes Were As The     Eyes 
 Of The     Mole." 
   
   
   
 Still Aside, Contemptuously, The     Woman Regarded him, And: 
   
   
   
 "Suppose They Are Keener Than You Think?" She Said. "Are You Sure You 
 Have Not Led them--Here?" 
   
   
   
 "The Snail May Not Pursue The     Hawk," Murmured sin Sin Wa; "Nor The     Eye 
 Of The     Bat Follow His Flight." 
   
   
   
 "Smartest Leg," Remarked the     Raven. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 33 (  Chinese Magic ) Pg 315 
 "Yes, Yes, My Little Friend," Crooned sin Sin Wa, "Very Soon Now You 
 Shall See The     Paddy-Fields Of     Ho-Nan And Watch The     Great Yellow River 
 Sweeping eastward To The     Sea." 
   
   
   
 "Pah!" Said Mrs. Sin. "Much--Very Much--You Care About The     Paddy-Fields 
 Of Ho-Nan, And Little, Oh, Very Little, About The     Dollars And The 
 Traffic! You Have My Papers?" 
   
   
   
 "All Are Complete. With Those Dollars For Which I Care Not, A Man Might 
 Buy The     World--If He Had But Enough Of     The     Dollars. You Are Well Known 
 In Poplar As 'Mrs. Jacobs,' And Your Identity Is Easily Established--As 
 'Mrs. Jacobs.' You Join The     Mahratta At The     Albert Dock. I Have Bought 
 You A Post As Stewardess." 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Tossed her Head. "And Juan?" 
   
   
   
 "What Can They Prove Against Your Juan If You Are Missing?" 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Nodded towards The     Bed. 
   
   
   
 With Slow And Shuffling steps Sin Sin Wa Approached. He Continued 
 To Smile, But His Glittering eye Held Even Less Of     Mirth Than Usual. 
 Tucking his Hands Into His Sleeves, He Stood And Looked down--At Rita 
 Irvin. 
   
   
   
 Her Face Had Acquired a Waxen Quality, But Some Of     Her Delicate Coloring 
 Still Lingered, Lending her A Ghastly And Mask-Like Aspect. Her Nostrils 
 And Lips Were Blanched, However, And Possessed a Curiously Pinched 
 Appearance. It Was Impossible To Detect The     Fact That She Breathed, And 
 Her Long Lashes Lay Motionless Upon Her Cheeks. 
   
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Studied her Silently For Some Time, Then: 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 33 (  Chinese Magic ) Pg 316 
   
   
 "Yes," He Murmured, "She Is Beautiful. But Women Are Like Adder'S Eggs. 
 He Is A Fool Who Warms Them In his Bosom." He Turned his Slow Regard 
 Upon Mrs. Sin. "You Have Stained your Hair To Look Even As Hers. It Was 
 Discreet, My Wife. But One Is Beautiful And Many-Shadowed like A Copper 
 Vase, And The     Other Is Like A Winter Sunset On The     Poppy-Fields. You 
 Remind Me Of     The     Angry Red policeman, And I Tremble." 
   
   
   
 "Tremble As Much As You Like," Said Mrs. Sin Scornfully, "But 
 Do Something, Think; Don'T Leave Everything to Me. She Screamed 
 Tonight--And Someone Heard Her. They Are Searching the     River Bank From 
 Door To Door." 
   
   
   
 "Lo!" Murmured sin Sin Wa, "Even This I Had Learned, Nor Failed to Heed 
 The Beating of     A Distant Drum. And Why Did She Scream?" 
   
   
   
 "I Was--Keeping her Asleep; And The     Prick Of     The     Needle Woke Her." 
   
   
   
 "Tchee, Tchee," Crooned sin Sin Wa, His Voice Sinking lower And Lower 
 And His Eye Nearly Closing. "But Still She Lives--And Is Beautiful." 
   
   
   
 "Beautiful!" Mocked mrs. Sin. "A Doll-Woman, Bloodless And Nerveless!" 
   
   
   
 "So--So. Yet She, So Bloodless And Nerveless, Unmasked the     Secret Of 
 Kazmah, And She, So Bloodless And Nerveless, Struck Down--" 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Ground Her Teeth Together Audibly. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Yes!" She Said In sibilant Chinese. "She Is A Robber, A Thief, A 
 Murderess." She Bent Over The     Unconscious Woman, Her Jewel-Laden Fingers 
 Crooked and Menacing. "With My Bare Hands I Would Strangle Her, But--" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 33 (  Chinese Magic ) Pg 317 
   
   
 "There Must Be No Marks Of     Violence When She Is Found In the     River. 
 Tchee, Chee--It Is A Pity." 
   
   
   
 "Number One P'Lice Chop, Lo!" Croaked the     Raven, Following this Remark 
 With The     Police-Whistle Imitation. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Turned and Stared fiercely At The     One-Eyed bird. 
   
   
   
 "Why Do You Bring that Evil, Croaking thing here?" She Demanded. "Have 
 We Not Enough Risks?" 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Smiled patiently. 
   
   
   
 "Too Many," He Murmured. "For Failure Is Nothing but The     Taking of 
 Seven Risks When Six Were Enough. Come--Let Us Settle Our Affairs. The 
 'Jacobs' Account Is Closed, But It Is Only A Question Of     Hours Or Days 
 Before The     Police Learn That The     Wharf As Well As The     House Belongs To 
 Someone Of     That Name. We Have Drawn Our Last Dollar From The     Traffic, My 
 Wife. Our Stock We Are Resigned to Lose. So Let Us Settle Our Affairs." 
   
   
   
 "Smartest--Smartest," Croaked tling-A-Ling, And Rattled ghostly 
 Castanets. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 34 (  Above And Below) Pg 318 
   
 "Thank The     Guid God I See Ye Alive, Dan," Said Mary Kerry. 
   
   
   
 Having her Husband'S Dressing-Gown Over Her Night Attire, And Her 
 Usually Neat Hair In great Disorder, She Stood Just Within The     Doorway 
 Of The     Little Dining-Room At Spenser Road, Her Face Haggard And The     Fey 
 Light In her Eyes. Kerry, Seated in the     Armchair Dressed as He Had Come 
 In From The     Street, A Parody Of     His Neat Self With Mud On His Shoes And 
 Streaks Of     Green Slime On His Overall, Raised his Face From His Hands 
 And Stared at Her Wearily. 
   
   
   
 "I Awakened wi' A Cry At Some Hour Afore The     Dawn," She Whispered 
 Stretching out Her Hands And Looking like A Wild-Eyed prophetess Of     Old. 
 "My Hairt Beat Sair Fast And Then Grew Caud. I Droppit On My Knees And 
 Prayed as I Ha' Ne'Er Prayed afore. Dan, Dan, I Thought Ye Were Gene 
 From Me." 
   
   
   
 "I Nearly Was," Said Kerry, A Faint Spark Of     His Old Truculency Lighting 
 Up The     Weary Eyes. "The Man From Whitehall Only Missed me By A Miracle." 
   
   
   
 "'Twas The     Miracle O' Prayer, Dan," Declared his Wife In a Low, 
 Awe-Stricken Voice. "For As I Prayed, A Great Comfort Came To Me An' 
 A Great Peace. The     Second Sight Was Wi' Me, Dan, And I Saw, No' 
 Yersel'--Whereby I Seemed to Ken That Ye Were Safe--But A Puir Dying 
 Soul Stretched on A Bed o' Sorrow. At The     Fuit O' The     Bed was Standing a 
 Fearsome Figure O' A Man--Yellow And Wicked, Wi' His Hands Tuckit In his 
 Sleeves. I Thought 'Twas A Veesion That Was Opening up Tee Me And That 
 A' Was About To Be Made Clear, When As Though A Curtain Had Been Droppit 
 Before My Een, It Went Awe' An' I Kenned it Nae More; But Plain--Plain, 
 I Heerd The     Howling o' A Dog." 
   
   
   
 Kerry Started and Clutched the     Arms Of     The     Chair. 
   
   
   
 "A Dog!" He Said. "A Dog!" 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 34 (  Above And Below) Pg 319 
 "The Howling o' A Sma' Dog," Declared his Wife; "And I Thought 'Twas A 
 Portent, An' The     Great Fear Came O'Er Me Again. But As I Prayed 'Twas 
 Unfolder To Me That The     Portent Was No' For Yersel' But For Her--The 
 Puir Weak Hairt Ye Ha' Tee Save." 
   
   
   
 She Ceased speaking and The     Strange Fey Light Left Her Eyes. She Dropped 
 Upon Her Knees Beside Kerry, Bending her Head And Throwing her Arms 
 About Him. He Glanced down At Her Tenderly And Laid His Hands Upon Her 
 Shoulders; But He Was Preoccupied, And The     Next Moment, His Jaws Moving 
 Mechanically, He Was Staring straight Before Him. 
   
   
   
 "A Dog," He Muttered, "A Dog!" 
   
   
   
 Mary Kerry Did Not Move; Until, A Light Of     Understanding coming into 
 Kerry'S Fierce Eyes, He Slowly Raised her And Stood Upright Himself. 
   
   
   
 "I Have It!" He Said. "Mary, The     Case Is Won! Twenty Men Have Spent The 
 Night And Early Morning beating the     River Bank So That The     Very Rats 
 Have Been Driven From Their Holes. Twenty Men Have Failed where A Dog 
 Would Have Succeeded. Mary, I Must Be Off." 
   
   
   
 "Ye'Re No Goin' Out Again, Dan. Ye'Re Weary Tee Death." 
   
   
   
 "I Must, My Dear, And It'S You Who Send Me." 
   
   
   
 "But, Dan, Where Are Ye Goin'?" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Grabbed his Hat And Cane From The     Sideboard Upon Which They Lay, 
 And: 
   
   
   
   
 "I'M Going for The     Dog!" He Rapped. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 34 (  Above And Below) Pg 320 
   
   
 Weary As He Was And Travel-Stained, For Once Neglectful Of     That Neatness 
 Upon Which He Prided himself, He Set Out, Hope Reborn In his Heart. His 
 Assertion That The     Very Rats Had Been Driven From Their Holes Was Scarce 
 An Exaggeration. A Search-Party Of     Twenty Men, Hastily Mustered and 
 Conducted by Kerry And Seton Pasha, Had Explored every House, Every 
 Shop, Every Wharf, And, As Kerry Believed, Every Cellar Adjoining the 
 Bank, Between Limehouse Basin And The     Dock Gates. Where Access Had Been 
 Denied them Or Where No One Had Resided they Had Never Hesitated to 
 Force An Entrance. But No Trace Had They Found Of     Those Whom They 
 Sought. 
   
   
   
 For The     First Time Within Kerry'S Memory, Or, Indeed, Within The 
 Memory Of     Any Member Of     The     Criminal Investigation Department, 
 Detective-Sergeant Coombes Had Ceased to Smile When The     Appalling truth 
 Was Revealed to Him That Sin Sin Wa Had Vanished--That Sin Sin Wa Had 
 Mysteriously Joined that Invisible Company Which Included kazmah, 
 Mrs. Sin And Mrs. Monte Irvin. Not A Word Of     Reprimand Did The     Chief 
 Inspector Utter, But His Eyes Seemed to Emit Sparks. Hands Plunged 
 Deeply In his Pockets He Had Turned away, And Not Even Seton Pasha Had 
 Dared to Speak To Him For Fully Five Minutes. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Began To Regard The     One-Eyed chinaman With A Superstitious Fear 
 Which He Strove In vain To Stifle. That Any Man Could Have Succeeded in 
 Converting a Chandu-Khan Such As That Described by Mollie Gretna Into A 
 Filthy Deserted dwelling such As That Visited by Kerry, Within The 
 Space Of     Some Thirty-Six Hours, Was Well Nigh Incredible. But The     Chief 
 Inspector Had Deduced (Correctly) That The     Exotic Appointments Depicted 
 By Mollie Were All Of     A Detachable Nature--Merely Masking the     Filthiness 
 Beneath; So That At The     Shortest Notice The     House Of     A Hundred raptures 
 Could Be Dismantled. The     Communicating door Was A Larger Proposition, 
 But That It Was One Within The     Compass Of     Sin Sin Wa Its Effectual 
 Disappearance Sufficiently Demonstrated. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 34 (  Above And Below) Pg 321 
 Doubtless (Kerry Mused savagely) The     Appointments Of     The     Opium-House Had 
 Been Smuggled into That Magically Hidden Cache Which Now Concealed the 
 Conjurer Sin Sin Wa As Well As The     Other Members Of     The     Kazmah Company. 
 How Any Man Of     Flesh And Blood Could Have Escaped from A Six-Roomed 
 House Surrounded by Detectives Surpassed kerry'S Powers Of     Imagination. 
 How Any Apartment Large Enough To Contain A Mouse, Much Less Half A 
 Dozen Human Beings, Could Exist Anywhere Within The     Area Covered by The 
 Search-Party He Failed to Understand, Nor Was He Prepared to Admit It 
 Humanly Possible. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Chartered a Taxicab By Brixton Town Hall And Directed the     Man 
 To Drive To Prince'S Gate. To The     Curious Glances Of     Certain Of     His 
 Neighbors Who Had Never Before Seen The     Chief Inspector Otherwise Than 
 A Model Of     Cleanliness And Spruceness He Was Indifferent. But The     Manner 
 In Which The     Taxi-Driver Looked him Up And Down Penetrated through The 
 Veil Of     Abstraction Which Hitherto Had Rendered kerry Impervious To All 
 External Impressions, And: 
   
   
   
 "Give Me Another Look Like That, My Lad," He Snapped furiously, "And 
 I'Ll Bash Your Head Through Your Blasted wind-Screen." 
   
   
   
 A Ready Retort Trembled upon The     Cabman'S Tongue, But A Glance Into The 
 Savage Blue Eyes Reduced him To Fearful Silence. Kerry Entered the     Cab 
 And Banged the     Door; And The     Man Drove Off Positively Trembling with 
 Indignation. 
   
   
   
 Deep In reflection The     Chief Inspector Was Driven Westward Through The 
 Early Morning traffic. Fine Rain Was Falling, And The     Streets Presented 
 That Curiously Drab Appearance Which Only London Streets Can Present 
 In All Its Dreary Perfection. Workers Bound Cityward Fought For Places 
   
 Inside Trams And Buses. A Hundred human Comedies And Tragedies Were To 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 34 (  Above And Below) Pg 322 
 Be Witnessed upon The     Highways; But To All Of     Them Kerry Was Blind As 
 He Was Deaf To The     Din Of     Workaday Babylon. In spirit He Was Roaming 
 The Bank Of     Old Father Thames Where The     River Sweeps Eastward Below 
 Limehouse Causeway--Wonder-Stricken Before The     Magic Of     The     One-Eyed 
 Wizard Who Could At Will Efface Himself As An Artist Rubs Out A Drawing, 
 Who Could Camouflage A Drug Warehouse So Successfully That Human Skill, 
 However Closely Addressed to The     Task, Failed utterly To Detect Its 
 Whereabouts. Above The     Discord Of     The     Busy Streets He Heard Again And 
 Again That Cry In the     Night Which Had Come From A Hapless Prisoner Whom 
 They Were Powerless To Succor. He Beat His Cane Upon The     Floor Of     The 
 Cab And Swore Savagely And Loudly. The     Intimidated cabman, Believing 
 These Demonstrations Designed to Urge Him To A Greater Speed, Performed 
 Feats Of     Driving calculated to Jeopardize His License. But Still The 
 Savage Passenger Stamped and Cursed, So That The     Cabby Began To Believe 
 That A Madman Was Seated behind Him. 
   
   
   
 At The     Corner Of     Kennington Oval Kerry Was Effectually Aroused to The 
 Realities. A Little Runabout Car Passed his Cab, Coming from A Southerly 
 Direction. Proceeding at A Rapid Speed it Was Lost In the     Traffic Ahead. 
 Unconsciously Kerry Had Glanced at The     Occupants And Had Recognized 
 Margaret Halley And Seton Pasha. The     Old Spirit Of     Rivalry Between 
 Himself And The     Man From Whitehall Leapt Up Hotly Within Kerry'S Breast. 
   
   
   
 "Now Where The     Hell Has He Been!" He Muttered. 
   
   
   
 As A Matter Of     Fact, Seton Pasha, Acting upon A Suggestion Of     Margaret'S 
 Had Been To Brixton Prison To Interview Juan Mareno Who Lay There Under 
 Arrest. Contents Bills Announcing this Arrest As The     Latest Public 
 Development In the     Bond Street Murder Case Were To Be Seen Upon Every 
 Newstand; Yet The     Problem Of     That Which Had Brought Seton To The     South 
 Of London Was One With Which Kerry Grappled in vain. He Had Parted 
 From The     Home Office Agent In the     Early Hours Of     The     Morning, And Their 
   
 Parting had Been One Of     Mutual Despair Which Neither Had Sought To 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 34 (  Above And Below) Pg 323 
 Disguise. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Coincidence Which A Student Of     Human Nature Might Have Regarded 
 As Significant, That Whereas Kerry Had Taken His Troubles Home To His 
 Wife, Seton Pasha Had Sought Inspiration From Margaret Halley; And 
 Whereas The     Guidance Of     Mary Kerry Had Led the     Chief Inspector To Hurry 
 In Quest Of     Rita Irvin'S Spaniel, The     Result Of     Seton'S Interview With 
 Margaret Had Been An Equally Hurried journey To The     Big Jail. 
   
   
   
 Unhappily Seton Had Failed to Elicit The     Slightest Information From The 
 Saturnine Mareno. Unmoved alike By Promises Or Threats, He Had Coolly 
 Adhered to His Original Evidence. 
   
   
   
 So, While The     Authorities Worked feverishly And All England Reading of 
 The Arrest Of     Mareno Inquired indignantly, "But Who Is Kazmah, And Where 
 Is Mrs. Monte Irvin?" Sin Sin Wa Placidly Pursued his Arrangements For 
 Immediate Departure To The     Paddyfields Of     Ho-Nan, And Sometimes In the 
 Weird Crooning voice With Which He Addressed the     Raven He Would Sing a 
 Monotonous Chant Dealing with The     Valley Of     The     Yellow River Where The 
 Opium-Poppy Grows. Hidden In the     Cunning vault, The     Search Had Passed 
 Above Him; And Watchful On A Quay On The     Surrey Shore Whereto His Dinghy 
 Was Fastened, George Martin Awaited the     Signal Which Should Tell Him 
 That Kazmah And Company Were Ready To Leave. Any Time After Dark He 
 Expected to See The     Waving lantern And To Collect His Last Payment From 
 The Traffic. 
   
   
   
 At The     Very Hour That Kerry Was Hastening to Prince'S Gate, Sin Sin Wa 
 Sat Before The     Stove In the     Drug Cache, The     Green-Eyed joss Upon His 
 Knee. With A Fragment Of     Chamois Leather He Lovingly Polished the 
 Leering idol, Crooning softly To Himself And Smiling his Mirthless 
   
 Smile. Perched upon His Shoulder The     Raven Studied this Operation With 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 34 (  Above And Below) Pg 324 
 Apparent Interest, His Solitary Eye Glittering bead-Like. Upon The 
 Opposite Side Of     The     Stove Sat The     Ancient Sam Tuk And At Intervals Of 
 Five Minutes Or More He Would Slowly Nod His Hairless Head. 
   
   
   
 The Sliding door Which Concealed the     Inner Room Was Partly Open, 
 And From The     Opening there Shone Forth A Dim Red light, Cast By The 
 Paper-Shaded lamp Which Illuminated the     Place. The     Coarse Voice Of 
 The Cuban-Jewess Rose And Fell In a Ceaseless Half-Muttered soliloquy, 
 Indescribably Unpleasant But To Which Sin Sin Wa Was Evidently 
 Indifferent. 
   
   
   
 Propped up Amid Cushions On The     Divan Which Once Had Formed part Of 
 The Furniture Of     The     House Of     A Hundred raptures, Mrs. Sin Was Smoking 
 Opium. The     Long Bamboo Pipe Had Fallen From Her Listless Fingers, And 
 Her Dark Eyes Were Partly Glazed. Buddha-Like Immobility Was Claiming 
 Her, But It Had Not Yet Effaced that Expression Of     Murderous Malice With 
 Which The     Smoker Contemplated the     Unconscious Woman Who Lay Upon The     Bed 
 At The     Other End Of     The     Room. 
   
   
   
 As The     Moments Passed the     Eyes Of     Mrs. Sin Grew More And More Glazed. 
 Her Harsh Voice Became Softened, And Presently: "Ah!" She Whispered; "So 
 You Wait To Smoke With Me?" 
   
   
   
 Immobile She Sat Propped up Amid The     Cushions, And Only Her Full Lips 
 Moved. 
   
   
   
 "Two Pipes Are Nothing to Cy," She Murmured. "He Smokes Five. But You 
 Are Not Going to Smoke?" 
   
   
   
 Again She Paused, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Ah, My Lucy. You Smoke With Me?" She Whispered coaxingly. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 34 (  Above And Below) Pg 325 
   
 Chandu Had Opened the     Poppy Gates. Mrs. Sin Was Conversing with Her Dead 
 Lover. 
   
   
   
 "Something has Changed you," She Sighed. "You Are Different--Lately. 
 You Have Lots Of     Money Now. Your Investments Have Been Good. You Want To 
 Become--Respectable, Eh?" 
   
   
   
 Slightly--Ever So Slightly--The Red lips Curled upwards. No Sound Of 
 Life Came From The     Woman Lying white And Still In the     Bed. But Through 
 The Partly Open Door Crept Snatches Of     Sin Sin Wa'S Crooning melody. 
   
   
   
 "Yet Once," She Murmured, "Yet Once I Seemed beautiful To You, Lucy. For 
 La Belle Lola You Forgot That English Pride." She Laughed softly. 
 "You Forgot Sin Sin Wa. If There Had Been No Lola You Would Never Have 
 Escaped from Buenos Ayres With Your Life, My Lucy. You Forgot That 
 English Pride, And Did Not Ask Me Where I Got Them From--The Ten 
 Thousand Dollars To Buy Your 'Honor' Back." 
   
   
   
 She Became Silent, As If Listening to The     Dead Man'S Reply. Finally: 
   
   
   
 "No--I Do Not Reproach You, My Dear," She Whispered. "You Have Paid Me 
 Back A Thousand Fold, And Sin Sin Wa, The     Old Fox, Grows Rich And Fat. 
 Today We Hold The     Traffic In our Hands, Lucy. The     Old Fox Cares Only For 
 His Money. Before It Is Too Late Let Us Go--You And I. Do You Remember 
 Havana, And The     Two Months Of     Heaven We Spent There? Oh, Let Us Go Back 
 To Havana, Lucy. Kazmah Has Made Us Rich. Let Kazmah Die.... You Smoke 
 With Me?" 
   
   
   
 Again She Became Silent, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Very Likely," She Murmured; "Very Likely I Know Why You Don'T Smoke. 
 You Have Promised your Pretty Little Friend That You Will Stay Awake And 
   
 See That Nobody Tries To Cut Her Sweet White Throat." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 34 (  Above And Below) Pg 326 
   
 She Paused momentarily, Then Muttered something rapidly In spanish, 
 Followed by A Short, Guttural Phrase In chinese. 
   
   
   
 "Why Do You Bring her To The     House?" She Whispered hoarsely. "And You 
 Brought Her To Kazmah'S. Ah! I See. Now Everybody Says You Are Changed. 
 Yes. She Is A Charming friend." 
   
   
   
 The Buddha-Like Face Became Suddenly Contorted, And As Suddenly Grew 
 Placid Again. 
   
   
   
 "I Know! I Know!" Mrs. Sin Muttered harshly. "Do You Think I Am Blind! 
 If She Had Been Like Any Of     The     Others, Do You Suppose It Would Have 
 Mattered to Me? But You Respect Her--You Respect...." Her Voice Died 
 Away To An Almost Inaudible Whisper: "I Don'T Believe You. You Are 
 Telling me Lies. But You Have Always Told Me Lies; One More Does Not 
 Matter, I Suppose.... How Strong You Are. You Have Hurt My Wrists. You 
 Will Smoke With Me Now?" 
   
   
   
 She Ceased speaking abruptly, And Abruptly Resumed again: 
   
   
   
 "And I Do As You Wish--I Do As You Wish. How Can I Keep Her From It 
 Except By Making the     Price So High That She Cannot Afford To Buy It? I 
 Tell You I Do It. I Bargain For The     Pink And White Boy, Quentin, Because 
 I Want Her To Be Indebted to Him--Because I Want Her To Be So Sorry For 
 Him That She Lets Him Take Her Away From You! Why Should You Respect 
 Her--" 
   
   
   
 Silence Fell Upon The     Drugged speaker. Sin Sin Wa Could Be Heard 
 Crooning softly About The     Yellow River And The     Mountain Gods Who Sent It 
 Sweeping down Through The     Valleys Where The     Opium-Poppy Grows. 
   
   
   
 "Go, Juan," Hissed mrs. Sin. "I Say--Go!" 
   
   
   
 Her Voice Changed eerily To A Deep, Mocking bass; And Rita Irvin Lying, 
 A Pallid Wraith Of     Her Once Lovely Self, Upon The     Untidy Bed, Stirred 
 Slightly--Her Lashes Quivering. Her Eyes Opened and Stared straightly 
 Upward At The     Low, Dirty Ceiling, Horror Growing in their Shadowy 
 Depths. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 35 (  Beyond The     Veil) Pg 327 
   
 Rita Irvin'S Awakening was No Awakening in the     Usually Accepted sense Of 
 The Word; It Did Not Even Represent A Lifting of     The     Veil Which Cut 
 Her Off From The     World, But No More Than A Momentary Perception Of     The 
 Existence Of     Such A Veil And Of     The     Existence Of     Something behind It. 
 Upon The     Veil, In grey Smoke, The     Name "Kazmah" Was Written In moving 
 Characters. Beyond The     Veil, Dimly Divined, Was Life. 
   
   
   
 As Of     Old The     Victims Of     The     Inquisition, Waking or Dreaming, Beheld 
 Ever Before Them The     Instrument Of     Their Torture, So Before This Woman'S 
 Racked and Half-Numbed mind Panoramically Passed, An Endless Pageant, 
 The Incidents Of     The     Night Which Had Cut Her Off From Living men 
 And Women. She Tottered on The     Border-Line Which Divides Sanity From 
 Madness. She Was Learning what Sir Lucien Had Meant When, Once, Long 
 Long Ago, In some Remote Time When She Was Young And Happy And Had 
 Belonged to A Living world, He Had Said "A Day Is Sure To Come." It 
 Had Come, That "Day." It Had Dawned when She Had Torn The     Veil Before 
 Kazmah--And That Veil Had Enveloped her Ever Since. All That Had 
 Preceded the     Fatal Act Was Blotted out, Blurred and Indistinct; All That 
 Had Succeeded it Lived eternally, Passing, An Endless Pageant, Before 
 Her Tortured mind. 
   
   
   
 The Horror Of     The     Moment When She Had Touched the     Hands Of     The     Man 
 Seated in the     Big Ebony Chair Was Of     Such Kind That No Subsequent 
 Terrors Had Supplanted it. For Those Long, Slim Hands Of     The     Color Of 
 Old Ivory Were Cold, Rigid, Lifeless--The Hands Of     A Corpse! Thus The 
 Pageant Began, And It Continued as Hereafter, Memory And Delusion Taking 
 The Stage In turn. 
   
   
   
 * * * * * 
   
   
   
 Complete Darkness Came. 
   
   
   
 Rita Uttered a Wild Cry Of     Horror And Loathing, Shrinking back From 
 The Thing which Sat In the     Ebony Chair. She Felt That Consciousness Was 
 Slipping from Her; Felt Herself Falling, And Shrieked to Know Herself 
 Helpless And Alone With Kazmah. She Groped for Support, But Found None; 
 And, Moaning, She Sank Down, And Was Unconscious Of     Her Fall. 
   
   
   
 A Voice Awakened her. Someone Knelt Beside Her In the     Darkness, 
 Supporting her; Someone Who Spoke Wildly, Despairingly, But With A 
 Strange, Emotional Reverence Curbing the     Passion In his Voice. 
   
   
   
 "Rita--My Rita! What Have They Done To You? Speak To Me.... Oh God! 
 Spare Her To Me.... Let Her Hate Me For Ever, But Spare Her--Spare Her. 
 Rita, Speak To Me! I Tried, Heaven Hear Me, To Save You Little Girl. I 
 Only Want You To Be Happy!" 
   
   
   
 She Felt Herself Being lifted gently, Tenderly. And As Though The     Man'S 
 Passionate Entreaty Had Called her Back From The     Dead, She Reentered 
 Into Life And Strove To Realize What Had Happened. 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Was Supporting her, And She Found It Hard To Credit The     Fact 
 That It Was He, The     Hard, Nonchalant Man Of     The     World She Knew, Who Had 
 Spoken. She Clutched his Arm With Both Hands. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 35 (  Beyond The     Veil) Pg 328 
 "Oh, Lucy!" She Whispered. "I Am So Frightened--And So Ill." 
   
   
   
 "Thank God," He Said Huskily, "She Is Alive. Lean Against Me And Try To 
 Stand Up. We Must Get Away From Here." 
   
   
   
 Rita Managed to Stand Upright, Clinging wildly To Sir Lucien. A Square, 
 Vaguely Luminous Opening became Visible To Her. Against It, Silhouetted, 
 She Could Discern Part Of     The     Outline Of     Kazmah'S Chair. She Drew Back, 
 Uttering a Low, Sobbing cry. Sir Lucien Supported her, And: 
   
   
   
 "Don'T Be Afraid, Dear," He Said Reassuringly. "Nothing shall Hurt You." 
   
   
   
 He Pushed open A Door, And Through It Shone The     Same Vague Light Which 
 She Had Seen In the     Opening behind The     Chair. Sir Lucien Spoke Rapidly 
 In A Language Which Sounded like Spanish. He Was Answered by A Perfect 
 Torrent Of     Words In the     Same Tongue. 
   
   
   
 Fiercely He Cried something back At The     Hidden Speaker. 
   
   
   
 A Shriek Of     Rage, Of     Frenzy, Came Out Of     The     Darkness. Rita Felt That 
 Consciousness Was About To Leave Her Again. She Swayed forward Dizzily, 
 And A Figure Which Seemed to Belong To Delirium--A Lithe Shadow Out Of 
 Which Gleamed a Pair Of     Wild Eyes--Leapt Upon Her. A Knife Glittered.... 
   
   
   
 In Order To Have Repelled the     Attack, Sir Lucien Would Have Had To 
 Release Rita, Who Was Clinging to Him, Weak And Terror-Stricken. Instead 
 He Threw Himself Before Her.... She Saw The     Knife Enter His Shoulder.... 
   
   
   
 Through Absolute Darkness She Sank Down Into A Land Of     Chaotic Nightmare 
 Horrors. Great Bells Clanged maddeningly. Impish Hands Plucked at Her 
 Garments, Dragged her Hair. She Was Hurried this Way And That, Bruised, 
 Torn, And Tossed helpless Upon A Sea Of     Liquid Brass. Through Vast 
 Avenues Lined with Yellow, Immobile Chinese Faces She Was Borne Upon A 
 Bier. Oblique Eyes Looked into Hers. Knives Which Glittered greenly In 
 The Light Of     Lamps Globular And Suspended in immeasurable Space, Were 
 Hurled at Her In showers.... 
   
   
   
 Sir Lucien Stood Before Her, Supporting her; And All The     Knives Buried 
 Themselves In his Body. She Tried to Cry Out, But No Sound Could She 
 Utter. Darkness Fell Again.... 
   
   
   
 A Chinaman Was Bending over Her. His Hands Were Tucked in his Loose 
 Sleeves. He Smiled, And His Smile Was Hideous But Friendly. He Was 
 Strangely Like Sin Sin Wa, Save That He Did Not Lack An Eye. 
   
   
   
 Rita Found Herself Lying in an Untidy Bed in a Room Laden With Opium 
 Fumes And Dimly Lighted. On A Table Beside Her Were The     Remains Of 
 A Meal. She Strove To Recall Having partaken Of     Food, But Was 
 Unsuccessful.... 
   
   
   
 There Came A Blank--Then A Sharp, Stabbing pain In her Right Arm. She 
 Thought It Was The     Knife, And Shrieked wildly Again And Again.... 
   
   
   
 Years Seemingly Elapsed, Years Of     Agony Spent Amid Oblique Eyes Which 
 Floated in space Unattached to Any Visible Body, Amid Reeking fumes And 
 Sounds Of     Ceaseless Conflict. Once She Heard The     Cry Of     Some Bird, And 
 Thought It Must Be The     Parakeet Which Eternally Sat On A Branch Of     A 
 Lonely Palm In the     Heart Of     The     Great Sahara.... Then, One Night, When 
 She Lay Shrinking from The     Plucking yellow Hands Which Reached out Of 
 The Darkness: 
   
   
   
 "Tell Me Your Dream," Boomed a Deep, Mocking voice; "And I Will Read Its 
 Portent!" 
   
   
   
   
 She Opened her Eyes. She Lay In the     Untidy Bed in the     Room Which Was 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 35 (  Beyond The     Veil) Pg 329 
 Laden With The     Fumes Of     Opium. She Stared upward At The     Low, Dirty 
 Ceiling. 
   
   
   
 "Why Do You Come To Me With Your Stories Of     Desperation?" Continued the 
 Mocking voice. "You Have Insisted upon Seeing me. I Am Here." 
   
   
   
 Rita Managed to Move Her Head So That She Could See More Of     The     Room. 
   
   
   
 On A Divan At The     Other End Of     The     Place, Propped up By A Number Of 
 Garish Cushions, Rita Beheld Mrs. Sin. The     Long Bamboo Pipe Had Fallen 
 From Her Listless Fingers. Her Face Wore An Expression Of     Mystic 
 Rapture, Like That Characterizing the     Features Of     Some Chinese 
 Buddhas.... 
   
   
   
 In The     Other Corner Of     The     Divan, Contemplating her From Under Heavy 
 Brows, Sat Kazmah.... 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 Chapter Xxxvi. Sam Tuk Moves 
   
   
   
 Chinatown Was Being watched as Chinatown Had Never Been Watched before, 
 Even During the     Most Stringent Enforcement Of     The     Defence Of     The     Realm 
 Act. K Division Was On Its Mettle, And Scotland Yard Had Sent To Aid 
 Chief Inspector Kerry Every Man That Could Be Spared to The     Task. The 
 River Police, Too, Were Aflame With Zeal; For Every Officer In the 
 Service Whose Work Lay East Of     London Bridge Had Appropriated to Himself 
 The Stigma Implied by The     Creation Of     Lord Wrexborough'S Commission. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 35 (  Beyond The     Veil) Pg 330 
 "Corners" In foodstuffs, Metals, And Other Indispensable Commodities Are 
 Appreciated by Every Man, Because Every Man Knows Such Things To 
 Exist; But A Corner In drugs Was Something which The     East End Police 
 Authorities Found Very Difficult To Grasp. They Could Not Free Their 
 Minds Of     The     Traditional Idea That Every Second Chinaman In the     Causeway 
 Was A Small Importer. They Were Seeking a Hundred lesser Stores Instead 
 Of One Greater One. Not All Seton'S Quiet Explanations Nor Kerry'S 
 Savage Language Could Wean The     Higher Local Officials From Their 
 Ancient Beliefs. They Failed to Conceive The     Idea Of     A Wealthy Syndicate 
 Conducted by An Educated chinaman And Backed, Covered, And Protected by 
 A Crooked gentleman And Accomplished man Of     Affairs. 
   
   
   
 Perhaps They Knew And Perhaps They Knew Not, That During the     Period 
 Ruled by D.O.R.A. As Much As L25 Was Paid By Habitues For One Pipe Of 
 Chandu. The     Power Of     Gold Is Often Badly Estimated by An Official Whose 
 Horizon Is Marked by A Pension. This Is Mere Lack Of     Imagination, And No 
 More Reflects Discredit Upon A Man Than Lack Of     Hair On His Crown Or Of 
 Color In his Cheeks. Nevertheless, It May Prove Very Annoying. 
   
   
   
 Towards The     Close Of     An Afternoon Which Symbolized the     Worst That 
 London'S Particular Climate Can Do In the     Matter Of     Drizzling rain And 
 Gloom, Chief Inspector Kerry, Carrying an Irritable Toy Spaniel, Came 
 Out Of     A Turning which Forms A V With Limehouse Canal, Into A Narrow 
 Street Which Runs Parallel With The     Thames. He Had Arrived at The 
 Conclusion That The     Neighborhood Was Sown So Thickly With Detectives 
 That One Could Not Throw A Stone Without Hitting one. Yet Sin Sin Wa Had 
 Quietly Left His Abode And Had Disappeared from Official Ken. 
   
   
   
 Three Times Within The     Past Ten Minutes The     Spaniel Had Tried to 
 Bite Kerry, Nor Was Kerry Blind To The     Amusement Which His Burden Had 
 Occasioned among The     Men Of     K Division Whom He Had Met On His Travels. 
 Finally, As He Came Out Into The     Riverside Lane, The     Ill-Tempered little 
 Animal Essayed a Fourth, And Successful, Attempt, Burying his Wicked 
 White Teeth In the     Chief Inspector'S Wrist. 
   
   
   
   
 Kerry Hooked his Finger Into The     Dog'S Collar, Swung The     Yapping animal 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 36 (  Sam Tuk Moves) Pg 331 
 Above His Head, And Hurled it From Him Into The     Gloom And Rain Mist. 
   
   
   
 "Hell Take The     Blasted thing!" He Shouted. "I'M Done With It!" 
   
   
   
 He Tenderly Sucked his Wounded wrist, And Picking up His Cane, Which He 
 Had Dropped, He Looked about Him And Swore Savagely. Of     Seton Pasha He 
 Had Had News Several Times During the     Day, And He Was Aware That The 
 Home Office Agent Was Not Idle. But To That Old Rivalry Which Had Leapt 
 Up Anew When He Had Seen Seton Near Kennington Oval Had Succeeded a 
 Sort Of     Despair; So That Now He Would Have Welcomed the     Information 
 That Seton Had Triumphed where He Had Failed. A Furious Hatred of     The 
 One-Eyed chinaman Around Whom He Was Convinced the     Mystery Centred had 
 Grown Up Within His Mind. At That Hour He Would Gladly Have Resigned his 
 Post And Sacrificed his Pension To Know That Sin Sin Wa Was Under Lock 
 And Key. His Outlook Was Official, And Accordingly Peculiar. He Regarded 
 The Murder Of     Sir Lucien Pyne And The     Flight Or Abduction Of     Mrs. Monte 
 Irvin As Mere Minor Incidents In a Case Wherein Sin Sin Wa Figured as 
 The Chief Culprit. Nothing had Acted so Powerfully To Bring about 
 This Conviction In the     Mind Of     The     Chief Inspector As The     Inexplicable 
 Disappearance Of     The     Chinaman Under Circumstances Which Had Apparently 
 Precluded such A Possibility. 
   
   
   
 A Whimpering cry Came To Kerry'S Ears; And Because Beneath The     Mask Of 
 Ferocity Which He Wore A Humane Man Was Concealed: "Flames!" He Snapped; 
 "Perhaps I'Ve Broken The     Poor Little Devil'S Leg." 
   
   
   
 Shaking a Cascade Of     Water From The     Brim Of     His Neat Bowler, He Set Off 
 Through The     Murk Towards The     Spot From Whence The     Cries Of     The     Spaniel 
 Seemed to Proceed. A Few Paces Brought Him To The     Door Of     A Dirty Little 
 Shop. In a Window Close Beside It Appeared the     Legend: 
   
   
   
     Sam Tuk 
     Barber. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 36 (  Sam Tuk Moves)  Pg 332 
   
   
 The Spaniel Crouched by The     Door Whining and Scratching, And As Kerry 
 Came Up It Raised its Beady Black Eyes To Him With A Look Which, While 
 It Was Not Unfearful, Held An Unmistakable Appeal. Kerry Stood Watching 
 The Dog For A Moment, And As He Watched he Became Conscious Of     An 
 Exhilarated pulse. 
   
   
   
 He Tried the     Door And Found It To Be Open. Thereupon He Entered a Dirty 
 Little Shop, Which He Remembered to Have Searched in person In the     Grey 
 Dawn Of     The     Day Which Now Was Entering upon A Premature Dusk. The     Dog 
 Ran In past Him, Crossed the     Gloomy Shop, And Raced down Into A Tiny 
 Coal Cellar, Which Likewise Had Been Submitted during the     Early Hours 
 Of The     Morning to Careful Scrutiny Under The     Directions Of     The     Chief 
 Inspector. 
   
   
   
 A Chinese Boy, Who Had Been The     Only Occupant Of     The     Place On That 
 Occasion And Who Had Given His Name As Ah Fung, Was Surprised by The 
 Sudden Entrance Of     Man And Dog In the     Act Of     Spreading coal Dust With 
 His Fingers Upon A Portion Of     The     Paved floor. He Came To His Feet With 
 A Leap And Confronted kerry. The     Spaniel Began To Scratch Feverishly 
 Upon The     Spot Where The     Coal Dust Had Been Artificially Spread. Kerry'S 
 Eyes Gleamed like Steel. He Shot Out His Hand And Grasped the     Chinaman 
 By His Long Hair. "Open That Trap," He Said, "Or I'Ll Break You In 
 Half!" 
   
   
   
 Ah Fung'S Oblique Eyes Regarded him With An Expression Difficult To 
 Analyze, But Partly It Was Murder. He Made No Attempt To Obey The     Order. 
 Meanwhile The     Dog, Whining and Scratching furiously, Had Exposed the 
 Greater Part Of     A Stone Slab Somewhat Larger Than Those Adjoining it, 
 And Having a Large Crack Or Fissure In one End. 
   
   
   
 "For The     Last Time," Said Kerry, Drawing the     Man'S Head Back So That His 
 Breath Began To Whistle Through His Nostrils, "Open That Trap." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 36 (  Sam Tuk Moves)  Pg 333 
   
   
 As He Spoke He Released ah Fung, And Ah Fung Made One Wild Leap Towards 
 The Stairs. Kerry'S Fist Caught Him Behind The     Ear As He Sprang, And 
 He Went Down Like A Dead Man Upon A Small Heap Of     Coal Which Filled the 
 Angle Of     The     Cellar. 
   
   
   
 Breathing rapidly And Having his Teeth So Tightly Clenched that His 
 Maxillary Muscles Protruded lumpishly, Kerry Stood Looking at The     Fallen 
 Man. But Ah Fung Did Not Move. The     Dog Had Ceased to Scratch, And 
 Now Stood Uttering short Staccato Barks And Looking up At The     Chief 
 Inspector. Otherwise There Was No Sound In the     House, Above Or Below. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stooped, And With His Handkerchief Scrupulously Dusted the     Stone 
 Slab. The     Spaniel, Resentment Forgotten, Danced excitedly Beside Him And 
 Barked continuously. 
   
   
   
 "There'S Some Sort Of     Hook To Fit In that Crack," Muttered kerry. 
   
   
   
 He Began To Hunt About Among The     Debris Which Littered one End Of     The 
 Cellar, Testing fragment After Fragment, But Failing to Find Any Piece 
 Of Scrap To Suit His Purpose. By Sheer Perseverance Rather Than By Any 
 Process Of     Reasoning, He Finally Hit Upon The     Piece Of     Bent Wire Which 
 Was The     Key To This Door Of     Sin Sin Wa'S Drug Warehouse. 
   
   
   
 One Short Exclamation Of     Triumph He Muttered at The     Moment That His 
 Glance Rested upon It, And Five Seconds Later He Had The     Trapdoor Open 
 And Was Peering down Into The     Narrow Pit In which Wooden Steps Rested. 
 The Spaniel Began To Bark Wildly, Whereupon Kerry Grasped him, Tucked 
 Him Under His Arm, And Ran Up To The     Room Above, Where He Deposited the 
 Furiously Wriggling animal. He Stepped quickly Back Again And Closed the 
 Upper Door. By This Act He Plunged the     Cellar Into Complete Darkness, 
   
 And Accordingly He Took Out From The     Pocket Of     His Rain-Drenched overall 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 36 (  Sam Tuk Moves) Pg 334 
 The Electric Torch Which He Always Carried. Directing its Ray Downwards 
 Into The     Cellar, He Perceived ah Fung Move And Toss His Hand Above His 
 Head. He Also Detected a Faint Rattling sound. 
   
   
   
 "Ah!" Said Kerry. 
   
   
   
 He Descended, And Stooping over The     Unconscious Man Extracted from The 
 Pocket Of     His Baggy Blue Trousers Four Keys Upon A Ring. At These Kerry 
 Stared eagerly. Two Of     Them Belonged to Yale Locks; The     Third Was A 
 Simple English Barrel-Key, Which Probably Fitted a Padlock; But The 
 Fourth Was Large And Complicated. 
   
   
   
 "Looks Like The     Key Of     A Jail," He Said Aloud. 
   
   
   
 He Spoke With Unconscious Prescience. This Was The     Key Of     The     Door Of 
 The Vault. Removing his Overall, Kerry Laid It With His Cane Upon The 
 Scrap-Heap, Then He Climbed down The     Ladder And Found Himself In the 
 Mouth Of     That Low Timbered tunnel, Like A Trenchwork, Which Owed 
 Its Existence To The     Cunning craftsmanship Of     Sin Sin Wa. Stooping 
 Uncomfortably, He Made His Way Along The     Passage Until The     Massive Door 
 Confronted him. He Was In no Doubt As To Which Key To Employ; His Mental 
 Condition Was Such That He Was Indifferent To The     Dangers Which Probably 
 Lay Before Him. 
   
   
   
 The Well-Oiled lock Operated smoothly. Kerry Pushed the     Door Open And 
 Stepped briskly Into The     Vault. 
   
   
   
 His Movements, From The     Moment That He Had Opened the     Trap, Had Been 
 Swift And As Nearly Noiseless As The     Difficulties Of     The     Task Had 
 Permitted. Nevertheless, They Had Not Been So Silent As To Escape The 
   
 Attention Of     The     Preternaturally Acute Sin Sin Wa. Kerry Found The     Place 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 36 (  Sam Tuk Moves)Pg 335 
 Occupied only By The     Aged sam Tuk. A Bright Fire Burned in the     Stove, 
 And A Ship'S Lantern Stood Upon The     Counter. Dense Chemical Fumes 
 Rendered the     Air Difficult To Breathe; But The     Shelves, Once Laden With 
 The Largest Illicit Collection Of     Drugs In london, Were Bare. 
   
   
   
 Kerry'S Fierce Eyes Moved right And Left; His Jaws Worked automatically. 
 Sam Tuk Sat Motionless, His Hands Concealed in his Sleeves, Bending 
 Decrepitly Forward In his Chair. Then: 
   
   
   
 "Hi! Guy Fawkes!" Rapped kerry, Striding forward. "Who'S Been Letting 
 Off Fire-Works?" 
   
   
   
 Sam Tuk Nodded senilely, But Spoke Not A Word. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Stooped and Stared into The     Heart Of     The     Fire. A Dense Coat Of 
 White Ash Lay Upon The     Embers. He Grasped the     Shoulder Of     The     Aged 
 Chinaman, And Pushed him Back So That He Could Look Into The     Bleared 
 Eyes Behind The     Owlish Spectacles. 
   
   
   
 "Been Cleaning up The     'Evidence,' Eh?" He Shouted. "This Joint Stinks 
 Of Opium And A Score Of     Other Dopes. Where Are The     Gang?" He Shook The 
 Yielding, Ancient Frame. "Where'S The     Smart With One Eye?" 
   
   
   
 But Sam Tuk Merely Nodded, And As Kerry Released his Hold Sank Forward 
 Again, Nodding incessantly. 
   
   
   
 "H'M, You'Re A Hard Case," Said The     Chief Inspector. "A Couple Of 
 Witnesses Like You And The     Jury Would Retire To Bedlam!" 
   
   
   
 He Stood Glaring fiercely At The     Limp Frame Of     The     Old Chinaman, And As 
 He Glared his Expression Changed. Lying on The     Dirty Floor Not A Yard 
   
 From Sam Tuk'S Feet Was A Ball Of     Leaf Opium! 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 36 (  Sam Tuk Moves) Pg 336 
   
 "Ha!" Exclaimed kerry, And He Stooped to Pick It Up. 
   
   
   
 As He Did So, With A Lightning movement Of     Which The     Most Astute 
 Observer Could Never Have Supposed him Capable, Sam Tuk Whipped a Loaded 
 Rubber Tube From His Sleeve And Struck Kerry A Shrewd Blow Across The 
 Back Of     The     Skull. 
   
   
   
 The Chief Inspector, Without Word Or Cry, Collapsed upon His Knees, And 
 Then Fell Gently Forward--Forward--And Toppled face Downwards Before His 
 Assailant. His Bowler Fell Off And Rolled across The     Dirty Floor. 
   
   
   
 Sam Tuk Sank Deeply Into His Chair, And His Toothless Jaws Worked 
 Convulsively. The     Skinny Hand Which Clutched the     Piece Of     Tubing 
 Twitched and Shook, So That The     Primitive Deadly Weapon Fell From Its 
 Wielder'S Grasp. 
   
   
   
 Silently, That Set Of     Empty Shelves Nearest To The     Inner Wall Of     The 
 Vault Slid Open, And Sin Sin Wa Came Out. He, Too, Carried his Hands 
 Tucked in his Sleeves, And His Yellow, Pock-Marked face Wore Its Eternal 
 Smile. 
   
   
   
 "Well Done," He Crooned softly In chinese. "Well Done, Bald Father Of 
 Wisdom. The     Dogs Draw Near, But The     Old Fox Sleeps Not." 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 37 ( Seton Pasha Reports) Pg 337 
   
 At About The     Time That The     Fearless Chief Inspector Was Entering the 
 Establishment Of     Sam Tuk Seton Pasha Was Reporting to Lord Wrexborough 
   
 In Wh Had Now Finally Abandoned it, Recognizing that He Had To Deal With 
 A Criminal Of     Genius To Whom Disguise Merely Afforded matter For 
 Amusement. 
   
   
   
 In His Proper Person, As Greville Seton, He Afforded a Marked contrast 
 To That John Smiles, Seaman, Who Had Sat In a Top Room In limehouse With 
 Chief Inspector Kerry. And Although He Had To Report Failure, The     Grim, 
 Bronzed face And Bright Grey Eyes Must Have Inspired in the     Heart Of     Any 
 Thoughtful Observer Confidence In ultimate Success. Lord Wrexborough, 
 Silver-Haired, Florid And Dignified, Sat Before A Vast Table Laden With 
 Neatly Arranged dispatch-Boxes, Books, Documents Tied with Red tape, 
 And The     Other Impressive Impedimenta Which Characterize The     Table Of 
 A Secretary Of     State. Quentin Gray, Unable To Conceal His Condition Of 
 Nervous Excitement, Stared from A Window Down Into Whitehall. 
   
   
   
 "I Take It, Then, Seton," Lord Wrexborough Was Saying, "That In your 
 Opinion--Although Perhaps It Is Somewhat Hastily Formed--There Is And 
 Has Been No Connivance Between Officials And Receivers Of     Drugs?" 
   
   
   
 "That Is My Opinion, Sir. The     Traffic Has Gradually And Ingeniously Been 
 'Ringed' By A Wealthy Group. Smaller Dealers Have Been Bought Out 
 Or Driven Out, And Today I Believe It Would Be Difficult, If Not 
 Impossible, To Obtain Opium, Cocaine, Or Veronal Illicitly Anywhere In 
 London. Kazmah And Company Had The     Available Stock Cornered. Of     Course, 
 Now That They Are Out Of     Business, No Doubt Others Will Step In. It Is A 
 Trade That Can Never Be Suppressed under Existing laws." 
   
   
   
 "I See, I See," Muttered lord Wrexborough, Adjusting his Pince-Nez. 
 "You Also Believe That Kazmah And Company Are In hiding within What 
 You Term"--He Consulted a Written Page--"The 'Causeway Area'? And You 
 Believe That The     Man Called sin Sin Wa Is The     Head Of     The     Organization?" 
   
   
   
 "I Believe The     Late Sir Lucien Pyne Was The     Actual Head Of     The     Group," 
 Said Seton Bluntly. "But Sin Sin Wa Is The     Acting head. In view Of     His itehall. His Nautical Disguise Had Served its Purpose, And He 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 37 ( Seton Pasha Reports) Pg 338 
 Physical Peculiarities, I Don'T Quite See How He'S Going to Escape 
 Us, Either, Sir. His Wife Has A Fighting chance, And As For Mohammed 
 El-Kazmah, He Might Sail For Anywhere Tomorrow, And We Should Never 
 Know. You See, We Have No Description Of     The     Man." 
   
   
   
 "His Passports?" Murmured lord Wrexborough. 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Smiled grimly. 
   
   
   
 "Not An Insurmountable Difficulty, Sir," He Replied, "But Sin Sin Wa Is 
 A Marked man. He Has The     Longest And Thickest Pigtail Which I Ever 
 Saw On A Human Scalp. I Take It He Is A Southerner Of     The     Old School; 
 Therefore, He Won'T Cut It Off. He Has Also Only One Eye, And While 
 There Are Many One-Eyed chinamen, There Are Few One-Eyed chinamen Who 
 Possess Pigtails Like A Battleship'S Hawser. Furthermore, He Travels 
 With A Talking raven, And I'Ll Swear He Won'T Leave It Behind. On The 
 Other Hand, He Is Endowed with An Amount Of     Craft Which Comes Very Near 
 To Genius." 
   
   
   
 "And--Mrs. Monte Irvin?" 
   
   
   
 Quentin Gray Turned suddenly, And His Boyish Face Was Very Pale. 
   
   
   
 "Seton, Seton!" He Said. "For God'S Sake Tell Me The     Truth! Do You 
 Think--" 
   
   
   
 He Stopped, Choking emotionally. Seton Pasha Watched him With That Cool, 
 Confident Stare Which Could Either Soothe Or Irritate; And: 
   
   
   
 "She Was Alive This Morning, Gray," He Replied quietly, "We Heard Her. 
 You May Take It From Me That They Will Offer Her No Violence. I Shall 
 Say No More." 
   
   
   
   
 Lord Wrexborough Cleared his Throat And Took Up A Document From The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 37 ( Seton Pasha Reports) Pg 339 
 Table. 
   
   
   
 "Your Remark Raises Another Point, Quentin," He Said Sternly, "Which 
 Has To Be Settled today. Your Appointment To Cairo Was Confirmed this 
 Morning. You Sail On Tuesday." 
   
   
   
 Quentin Gray Turned again Abruptly And Stared out Of     The     Window. 
   
   
   
 "You'Re Practically Kicking me Out, Sir," He Said. "I Don'T Know What 
 I'Ve Done." 
   
   
   
 "You Have Done Nothing," Replied lord Wrexborough "Which An Honorable 
 Man May Not Do. But In common With Many Others Similarly Circumstanced, 
 You Seem Inclined, Now That Your Military Duties Are At An End, To 
 Regard Life As A Sort Of     Perpetual 'Leave.' I Speak Frankly Before Seton 
 Because I Know That He Agrees With Me. My Friend The     Foreign Secretary 
 Has Generously Offered you An Appointment Which Opens Up A Career That 
 Should Not--I Repeat, That Should Not Prove Less Successful Than His 
 Own." 
   
   
   
 Gray Turned, And His Face Had Flushed deeply. 
   
   
   
 "I Know That Margaret Has Been Scaring you About Rita Irvin," He Said, 
 "But On My Word, Sir, There Was No Need to Do It." 
   
   
   
 He Met Seton Pasha'S Cool Regard, And: 
   
   
   
 "Margaret'S One Of     The     Best," He Added. "I Know You Agree With Me?" 
   
   
   
 A Faint Suggestion Of     Added color Came Into Seton'S Tanned cheeks. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 37 ( Seton Pasha Reports) Pg 340 
 "I Do, Gray," He Answered quietly. "I Believe You Are Good Enough To 
 Look Upon Me As A Real Friend; Therefore Allow Me To Add My Advice, For 
 What It Is Worth, To That Of     Lord Wrexborough And Your Cousin: Take The 
 Egyptian Appointment. I Know Where It Will Lead. You Can Do No Good By 
 Remaining in london; And When We Find Mrs. Irvin Your Presence Would Be 
 An Embarrassment To The     Unhappy Man Who Waits For News At Prince'S Gate. 
 I Am Frank, But It'S My Way." 
   
   
   
 He Held Out His Hand, Smiling. Quentin Gray'S Mercurial Complexion Was 
 Changing again, But: 
   
   
   
 "Good Old Seton!" He Said, Rather Huskily, And Gripped the     Outstretched 
 Hand. "For Irvin'S Sake, Save Her!" 
   
   
   
 He Turned to His Father. 
   
   
   
 "Thank You, Sir," He Added, "You Are Always Right. I Shall Be Ready On 
 Tuesday. I Suppose You Are Off Again, Seton?" 
   
   
   
 "I Am," Was The     Reply. "Chief Inspector Kerry Is Moving heaven And Earth 
 To Find The     Kazmah Establishment, And I Don'T Want To Come In a Poor 
 Second." 
   
   
   
 Lord Wrexborough Cleared his Throat And Turned in the     Padded revolving 
 Chair. 
   
   
   
 "Honestly, Seton," He Said, "What Do You Think Of     Your Chance Of 
 Success?" 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Smiled grimly. 
   
   
 "Many Ascribe Success To Wit," He Replied, "And Failure To Bad Luck; But 
   
 The Arab Says 'Kismet.'" 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 38( The     Song Of     Sin Sin Was) Pg 341 
   
 Mrs. Sin, Aroused by Her Husband From The     Deep Opium Sleep, Came Out 
 Into The     Fume-Laden Vault. Her Dyed hair Was Disarranged, And Her Dark 
 Eyes Stared glassily Before Her; But Even In this Half-Drugged state 
 She Bore Herself With The     Lithe Carriage Of     A Dancer, Swinging her Hips 
 Lazily And Pointing the     Toes Of     Her High-Heeled slippers. 
   
   
   
 "Awake, My Wife," Crooned sin Sin Wa. "Only A Fool Seeks The     Black Smoke 
 When The     Jackals Sit In a Ring." 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Gave Him A Glance Of     Smiling contempt--A Glance Which, Passing 
 Him, Rested finally Upon The     Prone Body Of     Chief Inspector Kerry Lying 
 Stretched upon The     Floor Before The     Stove. Her Pupils Contracted to Mere 
 Pin-Points And Then Dilated blackly. She Recoiled a Step, Fighting with 
 The Stupor Which Her Ill-Timed indulgence Had Left Behind. 
   
   
   
 At This Moment Kerry Groaned loudly, Tossed his Arm Out With A 
 Convulsive Movement, And Rolled over On To His Side, Drawing up His 
 Knees. 
   
   
   
 The Eye Of     Sin Sin Wa Gleamed strangely, But He Did Not Move, And Sam 
 Tuk Who Sat Huddled in his Chair Where His Feet Almost Touched the 
 Fallen Man, Stirred never A Muscle. But Mrs. Sin, Who Still Moved in 
 A Semi-Phantasmagoric World, Swiftly Raised the     Hem Of     Her Kimona, 
 Affording a Glimpse Of     A Shapely Silk-Clad Limb. From A Sheath Attached 
 To Her Garter She Drew A Thin Stilletto. Curiously Feline, She Crouched, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 38( The     Song Of     Sin Sin Was) Pg 342 
 As If About To Spring. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Extended his Hand, Grasping his Wife'S Wrist. 
   
   
   
 "No, Woman Of     Indifferent Intelligence," He Said In his Queer Sibilant 
 Language, "Since When Has Murder Gone Unpunished in these British 
 Dominions?" 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Snatched her Wrist From His Grasp, Falling back Wild-Eyed. 
   
   
   
 "Yellow Ape! Yellow Ape!" She Said Hoarsely. "One More Does Not 
 Matter--Now." 
   
   
   
 "One More?" Crooned sin Sin Wa, Glancing curiously At Kerry. 
   
   
   
 "They Are Here! We Are Trapped!" 
   
   
   
 "No, No," Said Sin Sin Wa. "He Is A Brave Man; He Comes Alone." 
   
   
   
 He Paused, And Then Suddenly Resumed in pidgin English: 
   
   
   
 "You Likee Killa Him, Eh?" 
   
   
   
 Perhaps Unconscious That She Did So, Mrs. Sin Replied also In english: 
   
   
   
 "No, I Am Mad. Let Me Think, Old Fool!" 
   
   
   
 She Dropped the     Stiletto And Raised her Hand Dazedly To Her Brow. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 38( The     Song Of     Sin Sin Was) Pg 343 
   
   
 "You Gotchee Tired of     Knifee Chop, Eh?" Murmured sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Clenched her Hands, Holding them Rigidly Against Her Hips; And, 
 Nostrils Dilated, She Stared at The     Smiling chinaman. 
   
   
   
 "What Do You Mean?" She Demanded. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Performed his Curious Oriental Shrug. 
   
   
   
 "You Putta Topside Pidgin On Sir Lucy Alla Lightee," He Murmured. "Givee 
 Him Hell Alla Velly Proper." 
   
   
   
 The Pupils Of     The     Woman'S Eyes Contracted again, And Remained so. She 
 Laughed hoarsely And Tossed her Head. 
   
   
   
 "Who Told You That?" She Asked contemptuously. "It Was The     Doll-Woman 
 Who Killed him--I Have Said So." 
   
   
   
 "You Tella Me So--Hoi, Hoi! But Old Sin Sin Wa Catchee Wonder. Lo!"--He 
 Extended a Yellow Forefinger, Pointing at His Wife--"Mrs. Sin Make Him 
 Catchee Die! No Bhobbery, No Palaber. Sin Sin Wa Gotchee You Sized up 
 Allee Timee." 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin Snapped her Fingers Under His Nose Then Stooped, Picked up The 
 Stiletto, And Swiftly Restored it To Its Sheath. Her Hands Resting upon 
 Her Hips, She Came Forward, Until Her Dark Evil Face Almost Touched the 
 Yellow, Smiling face Of     Sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 "Listen, Old Fool," She Said In a Low, Husky Voice; "I Have Done With 
 You, Ape-Man, For Good! Yes! I Killed lucy, I Killed him! He Belonged 
 To Me--Until That Pink And White Thing took Him Away. I Am Glad I Killed 
   
 Him. If I Cannot Have Him Neither Can She. But I Was Mad All The     Same." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 38( The     Song Of     Sin Sin Was) Pg 344 
   
   
 She Glanced down At Kerry, And: 
   
   
   
 "Tie Him Up," She Directed, "And Send Him To Sleep. And Understand, Sin, 
 We'Ve Shared out For The     Last Time--You Go Your Way And I Go Mine. No 
 Stinking yellow River For Me. New York Is Good Enough Until It'S Safe To 
 Go To Buenos Ayres." 
   
   
   
 "Smartest Leg In buenos Ayres," Croaked the     Raven From His Wicker Cage, 
 Which Was Set Upon The     Counter. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Regarded him Smilingly. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Yes, My Little Friend," He Crooned in chinese, While Tling-A-Ling 
 Rattled ghostly Castanets. "In Ho-Nan They Will Say That You Are A 
 Devil And I Am A Wizard. That Which Is Unknown Is Always Thought To Be 
 Magical, My Tling-A-Ling." 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin, Who Was Rapidly Throwing off The     Effects Of     Opium And 
 Recovering her Normal Self-Confident Personality, Glanced at Her Husband 
 Scornfully. 
   
   
   
 "Tell Me," She Said, "What Has Happened? How Did He Come Here?" 
   
   
   
 "Blinga Filly Doggy," Murmured sin Sin Wa. "Knockee Ah Fung On Him Head 
 And Comee Down Here, Lo. Ah Fung Allee Lightee Now--Topside. Chasee 
 Filly Doggy. Allee Velly Proper. No Bhobbery." 
   
   
   
 "Talk Less And Act More," Said Mrs. Sin. "Tie Him Up, And If You Must 
 Talk, Talk Chinese. Tie Him Up." 
   
   
   
   
 She Pointed to Kerry. Sin Sin Wa Tucked his Hands Into His Sleeves And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 38( The     Song Of     Sin Sin Was) Pg 345 
 Shuffled towards The     Masked door Communicating with The     Inner Room. 
   
   
   
 "Only By Intelligent Speech Are We Distinguished from The     Other 
 Animals," He Murmured in chinese. 
   
   
   
 Entering the     Inner Room, He Began To Extricate A Long Piece Of     Thin Rope 
 From Amid A Tangle Of     Other Materials With Which It Was Complicated. 
 Mrs. Sin Stood Looking down At The     Fallen Man. Neither Kerry Nor Sam Tuk 
 Gave The     Slightest Evidence Of     Life. And As Sin Sin Wa Disentangled yard 
 Upon Yard Of     Rope From The     Bundle On The     Floor By The     Bed where Rita 
 Irvin Lay In her Long Troubled sleep, He Crooned a Queer Song. It Was In 
 The Ho-Nan Dialect And Intelligible To Himself Alone. 
   
   
   
     "Shoa, The     Evil Woman (He Chanted), The     Woman Of 
     Many Strange Loves.... 
     Shoa, The     Ghoul.... 
     Lo, The     Yellow River Leaps Forth From The     Nostrils 
     Of     The     Mountain God.... 
     Shoa, The     Betrayer Of     Men.... 
     Blood Is On Her Brow. 
     Lo, The     Betrayer Is Betrayed. Death Sits At Her Elbow. 
     See, The     Yellow River Bears A Corpse Upon Its Tide... 
     Dead Men Hear Her Secret. 
     Shoa, The     Ghoul.... 
     Shoa, The     Evil Woman. Death Sits At Her Elbow. 
     Black, The     Vultures Flock About Her.... 
     Lo, The     Yellow River Leaps Forth From The     Nostrils 
     Of     The     Mountain God." 
   
   
   
 Meanwhile Kerry, Lying motionless At The     Feet Of     Sam Tuk Was Doing some 
 Hard And Rapid Thinking. He Had Recovered consciousness A Few Moments 
 Before Mrs. Sin Had Come Into The     Vault From The     Inner Room. There Were 
 Those, Seton Pasha Among Them, Who Would Have Regarded the     Groan And The 
 Convulsive Movements Of     Kerry'S Body With Keen Suspicion. And Because 
 The Chief Inspector Suffered from No Illusions Respecting the     Genius Of 
   
 Sin Sin Wa, The     Apparent Failure Of     The     One-Eyed chinaman To Recognize 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 38( The     Song Of     Sin Sin Was) Pg 346 
 These Preparations For Attack Nonplussed the     Chief Inspector. His 
 Outstanding vice As An Investigator Was The     Directness Of     His Own 
 Methods And Of     His Mental Outlook, So That He Frequently Experienced 
 Great Difficulty In penetrating to The     Motives Of     A Tortuous Brain Such 
 As That Of     Sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 That Sin Sin Wa Thought Him To Be Still Unconscious He Did Not Believe. 
 He Was Confident That His Tactics Had Deceived the     Jewess, But He 
 Entertained an Almost Superstitious Respect For The     Cleverness Of     The 
 Chinaman. The     Trick With The     Ball Of     Leaf Opium Was Painfully Fresh In 
 His Memory. 
   
   
   
 Kerry, In common With Many Members Of     The     Criminal Investigation 
 Department, Rarely Carried firearms. He Was A Man With A Profound Belief 
 In His Bare Hands--Aided when Necessary By His Agile Feet. At The 
 Moment That Sin Sin Wa Had Checked the     Woman'S Murderous And Half Insane 
 Outburst Kerry Had Been Contemplating attack. The     Sudden Change Of 
 Language On The     Part Of     The     Chinaman Had Arrested him In the     Act; 
 And, Realizing that He Was Listening to A Confession Which Placed the 
 Hangman'S Rope About The     Neck Of     Mrs. Sin, He Lay Still And Wondered. 
   
   
   
 Why Had Sin Sin Wa Forced his Wife To Betray Herself? To Clear Mareno? 
 To Clear Mrs. Irvin--Or To Save His Own Skin? 
   
   
   
 It Was A Frightful Puzzle For Kerry. Then--Where Was Kazmah? That Mrs. 
 Irvin, Probably In a Drugged condition, Lay Somewhere In that Mysterious 
 Inner Room Kerry Felt Fairly Sure. His Maltreated skull Was Humming like 
 A Bee-Hive And Aching intensely, But The     Man Was Tough As Men Are 
 Made, And He Could Not Only Think Clearly, But Was Capable Of     Swift And 
 Dangerous Action. 
   
   
   
 He Believed that He Could Tackle The     Chinaman With Fair Prospects Of 
 Success; And Women, However Murderous, He Habitually Disregarded as 
 Adversaries. But The     Mummy-Like, Deceptive Sam Tuk Was Not Negligible, 
 And Kazmah Remained an Unknown Quantity. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 39( The     Song Of     Sin Sin Was) Pg 347 
   
   
 From Under That Protective Arm, Cast Across His Face, Kerry'S Fierce 
 Eyes Peered out Across The     Dirty Floor. Then Quickly He Shut His Eyes 
 Again. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa, Crooning his Strange Song, Came In carrying a Coil Of 
 Rope--And A Mauser Pistol! 
   
   
   
 "P'Licemanee Gotchee Catchee Sleepee," He Murmured, "Or Maybe He Catchee 
 Die!" 
   
   
   
 He Tossed the     Rope To His Wife, Who Stood Silent Tapping the     Floor With 
 One Slim Restless Foot. 
   
   
   
 "Number One Top-Side Tie Up," He Crooned. "Sin Sin Wa Watchee Withum 
 Gun!" 
   
   
   
 Kerry Lay Like A Dead Man; For In the     Chinaman'S Voice Were Menace And 
 Warning. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 39( The     Empty Wharf) Pg 348 
   
 The Suspected area Of     Limehouse Was Closely Invested as Any Fortress Of 
 Old When Seton Pasha Once More Found Himself Approaching that Painfully 
 Familiar Neighborhood. He Had Spoken To Several Pickets, And Had 
 Gathered no News Of     Interest, Except That None Of     Them Had Seen Chief 
 Inspector Kerry Since Some Time Shortly Before Dusk. Seton, Newly From 
 More Genial Climes, Shivered as He Contemplated the     Misty, Rain-Swept 
 Streets, Deserted and But Dimly Lighted by An Occasional Lamp. The 
   
 Hooting of     A Steam Siren On The     River Seemed to Be In harmony With The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 39( The     Empty Wharf) Pg 349 
 Prevailing gloom, And The     Most Confirmed optimist Must Have Suffered 
 Depression Amid Those Surroundings. 
   
   
   
 He Had No Definite Plan Of     Action. Every Line Of     Inquiry Hitherto 
 Followed had Led to Nothing but Disappointment. With Most Of     The 
 Details Concerning the     Elaborate Organization Of     The     Kazmah Group Either 
 Gathered or In sight, The     Whereabouts Of     The     Surviving members Remained 
 A Profound Mystery. From The     Chinese No Information Could Be Obtained. 
 Distrust Of     The     Police Resides Deep Within The     Chinese Heart; For The 
 Chinaman, And Not Unjustly, Regards The     Police As Ever Ready To Accuse 
 Him And Ever Unwilling to Defend Him; Knows Himself For A Pariah Capable 
 Of The     Worst Crimes, And Who May Therefore Be Robbed, Beaten And Even 
 Murdered by His White Neighbors With Impunity. But When The     Police Seek 
 Information From Chinatown, Chinatown Takes Its Revenge--And Is Silent. 
   
   
   
 Out On The     River, Above And Below Limehouse, Patrols Watched for Signals 
 From The     Asiatic Quarter, And From A Carefully Selected spot On 
 The Surrey Side George Martin Watched also. Not Even The     Lure Of     A 
 Neighboring tavern Could Draw Him From His Post. Hour After Hour He 
 Waited patiently--For Sin Sin Wa Paid Fair Prices, And Tonight He Bought 
 Neither Opium Nor Cocaine, But Liberty. 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha, Passing from Point To Point, And Nowhere Receiving news Of 
 Kerry, Began To Experience A Certain Anxiety Respecting the     Safety Of 
 The Intrepid Chief Inspector. His Mind Filled with Troubled conjectures, 
 He Passed the     House Formerly Occupied by The     One-Eyed chinaman--Where He 
 Found Detective-Sergeant Coombes On Duty And Very Much On The     Alert--And 
 Followed the     Bank Of     The     Thames In the     Direction Of     Limehouse Basin. 
 The Narrow, Ill-Lighted street Was Quite Deserted. Bad Weather And The 
 Presence Of     Many Police Had Driven The     Asiatic Inhabitants Indoors. 
 But From The     River And The     Docks Arose The     Incessant Din Of     Industry. 
 Whistles Shrieked and Machinery Clanked, And Sometimes Remotely Came The 
 Sound Of     Human Voices. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 39( The     Empty Wharf) Pg 350 
   
 Musing upon The     Sordid Mystery Which Seems To Underlie The     Whole Of 
 This Dingy Quarter, Seton Pursued his Way, Crossing inlets And Circling 
 Around Basins Dimly Divined, Turning to The     Right Into A Lane Flanked 
 By High Eyeless Walls, And Again To The     Left, Finally To Emerge Nearly 
 Opposite A Dilapidated gateway Giving access To A Small Wharf. 
   
   
   
 All Unconsciously, He Was Traversing the     Same Route As That Recently 
 Pursued by The     Fugitive Sin Sin Wa; But Now He Paused, Staring at 
 The Empty Wharf. The     Annexed building, A Mere Shell, Had Not Escaped 
 Examination By The     Search Party, And It Was With No Very Definite 
 Purpose In view That Seton Pushed open The     Rickety Gate. Doubtless 
 Kismet, Of     Which The     Arabs Speak, Dictated that He Should Do So. 
   
   
   
 The Tide Was High, And The     Water Whispered ghostly Under The 
 Pile-Supported structure. Seton Experienced a New Sense Of     Chill Which 
 Did Not Seem To Be Entirely Physical As He Stared out At The     Gloomy 
 River Prospect And Listened to The     Uncanny Whisperings Of     The     Tide. He 
 Was About To Turn Back When Another Sound Attracted his Attention. A Dog 
 Was Whimpering somewhere Near Him. 
   
   
   
 At First He Was Disposed to Believe That The     Sound Was Due To Some Other 
 Cause, For The     Deserted wharf Was Not A Likely Spot In which To Find 
 A Dog, But When To The     Faint Whimpering there Was Added a Scratching 
 Sound, Seton'S Last Doubts Vanished. 
   
   
   
 "It'S A Dog," He Said, "A Small Dog." 
   
   
   
 Like Kerry, He Always Carried an Electric Pocket-Lamp, And Now He 
 Directed its Rays Into The     Interior Of     The     Building. 
   
   
   
 A Tiny Spaniel, Whining excitedly, Was Engaged in scratching with Its 
 Paws Upon The     Dirty Floor As Though Determined to Dig Its Way Through. 
 As The     Light Shone Upon It The     Dog Crouched affrightedly, And, Glancing 
 In Seton'S Direction, Revealed its Teeth. He Saw That It Was Covered 
 With Mud From Head To Tail, Presenting a Most Woe-Begone Appearance, And 
 The Mystery Of     Its Presence There Came Home To Him Forcibly. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Toy Spaniel Of     A Breed very Popular Among Ladies Of     Fashion, 
 And To Its Collar Was Still Attached a Tattered and Muddy Fragment Of 
 Ribbon. 
   
   
   
 The Little Animal Crouched in a Manner Which Unmistakably Pointed to 
 The Fact That It Apprehended ill-Treatment, But These Personal Fears Had 
 Only A Secondary Place In its Mind, And With One Eye On The     Intruder It 
 Continued to Scratch Madly At The     Floor. 
   
   
   
 Seton Acted promptly. He Snapped off The     Light, And, Replacing the     Lamp 
 In His Pocket, Stepped into The     Building and Dropped down Upon His Knees 
 Beside The     Dog. He Next Lay Prone, And Having rapidly Cleared a Space 
 With His Sleeve Of     Some Of     The     Dirt Which Coated it, He Applied his Ear 
 To The     Floor. 
   
   
   
 In Spite Of     That Iron Control Which Habitually He Imposed upon Himself, 
 He Became Aware Of     The     Fact That His Heart Was Beating rapidly. He Had 
 Learned at Leman Street That Kerry Had Brought Mrs. Irvin'S Dog From 
 Prince'S Gate To Aid In the     Search For The     Missing woman. He Did Not 
 Doubt That This Was The     Dog Which Snarled and Scratched excitedly Beside 
 Him. Dimly He Divined something of     The     Truth. Kerry Had Fallen Into The 
 Hands Of     The     Gang, But The     Dog, Evidently Not Without Difficulty, Had 
 Escaped. What Lay Below The     Wharf? 
   
   
   
 Holding his Breath, He Crouched, Listening; But Not A Sound Could He 
 Detect. 
   
   
   
   
 "There'S Nothing here, Old Chap," He Said To The     Dog. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 39( The     Empty Wharf) Pg 351 
   
   
 Responsive To The     Friendly Tone, The     Little Animal Began Barking loudly 
 With High Staccato Notes, Which Must Have Been Audible On The     Surrey 
 Shore. 
   
   
   
 Seton Was Profoundly Mystified by The     Animal'S Behavior. He Had 
 Personally Searched every Foot Of     This Particular Building, And Was 
 Confident That It Afforded no Hiding-Place. The     Behavior Of     The     Dog, 
 However, Was Susceptible Of     Only One Explanation; And Seton Recognizing 
 That The     Clue To The     Mystery Lay Somewhere Within This Ramshackle 
 Building, Became Seized with A Conviction That He Was Being watched. 
   
   
   
 Standing upright, He Paused for A Moment, Irresolute, Thinking that He 
 Had Detected a Muffled shriek. But The     Riverside Noises Were Misleading 
 And His Imagination Was On Fire. 
   
   
   
 That Almost Superstitious Respect For The     Powers Of     Sin Sin Wa, Which 
 Had Led chief Inspector Kerry To Look Upon The     Chinaman As A Being 
 More Than Humanly Endowed, Began To Take Possession Of     Seton Pasha. He 
 Regretted having entered the     Place So Overtly, He Regretted having shown 
 A Light. Keen Eyes, Vigilant, Regarded him. It Was Perhaps A Delusion, 
 Bred of     The     Mournful Night Sounds, The     Gloom, And The     Uncanny 
 Resourcefulness, Already Proven, Of     The     Kazmah Group. But It Operated 
 Powerfully. 
   
   
   
 Theories, Wild, Improbable, Flocked to His Mind. The     Great Dope Cache 
 Lay Beneath His Feet--And There Must Be Some Hidden Entrance To It Which 
 Had Escaped the     Attention Of     The     Search-Party. This In itself Was Not 
 Improbable, Since They Had Devoted no More Time To This Building than To 
 Any Other In the     Vicinity. That Wild Cry In the     Night Which Had Struck 
   
 So Mournful A Chill To The     Hearts Of     The     Watchers On The     River Had 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 39( The     Empty Wharf) Pg 352 
 Seemed to Come Out Of     The     Void Of     The     Blackness, Had Given But Slight 
 Clue To The     Location Of     The     Place Of     Captivity. Indeed, They Could Only 
 Surmise That It Had Been Uttered by The     Missing woman. Yet In their 
 Hearts Neither Had Doubted it. 
   
   
   
 He Determined to Cause The     Place To Be Searched again, As Secretly As 
 Possible; He Determined to Set So Close A Guard Over It And Over Its 
 Approaches That None Could Enter Or Leave Unobserved. 
   
   
   
 Yet Kismet, In whose Omnipotence He More Than Half Believed, Had 
 Ordained otherwise; For Man Is Merely An Instrument In the     Hand Of     Fate. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 353 
   
 Coil Of     The     Pigtail 
   
   
   
 The Inner Room Was In darkness And The     Fume-Laden Air Almost 
 Unbreathable. A Dull And Regular Moaning sound Proceeded from The     Corner 
 Where The     Bed was Situated, But Of     The     Contents Of     The     Place And Of 
 Its Other Occupant Or Occupants Kerry Had No More Than A Hazy Idea. His 
 Imagination Supplied those Details Which He Had Failed to Observe. Mrs. 
 Monte Irvin, In a Dying condition, Lay Upon The     Bed, And Someone Or Some 
 Thing crouched on The     Divan Behind Kerry As He Lay Stretched upon The 
 Matting-Covered floor. His Wrists, Tied behind Him, Gave Him Great Pain; 
 And Since His Ankles Were Also Fastened and The     End Of     The     Rope Drawn 
 Taut And Attached to That Binding his Wrists, He Was Rendered absolutely 
 Helpless. For One Of     His Fiery Temperament This Physical Impotence Was 
 Maddening, And Because His Own Handkerchief Had Been Tied tightly 
 Around His Head So As To Secure Between His Teeth A Wooden Stopper 
 Of Considerable Size Which Possessed an Unpleasant Chemical Taste And 
 Smell, Even Speech Was Denied him. 
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 354 
   
   
   
 How Long He Had Lain Thus He Had No Means Of     Judging accurately; But 
 Hours--Long, Maddening hours--Seemed to Have Passed since, With 
 The Muzzle Of     Sin Sin Wa'S Mauser Pressed coldly To His Ear, He Had 
 Submitted willy-Nilly To The     Adroit Manipulations Of     Mrs. Sin. At First 
 He Had Believed, In his Confirmed masculine Vanity, That It Would Be A 
 Simple Matter To Extricate Himself From The     Fastenings Made By A Woman; 
 But When, Rolling him Sideways, She Had Drawn Back His Heels And Run 
 The Loose End Of     The     Line Through The     Loop Formed by The     Lashing of 
 His Wrists Behind Him, He Had Recognized a Chinese Training, And Had 
 Resigned himself To The     Inevitable. The     Wooden Gag Was A Sore Trial, 
 And If It Had Not Broken His Spirit It Had Nearly Caused him To Break An 
 Artery In his Impotent Fury. 
   
   
   
 Into The     Darkened inner Chamber Sin Sin Wa Had Dragged him, And There 
 Kerry Had Lain Ever Since, Listening to The     Various Sounds Of     The     Place, 
 To The     Coarse Voice, Often Raised in anger, Of     The     Cuban-Jewess, To The 
 Crooning tones Of     The     Imperturbable Chinaman. The     Incessant Moaning of 
 The Woman On The     Bed sometimes Became Mingled with Another Sound More 
 Remote, Which Kerry For Long Failed to Identify; But Ultimately He 
 Concluded it To Be Occasioned by The     Tide Flowing under The     Wharf. The 
 Raven Was Silent, Because, Imprisoned in his Wicker Cage, He Had Been 
 Placed in some Dark Spot Below The     Counter. Very Dimly From Time To Time 
 A Steam Siren Might Be Heard Upon The     River, And Once The     Thudding of 
 A Screw-Propeller Told Of     The     Passage Of     A Large Vessel Along Limehouse 
 Reach. 
   
   
   
 In The     Eyes Of     Mrs. Sin Kerry Had Read Menace, And For All Their Dark 
 Beauty They Had Reminded him Of     The     Eyes Of     A Cornered rat. Beneath The 
 Contemptuous Nonchalance Which She Flaunted he Read Terror And Remorse, 
 And A Foreboding of     Doom--Panic Ill Repressed, Which Made Her Dangerous 
 As Any Beast At Bay. The     Attitude Of     The     Chinaman Was More Puzzling. He 
 Seemed to Bear The       Chief Inspector No Personal Animosity, And Indeed,   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 355 
  In His Glittering eye, Kerry Had Detected a Sort Of     Mysterious Light Of 
 Understanding which Was Almost Mirthful, But Which Bore No Relation To 
 Sin Sin Wa'S Perpetual Smile. Kerry'S Respect For The     One-Eyed 
 Chinaman Had Increased rather Than Diminished upon Closer Acquaintance. 
 Underlying his Urbanity He Failed to Trace Any Symptom Of     Apprehension. 
 This Sin Sin Wa, Accomplice Of     A Murderess Self-Confessed, Evident Head 
 Of A Drug Syndicate Which Had Led to The     Establishment Of     A Home Office 
 Inquiry--This Badly "Wanted" Man, Whose Last Hiding-Place, Whose Keep, 
 Was Closely Invested by The     Agents Of     The     Law, Was The     Same Sin Sin Wa 
 Who Had Smilingly Extended his Wrists, Inviting the     Manacles, When 
 Kerry Had First Made His Acquaintance Under Circumstances Legally Very 
 Different. 
   
   
   
 Sometimes Kerry Could Hear Him Singing his Weird Crooning song, And 
 Twice Mrs. Sin Had Shrieked blasphemous Execrations At Him Because Of 
 It. But Why Should Sin Sin Wa Sing? What Hope Had He Of     Escape? In the 
 Case Of     Any Other Criminal Kerry Would Have Answered "None," But The 
 Ease With Which This One-Eyed singing chinaman Had Departed from His 
 Abode Under The     Very Noses Of     Four Detectives Had Shaken The     Chief 
 Inspector'S Confidence In the     Efficiency Of     Ordinary Police Methods 
 Where This Chinese Conjurer Was Concerned. A Man Who Could Convert An 
 Elaborate Opium House Into A Dirty Ruin In so Short A Time, Too, Was 
 Capable Of     Other Miraculous Feats, And It Would Not Have Surprised kerry 
 To Learn That Sin Sin Wa, At A Moment'S Notice, Could Disguise Himself 
 As A Chest Of     Tea, Or Pass Invisible Through Solid Walls. 
   
   
   
 For Evidence That Seton Pasha Or Any Of     The     Men From Scotland Yard Had 
 Penetrated to The     Secret Of     Sam Tuk'S Cellar Kerry Listened in vain. 
 What Was About To Happen He Could Not Imagine, Nor If His Life Was To 
 Be Spared. In the     Confession So Curiously Extorted from Mrs. Sin By Her 
 Husband He Perceived a Clue To This And Other Mysteries, But Strove In 
 Vain To Disentangle It From The     Many Maddening complexities Of     The     Case. 
   
   
   
 So He Mused, Wearily, Listening to The     Moaning of     His Fellow Captive, 
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 356 
 And Wondering, Since No Sign Of     Life Came Thence, Why He Imagined 
 Another Presence In the     Stuffy Room Or The     Presence Of     Someone Or Of 
 Some Thing on The     Divan Behind Him. And In upon These Dreary Musings 
 Broke An Altercation Between Mrs. Sin And Her Husband. 
   
   
   
 "Keep The     Blasted thing covered up!" She Cried hoarsely. 
   
   
   
 "Tling-A-Ling wantchee Catchee Bleathee Sometime," Crooned sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 "Hello, Hello!" Croaked the     Raven Drowsily. 
 "Smartest--Smartest--Smartest Leg." 
   
   
   
 "You Catchee Sleepee, Tling-A-Ling," Murmured the     Chinaman. "Mrs. Sin No 
 Likee You Palaber, Lo!" 
   
   
   
 "Burn It!" Cried the     Woman, "Burn The     One-Eyed horror!" 
   
   
   
 But When, Carrying a Lighted lantern, Sin Sin Wa Presently Came Into The 
 Inner Room, He Smiled as Imperturbably As Ever, And Was Unmoved so Far 
 As External Evidence Showed. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Set The     Lantern Upon A Moorish Coffee-Table Which Once Had 
 Stood Beside The     Divan In mrs. Sin'S Sanctum At The     House Of     A Hundred 
 Raptures. A Significant Glance--Its Significance An Acute Puzzle To The 
 Recipient--He Cast Upon Chief Inspector Kerry. His Hands Tucked in the 
 Loose Sleeves Of     His Blouse, He Stood Looking down At The     Woman Who Lay 
 Moaning on The     Bed; And: 
   
   
   
 "Tchee, Tchee," He Crooned softly, "You Hate No Catchee Die, My 
 Beautiful. You Sniffee Plenty Too Muchee 'White Snow,' Hoi, Hoi! Velly 
 Bad Woman Tly Makee You Catchee Die, But Sin Sin Wa No Hate Got For 
 Killee Chop. Topside Pidgin No Good Enough, Lo!" 
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 357 
   
 His Thick, Extraordinary Long Pigtail Hanging down His Back And Gleaming 
 In The     Rays Of     The     Lantern, He Stood, Head Bowed, Watching rita Irvin. 
 Because Of     His Position On The     Floor, Mrs. Irvin Was Invisible From 
 Kerry'S Point Of     View, But She Continued to Moan Incessantly, And He 
 Knew That She Must Be Unconscious Of     The     Chinaman'S Scrutiny. 
   
   
   
 "Hurry, Old Fool!" Came Mrs. Sin'S Harsh Voice From The     Outer Room. 
 "In Ten Minutes Ah Fung Will Give The     Signal. Is She Dead Yet--The 
 Doll-Woman?" 
   
   
   
 "She Hate No Catchee Die," Murmured sin Sin Wa, "She Still Vella 
 Beautiful--Tchee!" 
   
   
   
 It Was At The     Moment That He Spoke These Words That Seton Pasha Entered 
 The Empty Building above And Found The     Spaniel Scratching at The     Paved 
 Floor. So That, As Sin Sin Wa Stood Looking down At The     Wan Face Of     The 
 Unfortunate Woman Who Refused to Die, The     Dog Above, Excited by Seton'S 
 Presence, Ceased to Whine And Scratch And Began To Bark. 
   
   
   
 Faintly To The     Vault The     Sound Of     The     High-Pitched barking penetrated. 
   
   
   
 Kerry Tensed his Muscles And Groaned impotently Feeling his Heart 
 Beating like A Hammer In his Breast. Complete Silence Reigned in the 
 Outer Room. Sin Sin Wa Never Stirred. Again The     Dog Barked, Then: 
   
   
   
 "Hello, Hello!" Shrieked the     Raven Shrilly. "Number One P'Lice Chop, Lo! 
 Sin Sin Wa! Sin Sin Wa!" 
   
   
   
 There Came A Fierce Exclamation, The     Sound Of     Something being hastily 
 Overturned, Of     A Scuffle, And: 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 358 
   
 "Sin--Sin--Wa!" Croaked the     Raven Feebly. 
   
   
   
 The Words Ended in a Screeching cry, Which Was Followed by A Sound Of 
 Wildly Beating wings. Sin Sin Wa, Hands Tucked in sleeves, Turned and 
 Walked from The     Inner Room, Closing the     Sliding door Behind Him With A 
 Movement Of     His Shoulder. 
   
   
   
 Resting against The     Empty Shelves, He Stood And Surveyed the     Scene In 
 The Vault. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Sin, Who Had Been Kneeling beside The     Wicker Cage, Which Was Upset, 
 Was In the     Act Of     Standing upright. At Her Feet, And Not Far From The 
 Motionless Form Of     Old Sam Tuk Who Sat Like A Dummy Figure In his 
 Chair Before The     Stove, Lay A Palpitating mass Of     Black Feathers. Other 
 Detached feathers Were Sprinkled about The     Floor. Feebly The     Raven'S 
 Wings Beat The     Ground Once, Twice--And Were Still. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Uttered one Sibilant Word, Withdrew His Hands From His 
 Sleeves, And, Stepping around The     End Of     The     Counter, Dropped upon His 
 Knees Beside The     Raven. He Touched it With Long Yellow Fingers, Then 
 Raised it And Stared into The     Solitary Eye, Now Glazed and Sightless As 
 Its Fellow. The     Smile Had Gone From The     Face Of     Sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 "My Tling-A-Ling!" He Moaned in his Native Mandarin Tongue. "Speak To 
 Me, My Little Black Friend!" 
   
   
   
 A Bead Of     Blood, Like A Ruby, Dropped from The     Raven'S Beak. Sin Sin 
 Wa Bowed his Head And Knelt Awhile In silence; Then, Standing up, He 
 Reverently Laid The     Poor Bedraggled body Upon A Chest. He Turned and 
   
 Looked at His Wife. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 359 
   
   
   
 Hands On Hips, She Confronted him, Breathing rapidly, And Her Glance Of 
 Contempt Swept Him Up And Down. 
   
   
   
 "I'Ve Often Threatened to Do It," She Said In english. "Now I'Ve Done 
 It. They'Re On The     Wharf. We'Re Trapped--Thanks To That Black, Squalling 
 Horror!" 
   
   
   
 "Tchee, Tchee!" Hissed sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 His Gleaming eye Fixed upon The     Woman Unblinkingly, He Began Very 
 Deliberately To Roll Up His Loose Sleeves. She Watched him, Contempt In 
 Her Glance, But Her Expression Changed subtly, And Her Dark Eyes Grew 
 Narrowed. She Looked rapidly Towards Sam Tuk But Sam Tuk Never Stirred. 
   
   
   
 "Old Fool!" She Cried at Sin Sin Wa. "What Are You Doing?" 
   
   
   
 But Sin Sin Wa, His Sleeves Rolled up Above His Yellow, Sinewy Forearms, 
 Now Tossed his Pigtail, Serpentine, Across His Shoulder And Touched it 
 With His Fingers, An Odd, Caressing movement. 
   
   
   
 "Ho!" Laughed mrs. Sin In her Deep Scoffing fashion, "It Is For Me 
 You Make All This Bhobbery, Eh? It Is Me You Are Going to Chastise, My 
 Dear?" 
   
   
   
 She Flung Back Her Head, Snapping her Fingers Before The     Silent 
 Chinaman. He Watched her, And Slowly--Slowly--He Began To Crouch, Lower 
 And Lower, But Always That Unblinking regard Remained fixed upon The 
 Face Of     Mrs. Sin. 
   
   
   
 The Woman Laughed again, More Loudly. Bending her Lithe Body Forward In 
 Mocking mimicry, She Snapped her Fingers, Once--Again--And Again Under 
 Sin Sin Wa'S Nose. Then: 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 360 
   
 "Do You Think, You Blasted yellow Ape, That You Can Frighten Me?" She 
 Screamed, A Swift Flame Of     Wrath Lighting up Her Dark Face. 
   
   
   
 In A Flash She Had Raised the     Kimona And Had The     Stiletto In her Hand. 
 But, Even Swifter Than She, Sin Sin Wa Sprang... 
   
   
   
 Once, Twice She Struck At Him, And Blood Streamed from His Left 
 Shoulder. But The     Pigtail, Like An Executioner'S Rope, Was About The 
 Woman'S Throat. She Uttered one Smothered shriek, Dropping the     Knife, 
 And Then Was Silent... 
   
   
   
 Her Dyed hair Escaped from Its Fastenings And Descended, A Ruddy 
 Torrent, About Her As She Writhed, Silent, Horrible, In the     Death-Coil 
 Of The     Pigtail. 
   
   
   
 Rigidly, At Arms-Length, He Held Her, Moment After Moment, Immovable, 
 Implacable; And When He Read Death In her Empurpled face, A Miraculous 
 Thing happened. 
   
   
   
 The "Blind" Eye Of     Sin Sin Wa Opened! 
   
   
   
 A Husky Rattle Told Of     The     End, And He Dropped the     Woman'S Body From His 
 Steely Grip, Disengaging the     Pigtail With A Swift Movement Of     His Head. 
 Opening and Closing his Yellow Fingers To Restore Circulation, He Stood 
 Looking down At Her. He Spat Upon The     Floor At Her Feet. 
   
   
   
 Then, Turning, He Held Out His Arms And Confronted sam Tuk. 
   
   
   
 "Was It Well Done, Bald Father Of     Wisdom?" He Demanded hoarsely. 
   
   
   
   
 But Old Sam Tuk Seated lumpish In his Chair Like Some Grotesque Idol 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 361 
 Before Whom A Human Sacrifice Has Been Offered up, Stirred not. The 
 Length Of     Loaded tubing with Which He Had Struck Kerry Lay Beside Him 
 Where It Had Fallen From His Nerveless Hand. And The     Two Oblique, Beady 
 Eyes Of     Sin Sin Wa, Watching, Grew Dim. Step By Step He Approached the 
 Old Chinaman, Stooped, Touched him, Then Knelt And Laid His Head Upon 
 The Thin Knees. 
   
   
   
 "Old Father," He Murmured, "Old Bald Father Who Knew So Much. Tonight 
 You Know All." 
   
   
   
 For Sam Tuk Was No More. At What Moment He Had Died, Whether In the 
 Excitement Of     Striking kerry Or Later, No Man Could Have Presumed 
 To Say, Since, Save By An Occasional Nod Of     His Head, He Had Often 
 Simulated death In life--He Who Was So Old That He Was Known As "The 
 Father Of     Chinatown." 
   
   
   
 Standing upright, Sin Sin Wa Looked from The     Dead Man To The     Dead Raven. 
 Then, Tenderly Raising poor Tling-A-Ling, He Laid The     Great Dishevelled 
 Bird--A Weird Offering--Upon The     Knees Of     Sam Tuk. 
   
   
   
 "Take Him With You Where You Travel Tonight, My Father," He Said. "He, 
 Too, Was Faithful." 
   
   
   
 A Cheap German Clock Commenced a Muted clangor, For The     Little Hammer 
 Was Muffled. 
   
   
   
 Sin Sin Wa Walked slowly Across To The     Counter. Taking up The     Gleaming 
 Joss, He Unscrewed its Pedestal. Then, Returning to The     Spot Where Mrs. 
 Sin Lay, He Coolly Detached a Leather Wallet Which She Wore Beneath Her 
 Dress Fastened to A Girdle. Next He Removed her Rings, Her Bangles 
 And Other Ornaments. He Secreted all In the     Interior Of     The     Joss--His 
 Treasure-Chest. He Raised his Hands And Began To Unplait His Long 
 Pigtail, Which, Like His "Blind" Eye, Was Camouflage--A False Queue 
   
 Attached to His Own Hair, Which He Wore But Slightly Longer Than Some 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 40( Coil Of     The     Pigtail) Pg 362 
 Europeans And Many Americans. With A Small Pair Of     Scissors He Clipped 
 Off His Long, Snake-Like Moustaches.... 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 41 ( The     Finding of     Kazmah) Pg 363 
   
 At A Point Just Above The     Sweep Of     Limehouse Reach A Watchful River 
 Police Patrol Observed a Moving speck Of     Light On The     Right Bank Of     The 
 Thames. As If In answer To The     Signal There Came A Few Moments Later A 
 Second Moving speck At A Point Not Far Above The     District Once Notorious 
 In Its Possession Of     Ratcliff Highway. A Third Light Answered from The 
 Surrey Bank, And A Fourth Shone Out Yet Higher Up And On The     Opposite 
 Side Of     The     Thames. 
   
   
   
 The Tide Had Just Turned. As Chief Inspector Kerry Had Once Observed, 
 "There Are No Pleasure Parties Punting about That Stretch," And, 
 Consequently, When George Martin Tumbled into His Skiff On The     Surrey 
 Shore And Began Lustily To Pull Up Stream, He Was Observed almost 
 Immediately By The     River Police. 
   
   
   
 Pulling hard Against The     Stream, It Took Him A Long Time To Reach His 
 Destination--Stone Stairs Near The     Point From Which The     Second Light Had 
 Been Shown. Rain Had Ceased and The     Mist Had Cleared shortly After 
 Dusk, As Often Happens At This Time Of     Year, And Because The     Night Was 
 Comparatively Clear The     Pursuing boats Had To Be Handled with Care. 
   
   
   
 George Did Not Disembark At The     Stone Steps, But After Waiting there For 
 Some Time He Began To Drop Down On The     Tide, Keeping close Inshore. 
   
   
   
   
 "He Knows We'Ve Spotted him," Said Sergeant Coombes, Who Was In one Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 41 ( The     Finding of     Kazmah) Pg 364 
 The River Police Boats. "It Was At The     Stairs That He Had To Pick Up His 
 Man." 
   
   
   
 Certainly, The     Tactics Of     George Suggested that He Had Recognized 
 Surveillance, And, His Purpose Abandoned, Now Sought To Efface Himself 
 Without Delay. Taking advantage Of     Every Shadow, He Resigned his Boat 
 To The     Gentle Current. He Had Actually Come To The     Entrance Of     Greenwich 
 Reach When A Dock Light, Shining out Across The     River, Outlined the     Boat 
 Yellowly. 
   
   
   
 "He'S Got A Passenger!" Said Coombes Amazedly. 
   
   
   
 Inspector White, Who Was In charge Of     The     Cutter, Rested his Arm On 
 Coombes' Shoulder And Stared across The     Moving tide. 
   
   
   
 "I Can See No One," He Replied. "You'Re Over Anxious, 
 Detective-Sergeant--And I Can Understand It!" 
   
   
   
 Coombes Smiled heroically. 
   
   
   
 "I May Be Over Anxious, Inspector," He Replied, "But If I Lost Sin Sin 
 Wa, The     River Police Had Never Even Heard Of     Him Till The     C.I.D. Put 'Em 
 Wise." 
   
   
   
 "H'M!" Muttered the     Inspector. "D'You Suggest We Board Him?" 
   
   
   
 "No," Said Coombes, "Let Him Land, But Don'T Trouble To Hide Any More. 
 Show Him We'Re In pursuit." 
   
   
   
   
 No Longer Drifting with The     Outgoing tide, George Martin Had Now Boldly 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 41 ( The     Finding of     Kazmah) Pg 365 
 Taken To The     Oars. The     River Police Boat Close In his Wake, He Headed 
 For The     Blunt Promontory Of     The     Isle Of     Dogs. The     Grim Pursuit Went On 
 Until: 
   
   
   
 "I Bet I Know Where He'S For," Said Coombes. 
   
   
   
 "So Do I," Declared inspector White; "Dougal'S!" 
   
   
   
 Their Anticipations Were Realized. To The     Wooden Stairs Which Served as 
 A Water-Gate For The     Establishment On The     Isle Of     Dogs, George Martin 
 Ran In openly; The     Police Boat Followed, And: 
   
   
   
 "You Were Right!" Cried the     Inspector, "He Has Somebody With Him!" 
   
   
   
 A Furtive Figure, Bearing a Burden Upon Its Shoulder, Moved up The     Slope 
 And Disappeared. A Moment Later The     Police Were Leaping ashore. George 
 Deserted his Boat And Went Running heavily After His Passenger. 
   
   
   
 "After Them!" Cried coombes. "That'S Sin Sin Wa!" 
   
   
   
 Around The     Mazey, Rubbish-Strewn Paths The     Pursuit Went Hotly. In sight 
 Of Dougal'S Coombes Saw The     Swing door Open And A Silhouette--That Of     A 
 Man Who Carried a Bag On His Shoulder--Pass In. George Martin Followed, 
 But The     Scotland Yard Man Had His Hand Upon His Shoulder. 
   
   
   
 "Police!" He Said Sharply. "Who'S Your Friend?" 
   
   
   
   
 George Turned, Red and Truculent, With Clenched fists. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 41 ( The     Finding of     Kazmah) Pg 366 
   
 "Mind Your Own Bloody Business!" He Roared. 
   
   
   
 "Mind Yours, My Lad!" Retorted coombes Warningly. "You'Re No Thames 
 Waterman. Who'S Your Friend?" 
   
   
   
 "Wotcher Mean?" Shouted george. "You'Re Up The     Pole Or Canned you Are!" 
   
   
   
 "Grab Him!" Said Coombes, And He Kicked open The     Door And Entered the 
 Saloon, Followed by Inspector White And The     Boat'S Crew. 
   
   
   
 As They Appeared, The     Inspector Conspicuous In his Uniform, Backed by 
 The Group Of     River Police, One Of     Whom Grasped george Martin By His Coat 
 Collar: 
   
   
   
 "Splits!" Bellowed dougal In a Voice Like A Fog-Horn. 
   
   
   
 Twenty Cups Of     Tea, Coffee And Cocoa, Too Hot For Speedy Assimilation, 
 Were Spilled upon The     Floor. 
   
   
   
 The Place As Usual Was Crowded, More Particularly In the     Neighborhood Of 
 The Two Stoves. Here Were Dock Laborers, Seamen And Riverside Loafers, 
 Lascars, Chinese, Arabs, Negroes And Dagoes. Mrs. Dougal, Defiant And 
 Red, Brawny Arms Folded and Her Pose As That Of     One Contemplating a 
 Physical Contest, Glared from Behind The     "Solid" Counter. Dougal Rested 
 His Hairy Hands Upon The     "Wet" Counter And Revealed his Defective Teeth 
 In A Vicious Snarl. Many Of     The     Patrons Carried light Baggage, Since A P 
 And O Boat, An Oriental, And The     S. S. Mahratta, Were Sailing that Night 
   
 Or In the     Early Morning, And Dougal'S Was The     Favorite House Of     Call For 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 41 ( The     Finding of     Kazmah) Pg 367 
 A Doch-An-Dorrich For Sailormen, Particularly For Sailormen Of     Color. 
   
   
   
 Upon The     Police Group Became Focussed the     Glances Of     Light Eyes And Dark 
 Eyes, Round Eyes, Almond-Shaped eyes, And Oblique Eyes. Silence Fell. 
   
   
   
 "We Are Police Officers," Called coombes Formally. "All Papers, Please." 
   
   
   
 Thereupon, Without Disturbance, The     Inspection Began, And Among The 
 Papers Scrutinized were Those Of     One, Chung Chow, An Able-Bodied chinese 
 Seaman. But Since His Papers Were In order, And Since He Possessed two 
 Eyes And Wore No Pigtail, He Excited no More Interest In the     Mind Of 
 Detective-Sergeant Coombes Than Did Any One Of     The     Other Chinamen In the 
 Place. 
   
   
   
 A Careful Search Of     The     Premises Led to No Better Result, And George 
 Martin Accounted for His Possession Of     A Considerable Sum Of     Money Found 
 Upon Him By Explaining that He Had Recently Been Paid Off After A Long 
 Voyage And Had Been Lucky At Cards. 
   
   
   
 The Result Of     The     Night'S Traffic, Then, Spelled failure For British 
 Justice, The     S.S. Mahratta Sailed one Stewardess Short Of     Her 
 Complement; But Among The     Chinese Crew Of     Another Steamer Eastward Bound 
 Was One, Chung Chow, Formerly Known As Sin Sin Wa. And Sometimes In the 
 Night Watches There Arose Before Him The     Picture Of     A Black Bird Resting 
 Upon The     Knees Of     An Aged chinaman. Beyond These Figures Dimly He 
 Perceived the     Paddy-Fields Of     Ho-Nan And The     Sweeping valley Of     The 
 Yellow River, Where The     Opium Poppy Grows. 
   
   
   
 It Was About An Hour Before The     Sailing of     The     Ship Which Numbered chung 
   
 Chow Among The     Yellow Members Of     Its Crew That Seton Pasha Returned 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 41 ( The     Finding of     Kazmah) Pg 368 
 Once More To The     Deserted wharf Whereon He Had Found Mrs. Monte Irvin'S 
 Spaniel. Afterwards, In the     Light Of     Ascertained facts, He Condemned 
 Himself For A Stupidity Passing the     Ordinary. For While He Had Conducted 
 A Careful Search Of     The     Wharf And Adjoining premises, Convinced that 
 There Was A Cellar Of     Some Kind Below, He Had Omitted to Look For A 
 Water-Gate To This Hypothetical Cache. 
   
   
   
 Perhaps His Self-Condemnation Was Deserved, But In justice To The     Agent 
 Selected by Lord Wrexborough, It Should Be Added that Chief Inspector 
 Kerry Had No More Idea Of     The     Existence Of     Such An Entrance, And Exit, 
 Than Had Seton Pasha. 
   
   
   
 Leaving the     Dog At Leman Street Then, And Learning that There Was No 
 News Of     The     Missing chief Inspector, Seton Had Set Out Once More. He Had 
 Been Informed of     The     Mysterious Signals Flashed from Side To Side Of     The 
 Lower Pool, And Was Hourly Expecting a Report To The     Effect That Sin 
 Sin Wa Had Been Apprehended in the     Act Of     Escaping. That Sin Sin Wa 
 Had Dropped into The     Turgid Tide From His Underground Hiding-Place, 
 And Pushing his Property--Which Was Floatable--Before Him, Encased in a 
 Waterproof Bag, Had Swum Out And Clung To The     Stern Of     George Martin'S 
 Boat As It Passed close To The     Empty Wharf, Neither Seton Pasha Nor Any 
 Other Man Knew--Except George Martin And Sin Sin Wa. 
   
   
   
 At A Suitably Dark Spot The     Chinaman Had Boarded the     Little Craft, Not 
 Without Difficulty, For His Wounded shoulder Pained him, And Had Changed 
 His Sodden Attire For A Dry Outfit Which Awaited him In the     Locker At 
 The Stern Of     The     Skiff. The     Cunning of     The     Chinese Has The     Simplicity Of 
 True Genius. 
   
   
   
 Not Two Paces Had Seton Taken On To The     Mystifying wharf When: 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 41 ( The     Finding of     Kazmah) Pg 369 
 "Sam Tuk Barber! Entrance In cellar!" Rapped a Ghostly, Muffled voice 
 From Beneath His Feet. "Sam Tuk Barber! Entrance In cellar!" 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Stood Still, Temporarily Bereft Of     Speech. Then, "Kerry!" He 
 Cried. "Kerry! Where Are You?" 
   
   
   
 But Apparently His Voice Failed to Reach The     Invisible Speaker, For: 
   
   
   
 "Sam Tuk Barber! Entrance In cellar!" Repeated the     Voice. 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Wasted no More Time. He Ran Out Into The     Narrow Street. A 
 Man Was On Duty There. 
   
   
   
 "Call Assistance!" Ordered seton Briskly, "Send Four Men To Join Me At 
 The Barber'S Shop Called sam Tuk'S! You Know It?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Sir; I Searched it With Chief Inspector Kerry." 
   
   
   
 The Note Of     A Police Whistle Followed. 
   
   
   
 Ten Minutes Later The     Secret Of     Sam Tuk'S Cellar Was Unmasked. The     Place 
 Was Empty, And The     Subterranean Door Locked; But It Succumbed to The 
 Persistent Attacks Of     Axe And Crowbar, And Seton Pasha Was The     First Of 
 The Party To Enter The     Vault. It Was Laden With Chemical Fumes.... 
   
   
   
 He Found There An Aged chinaman, Dead, Seated by A Stove In which The 
 Fire Had Burned very Low. Sprawling across The     Old Man'S Knees Was The 
 Body Of     A Raven. Lying at His Feet Was A Woman, Lithe, Contorted, The 
 Face Half Hidden In masses Of     Bright Red hair. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 41 ( The     Finding of     Kazmah) Pg 370 
 "End Case Near The     Door!" Rapped the     Voice Of     Kerry. "Slides To The 
 Left!" 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Vaulted over The     Counter, Drew The     Shelves Aside, And 
 Entered the     Inner Room. 
   
   
   
 By The     Dim Light Of     A Lantern Burning upon A Moorish Coffee-Table He 
 Discerned an Untidy Bed, Upon Which A Second Woman Lay, Pallid. 
   
   
   
 "God!" He Muttered; "This Place Is A Morgue!" 
   
   
   
 "It Certainly Isn'T Healthy!" Said An Irritable Voice From The     Floor. 
 "But I Think I Might Survive It If You Could Spare A Second To Untie 
 Me." 
   
   
   
 Kerry'S Extensive Practice In chewing and The     Enormous Development Of 
 His Maxillary Muscles Had Stood Him In good Stead. His Keen, Strong 
 Teeth Had Bitten Through The     Extemporized gag, And As A Result The 
 Tension Of     The     Handkerchief Which Had Held It In place Had Become 
 Relaxed, Enabling him To Rid Himself Of     It And To Spit Out The     Fragments 
 Of Filthy-Tasting wood Which The     Biting operation Had Left In his Mouth. 
   
   
   
 Seton Turned, Stooped on One Knee To Release The     Captive... And Found 
 Himself Looking into The     Face Of     Someone Who Sat Crouched upon The     Divan 
 Behind The     Chief Inspector. The     Figure Was That Of     An Oriental, Richly 
 Robed. Long, Slim, Ivory Hands Rested upon His Knees, And On The     First 
 Finger Of     The     Right Hand Gleamed a Big Talismanic Ring. But The     Face, 
 Surmounted by A White Turban, Was Wonderful, Arresting in its Immobile 
 Intellectual Beauty; And From Under The     Heavy Brows A Pair Of     Abnormally 
 Large Eyes Looked out Hypnotically. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 41 ( The     Finding of     Kazmah) Pg 371 
 "My God!" Whispered seton, Then: 
   
   
   
 "If You'Ve Finished your Short Prayer," Rapped kerry, "Set About My 
 Little Job." 
   
   
   
 "But, Kerry--Kerry, Behind You!" 
   
   
   
 "I Haven'T Any Eyes In my Back Hair!" 
   
   
   
 Mechanically, Half Fearfully, Seton Touched the     Hands Of     The     Crouching 
 Oriental. A Low Moan Came From The     Woman In the     Bed, And: 
   
   
   
 "It'S Kazmah!" Gasped seton. "Kerry... Kazmah Is--A Wax Figure!" 
   
   
   
 "Hell!" Said Chief Inspector Kerry. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 372 
   
 Beneath An Awning spread Above The     Balcony Of     One Of     Those Modern 
 Elegant Flats, Which Today Characterize Heliopolis, The     City Of     The     Sun, 
 Site Of     Perhaps The     Most Ancient Seat Of     Learning in the     Known World, 
 A Party Of     Four Was Gathered, Awaiting the     Unique Spectacle Which Is 
 Afforded when The     Sun'S Dying rays Fade From The     Libyan Sands And The 
 Violet Wonder Of     The     Afterglow Conjures Up Old Magical Egypt From The 
 Ashes Of     The     Desert. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 373 
   
 "Yes," Monte Irvin Was Saying, "Only A Year Ago; But, Thank God, It 
 Seems More Like Ten! Merciful Time Effaces Sadness But Spares Joy." 
   
   
   
 He Turned to His Wife, Whose Flower-Like Face Peeped out From A Nest Of 
 White Fur. Covertly He Squeezed her Hand, And Was Rewarded with A Swift, 
 Half Coquettish Glance, In which He Read Trust And Contentment. The 
 Dreadful Ordeal Through Which She Had Passed had Accomplished that Which 
 No Physician In europe Could Have Hoped for, Since No Physician Would 
 Have Dared to Adopt Such Drastic Measures. Actuated by Deliberate 
 Cruelty, And With The     Design Of     Bringing about Her Death From Apparently 
 Natural Causes, The     Kazmah Group Had Deprived her Of     Cocaine For So Long 
 A Period That Sanity, Life Itself, Had Barely Survived; But For So Long 
 A Period That, Surviving, She Had Outlived the     Drug Craving. Kazmah Had 
 Cured her! 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Turned to The     Tall Fair Girl Who Sat Upon The     Arm Of     A Cane 
 Rest-Chair Beside Rita. 
   
   
   
 "But Nothing can Ever Efface The     Memory Of     All You Have Done For Rita, 
 And For Me," He Said, "Nothing, Mrs. Seton." 
   
   
   
 "Oh," Said Margaret, "My Mind Was Away Back, And That Sounded--So Odd." 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha, Who Occupied the     Lounge-Chair Upon The     Broad Arm Of     Which 
 His Wife Was Seated, Looked up, Smiling into The     Suddenly Flushed face. 
 They Were But Newly Returned from Their Honeymoon, And Had Just Taken 
 Possession Of     Their Home, For Seton Was Now Stationed in cairo. He 
 Flicked a Cone Of     Ash From His Cheroot. 
   
   
   
 "It Seems To Me That We Are All More Or Less Indebted to One Another," 
 He Declared. "For Instance, I Might Never Have Met You, Margaret, If I 
 Had Not Run Into Your Cousin That Eventful Night At Princes; And Gray 
   
 Would Not Have Been Gazing abstractedly Out Of     The     Doorway If Mrs. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 374 
 Irvin Had Joined him For Dinner As Arranged. One Can Trace Almost Every 
 Episode In life Right Back, And Ultimately Come--" 
   
   
   
 "To Kismet!" Cried his Wife, Laughing merrily. "So Before We Begin 
 Dinner Tonight--Which Is A Night Of     Reunion--I Am Going to Propose A 
 Toast To Kismet!" 
   
   
   
 "Good!" Said Seton, "We Shall All Drink It Gladly. Eh, Irvin?" 
   
   
   
 "Gladly, Indeed," Agreed monte Irvin. "You Know, Seton," He Continued, 
 "We Have Been Wandering, Rita And I; And Ever Since Your Wife Handed her 
 Patient Over To Me As Cured we Have Covered some Territory. I Don'T 
 Know If You Or Chief Inspector Kerry Has Been Responsible, But The     Press 
 Accounts Of     The     Kazmah Affair Have Been Scanty To Baldness. One Stray 
 Bit Of     News Reached us--In Colorado, I Think." 
   
   
   
 "What Was That, Mr. Irvin?" Asked margaret, Leaning towards The     Speaker. 
   
   
   
 "It Was About Mollie Gretna. Someone Wrote And Told Me That She Had 
 Eloped with A Billiard Marker--A Married man With Five Children!" 
   
   
   
 Seton Laughed heartily, And So Did Margaret And Rita. 
   
   
   
 "Right!" Cried seton. "She Did. When Last Heard Of     She Was Acting as 
 Barmaid In a Portsmouth Tavern!" 
   
   
   
 But Monte Irvin Did Not Laugh. 
   
   
   
 "Poor, Foolish Girl!" He Said Gravely. "Her Life Might Have Been So 
 Different--So Useful And Happy." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 375 
 "I Agree," Replied seton, "If She Had Had A Husband Like Kerry." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Please Don'T!" Said Margaret. "I Almost Fell In love With Chief 
 Inspector Kerry Myself." 
   
   
   
 "A Grand Fellow!" Declared her Husband Warmly. "The Kazmah Inquiry Was 
 The Triumph Of     His Career." 
   
   
   
 Monte Irvin Turned to Him. 
   
   
   
 "You Did Your Bit, Seton," He Said Quietly. "The Last Words Inspector 
 Kerry Spoke To Me Before I Left England Were In the     Nature Of     A Splendid 
 Tribute To Yourself, But I Will Spare Your Blushes." 
   
   
   
 "Kerry Is As White As They'Re Made," Replied seton, "But We Should Never 
 Have Known For Certain Who Killed sir Lucien If He Had Not Risked his 
 Life In that Filthy Cellar As He Did." 
   
   
   
 Rita Irvin Shuddered slightly And Drew Her Furs More Closely About Her 
 Shoulders. 
   
   
   
 "Shall We Change The     Conversation, Dear?" Whispered margaret. 
   
   
   
 "No, Please," Said Rita. "You Cannot Imagine How Curious I Am To Learn 
 The True Details--For, As Monte Says, We Have Been Out Of     Touch With 
 Things, And Although We Were So Intimately Concerned, Neither Of     Us 
 Really Knows The     Inner History Of     The     Affair To This Day. Of     Course, We 
 Know That Kazmah Was A Dummy Figure, Posed in the     Big Ebony Chair. He 
 Never Moved, Except To Raise His Hand, And This Was Done By Someone 
 Seated in the     Inner Room Behind The     Figure. But Who Was Seated there?" 
   
   
   
 Seton Glanced inquiringly At His Wife, And She Nodded, Smiling. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 376 
   
   
 "Right-O!" He Said. "If You Will Excuse Me For A Moment I Will Get My 
 Notes. Hello, Here'S Gray!" 
   
   
   
 A Little Two-Seater Came Bowling along The     Road From Cairo, And Drew Up 
 Beneath The     Balcony. It Was The     Car Which Had Belonged to Margaret When 
 In Practice In dover Street. Quentin Gray Jumped out, Waving his Hand 
 Cheerily To The     Quartette Above, And Went In at The     Doorway. Seton 
 Walked through The     Flat And Admitted him. 
   
   
   
 "Sorry I'M Late!" Cried gray, Impetuous And Boyish As Ever, Although He 
 Looked older And Had Grown Very Bronzed. "The Chief Detained me." 
   
   
   
 "Go Through To Them," Said Seton Informally. "I'M Getting my Notes; 
 We'Re Going to Read The     Thrilling story Of     The     Kazmah Mystery Before 
 Dinner." 
   
   
   
 "Good Enough!" Cried gray. "I'M In the     Dark On Many Points." 
   
   
   
 He Had Outlived his Youthful Infatuation, Although It Was Probable 
 Enough That Had Rita Been Free He Would Have Presented himself As A 
 Suitor Without Delay. But The     Old Relationship He Had No Desire To 
 Renew. A Generous Self-Effacing regard Had Supplanted the     Madness Of     His 
 Earlier Passion. Rita Had Changed too; She Had Learned to Know Herself 
 And To Know Her Husband. 
   
   
   
 So That When Seton Pasha Presently Rejoined his Guests, He Found 
 The Most Complete Harmony To Prevail Among Them. He Carried a Bulky 
 Notebook, And, Tapping his Teeth With His Monocle: 
   
   
   
 "Ladies And Gentlemen," He Began Whimsically, "I Will Bore You With A 
 Brief Account Of     The     Extraordinary Facts Concerning the     Kazmah Case." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 377 
   
   
 Margaret Was Seated in the     Rest-Chair Which Her Husband Had Vacated, And 
 Seton Took Up A Position Upon The     Ledge Formed by One Of     The     Wide Arms. 
 Everyone Prepared to Listen, With Interest Undisguised. 
   
   
   
 "There Were Three Outstanding personalities Dominating what We May Term 
 The Kazmah Group," Continued seton. "In Order Of     Importance They Were: 
 Sin Sin Wa, Sir Lucien Pyne And Mrs. Sin." 
   
   
   
 Rita Irvin Inhaled deeply, But Did Not Interrupt The     Speaker. 
   
   
   
 "I Shall Begin With Sir Lucien," Seton Went On. "For Some Years Before 
 His Father'S Death He Seems To Have Lived a Very Shady Life In many 
 Parts Of     The     World. He Was A Confirmed gambler, And Was Also Somewhat 
 Unduly Fond Of     The     Ladies' Society. In buenos Ayres--The Exact Date Does 
 Not Matter--He Made The     Acquaintance Of     A Variety Artiste Known As La 
 Belle Lola, A Cuban-Jewess, Good-Looking and Unscrupulous. I Cannot Say 
 If Sir Lucien Was Aware From The     Outset Of     His Affair With La Belle That 
 She Was A Married woman. But It Is Certain That Her Husband, Sin Sin Wa, 
 Very Early Learned of     The     Intrigue, And Condoned it. 
   
   
   
 "How Sir Lucien Came To Get Into The     Clutches Of     The     Pair I Do Not 
 Know. But That He Did So We Have Ascertained beyond Doubt. I Think, 
 Personally, That His Third Vice--Opium--Was Probably Responsible. For 
 Sin Sin Wa Appears Throughout In the     Character Of     A Drug Dealer. 
   
   
   
 "These Three People Really Become Interesting from The     Time That La 
 Belle Lola Quitted the     Stage And Joined her Husband In the     Conducting of 
 A Concern In buenos Ayres, Which Was The     Parent, If I May Use The 
 Term, Of     The     Kazmah Business Later Established in bond Street. From A 
 Music-Hall Illusionist, Who Came To Grief During a South American Tour, 
   
 They Acquired the     Oriental Waxwork Figure Which Subsequently Mystified 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 378 
 So Many Thousands Of     Dupes. It Was The     Work Of     A Famous French Artist In 
 Wax, And Had Originally Been Made To Represent The     Pharaoh, Rameses Ii., 
 For A Paris Exhibition. Attired in eastern Robes, And Worked by A Simple 
 Device Which Raised and Lowered the     Right Hand, It Was Used, Firstly, 
 In A Stage Performance, And Secondly, In the     Character Of     'Kazmah The 
 Dream-Reader.' 
   
   
   
 "Even At This Time Sir Lucien Had Access To Good Society, Or To The     Best 
 Society Which Buenos Ayres Could Offer, And He Was The     Source Of     The 
 Surprising revelations Made To Patrons By The     'Dream-Reader.' At First, 
 Apparently, The     Drug Business Was Conducted independently Of     The     Kazmah 
 Concern, But The     Facilities Offered by The     Latter For Masking the     Former 
 Soon Became Apparent To The     Wily Sin Sin Wa. Thereupon The     Affair Was 
 Reorganized on The     Lines Later Adopted in bond Street. Kazmah'S Became 
 A Secret Dope-Shop, And Annexed to It Was An Elaborate Chandu-Khan, 
 Conducted by The     Chinaman. Mrs. Sin Was The     Go-Between. 
   
   
   
 "You Are All Waiting to Hear--Or, To Be Exact, Two Are Waiting to Hear, 
 Gray And Margaret Already Know--Who Spoke As Kazmah Through The     Little 
 Window Behind The     Chair. The     Deep-Voiced speaker Was Juan Mareno, Mrs. 
 Sin'S Brother! Mrs. Sin'S Maiden Name Was Lola Mareno. 
   
   
   
 "Many Of     These Details Were Provided by Mareno, Who, After The     Death Of 
 His Sister, To Whom He Was Deeply Attached, Volunteered to Give Crown 
 Evidence. Most Of     Them We Have Confirmed from Other Sources. 
   
   
   
 "Behold 'Kazmah The     Dream-Reader,' Then, Established in buenos Ayres. 
 The Partners In the     Enterprise Speedily Acquired considerable Wealth. 
 Sir Lucien--At This Time Plain Mr. Pyne--Several Times Came Home And 
 Lived in london And Elsewhere Like A Millionaire. There Is No Doubt, I 
 Think, That He Was Seeking a Suitable Opportunity To Establish A London 
 Branch Of     The     Business." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 379 
   
   
 "My God!" Said Monte Irvin. "How Horrible It Seems!" 
   
   
   
 "Horrible, Indeed!" Agreed seton. "But There Are Two Features Of     The 
 Case Which, In justice To Sir Lucien, We Should Not Overlook. He, Who 
 Had Been A Poor Man, Had Become A Wealthy One And Had Tasted the     Sweets 
 Of Wealth; Also He Was Now Hopelessly In the     Toils Of     The     Woman Lola. 
   
   
   
 "With The     Ingenious Financial Details Of     The     Concern, Which Were 
 Conducted in the     Style Of     The     'Jose Santos Company,' I Need not Trouble 
 You Now. We Come To The     Second Period, When The     Flat In albemarle Street 
 And The     Two Offices In old Bond Street Became Vacant And Were Promptly 
 Leased by Mareno, Acting on Sir Lucien'S Behalf, And Calling himself 
 Sometimes Mr. Isaacs, Sometimes Mr. Jacobs, And At Other Times Merely 
 Posing as A Representative Of     The     Jose Santos Company In some Other 
 Name. 
   
   
   
 "All Went Well. The     Concern Had Ample Capital, And Was Organized by 
 Clever People. Sin Sin Wa Took Up New Quarters In limehouse; They Had 
 Actually Bought Half The     Houses In one Entire Street As Well As A 
 Wharf! And Sin Sin Wa Brought With Him The     Good-Will Of     An Illicit Drug 
 Business Which Already Had Almost Assumed the     Dimensions Of     A Control. 
   
   
   
 "Sir Lucien'S Household Was A Mere Bluff. He Rarely Entertained at 
 Home, And Lived himself Entirely At Restaurants And Clubs. The     Private 
 Entrance To The     Kazmah House Of     Business Was The     Back Window Of     The 
 Cubanis Cigarette Company'S Office. From Thence Down The     Back Stair To 
 Kazmah'S Door It Was A Simple Matter For Mareno To Pass Unobserved. Sir 
 Lucien Resumed his Role Of     Private Inquiry Agent, And Mareno Recited the 
 'Revelations' From Notes Supplied to Him. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 380 
   
 "But The     'Dream Reading' Part Of     The     Business Was Merely Carried on To 
 Mask The     Really Profitable Side Of     The     Concern. We Have Recently Learned 
 That Drugs Were Distributed from That One Office Alone To The     Amount Of 
 Thirty Thousand Pounds' Worth Annually! This Is Excluding the     Profits 
 Of The     House Of     A Hundred raptures And Of     The     Private Chandu Orgies 
 Organized by Mrs. Sin. 
   
   
   
 "The Kazmah Group Gradually Acquired control Of     The     Entire Market, And 
 We Know For A Fact That At One Period During the     War They Were Actually 
 Supplying smuggled cocaine, Indirectly, To No Fewer Than Twelve R.A.M.C. 
 Hospitals! The     Complete Ramifications Of     The     System We Shall Never Know. 
   
   
   
 "I Come, Now, To The     Tragedy, Or Series Of     Tragedies, Which Brought 
 About The     Collapse Of     The     Most Ingenious Criminal Organization Which Has 
 Ever Flourished, Probably, In any Community. I Will Dare To Be Frank. 
 Sir Lucien Was The     Victim Of     A Woman'S Jealousy. Am I To Proceed?" 
   
   
   
 Seton Paused, Glancing at His Audience; And: 
   
   
   
 "If You Please," Whispered rita. "Monte Knows And I Know--Why--She 
 Killed him. But We Don'T Know--" 
   
   
   
 "The Nasty Details," Said Quentin Gray. "Carry On, Seton. Are You 
 Agreeable, Irvin?" 
   
   
   
 "I Am Anxious To Know," Replied irvin, "For I Believe Sir Lucien 
 Deserved well Of     Me, Bad As He Was." 
   
   
   
   
 Seton Clapped his Hands, And An Egyptian Servant Appeared, Silently And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 42 ( A Year Later) Pg 381 
 Mysteriously As Is The     Way Of     His Class. 
   
   
   
 "Cocktails, Mahmoud!" 
   
   
   
 The Egyptian Disappeared. 
   
   
   
 "There'S Just Time," Declared margaret, Gazing out Across The     Prospect, 
 "Before Sunset." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 43 ( The     Story Of     The     Crime) Pg 382 
 "You Are All Aware," Seton Continued, "That Sir Lucien Pyne Was An 
 Admirer Of     Mrs. Irvin. God Knows, I Hold No Brief For The     Man, But This 
 Love Of     His Was The     One Redeeming feature Of     A Bad Life. How And When It 
 Began I Don'T Profess To Know, But It Became The     Only Pure Thing which 
 He Possessed. That He Was Instrumental In introducing you, Mrs. Irvin, 
 To The     Unfortunately Prevalent Drug Habit, You Will Not Deny; But That 
 He Afterwards Tried sincerely To Redeem You From It I Can Positively 
 Affirm. In seeking your Redemption He Found His Own, For I Know That 
 He Was Engaged at The     Time Of     His Death In extricating himself From The 
 Group. You May Say That He Had Made A Fortune, And Was Satisfied; That 
 Is Your View, Gray. I Prefer To Think That He Was Anxious To Begin A New 
 Life And To Make Himself More Worthy Of     The     Respect Of     Those He Loved. 
   
   
   
 "There Was One Obstacle Which Proved too Great For Him--Mrs. Sin. 
 Although Juan Mareno Was The     Spokesman Of     The     Group, Lola Mareno Was The 
 Prompter. All Sir Lucien'S Plans For Weaning mrs. Irvin From The     Habits 
 Which She Had Acquired were Deliberately And Malignantly Foiled by This 
 Woman. She Endeavored to Inveigle Mrs. Irvin Into Indebtedness To You 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 43 ( The     Story Of     The     Crime) Pg 383 
 Gray, As You Know Now. Failing in this, She Endeavored to Kill Her 
 By Depriving her Of     That Which Had At The     Time Become Practically 
 Indispensable. A Venomous Jealousy Led her To Almost Suicidal Measures. 
 She Risked exposure And Ruin In her Endeavors To Dispose Of     One Whom She 
 Looked upon As A Rival. 
   
   
   
 "During sir Lucien'S Several Absences From London She Was Particularly 
 Active, And This Brings Me To The     Closing scene Of     The     Drama. On The 
 Night That You Determined, In desperation, Mrs. Irvin, To See Kazmah 
 Personally, You Will Recall That Sir Lucien Went Out To Telephone To 
 Him?" 
   
   
   
 Rita Nodded but Did Not Speak. 
   
   
   
 "Actually," Seton Explained, "He Instructed mareno To Go Across The 
 Leads To Kazmah'S Directly You Had Left The     Flat, And To Give You A 
 Certain Message As 'Kazmah.' He Also Instructed mareno To Telephone 
 Certain Orders To Rashid, The     Egyptian Attendant. In spite Of     The 
 Unforeseen Meeting with Gray, All Would Have Gone Well, No Doubt, If 
 Mrs. Sin Had Not Chanced to Be On The     Kazmah Premises At The     Time That 
 The Message Was Received! 
   
   
   
 "I Need not Say That Mrs. Sin Was A Remarkable Woman, Possessing many 
 Accomplishments, Among Them That Of     Mimicry. She Had Often Amused 
 Herself By Taking mareno'S Place At The     Table Behind Kazmah, 
 And, Speaking in her Brother'S Oracular Voice, Had Delivered the 
 'Revelations.' Mareno Was Like Wax In his Sister'S Hands, And On This 
 Fateful Night, When He Arrived at The     Place--Which He Did A Few Minutes 
 Before Mrs. Irvin, Gray And Sir Lucien--Mrs. Sin Peremptorily Ordered 
 Him To Wait Upstairs In the     Cubanis Office, And She Took Her Seat In the 
 Room From Which The     Kazmah Illusions Were Controlled. 
   
   
   
 "So Carefully Arranged was Every Detail Of     The     Business That Rashid, 
 The Egyptian, Was Ignorant Of     Sir Lucien'S Official Connection With 
 The Kazmah Concern. He Had Been Ordered--By Mareno Speaking from Sir 
 Lucien'S Flat--To Admit Mrs. Irvin To The     Room Of     Seance And Then To Go 
   
 Home. He Obeyed and Departed, Leaving sir Lucien In the     Waiting-Room. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 43 ( The     Story Of     The     Crime) Pg 384 
   
   
 "Driven To Desperation By 'Kazmah'S' Taunting words, We Know That Mrs. 
 Irvin Penetrated to The     Inner Room. I Must Slur Over The     Details Of 
 The Scene Which Ensued. Hearing her Cry Out, Sir Lucien Ran To Her 
 Assistance. Mrs. Sin, Enraged by His Manner, Lost All Control Of     Her 
 Insane Passion. She Attempted mrs. Irvin'S Life With A Stiletto Which 
 Habitually She Carried--And Sir Lucien Died like A Gentleman Who Had 
 Lived like A Blackguard. He Shielded her--" 
   
   
   
 Seton Paused. Margaret Was Biting her Lip Hard, And Rita Was Looking 
 Down So That Her Face Could Not Be Seen. 
   
   
   
 "The Shock Consequent Upon The     Deed sobered the     Half Crazy Woman," 
 Continued the     Speaker. "Her Usual Resourcefulness Returned to Her. 
 Self-Preservation Had To Be Considered before Remorse. Mrs. Irvin Had 
 Swooned, And"--He Hesitated--"Mrs. Sin Saw To It That She Did Not Revive 
 Prematurely. Mareno Was Summoned from The     Room Above. The     Outer Door Was 
 Locked. 
   
   
   
 "It Affords Evidence Of     This Woman'S Callous Coolness That She Removed 
 From The     Kazmah Premises, And--Probably Assisted by Her Brother, 
 Although He Denies It--From The     Person And Garments Of     The     Dead Man, 
 Every Scrap Of     Evidence. They Had Not By Any Means Finished the     Task 
 When You Knocked at The     Door, Gray. But They Completed it, Faultlessly, 
 After You Had Gone. 
   
   
   
 "Their Unconscious Victim, And The     Figure Of     Kazmah, As Well As Every 
 Paper Or Other Possible Clue, They Carried up To The     Cubanis Office, And 
 From Thence Across The     Roof To Sir Lucien'S Study. Next, While Mareno 
 Went For The     Car, Mrs. Sin Rifled the     Safe, Bureaus And Desks In sir 
 Lucien'S Flat, So That We Had The     Devil'S Own Work, As You Know, To Find 
 Out Even The     More Simple Facts Of     His Everyday Life. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 43 ( The     Story Of     The     Crime) Pg 385 
   
   
 "Not A Soul Ever Came Forward Who Noticed the     Big Car Being driven Into 
 Albemarle Street Or Who Observed it Outside The     Flat. The     Chances Run By 
 The Pair In conveying their Several Strange Burdens From The     Top Floor, 
 Down The     Stairs And Out Into The     Street Were Extraordinary. Yet They 
 Succeeded unobserved. Of     Course, The     Street Was Imperfectly Lighted, And 
 Is But Little Frequented after Dusk. 
   
   
   
 "The Journey To Limehouse Was Performed without Discovery--Aided, No 
 Doubt, By The     Mistiness Of     The     Night; And Mareno, Returning to The     West 
 End, Ingeniously Inquired for Sir Lucien At His Club. Learning, Although 
 He Knew It Already, That Sir Lucien Had Not Been To The     Club That Night, 
 He Returned the     Car To The     Garage And Calmly Went Back To The     Flat. 
   
   
   
 "His Reason For Taking this Dangerous Step Is By No Means Clear. 
 According to His Own Account, He Did It To Gain Time For The     Fugitive 
 Mrs. Sin. You See, There Was Really Only One Witness Of     The     Crime (Mrs. 
 Irvin) And She Could Not Have Sworn To The     Identity Of     The     Assassin. 
 Rashid Was Warned and Presumably Supplied with Sufficient Funds To 
 Enable Him To Leave The     Country. 
   
   
   
 "Well, The     Woman Met Her Deserts, No Doubt At The     Hands Of     Sin Sin 
 Wa. Kerry Is Sure Of     This. And Sin Sin Wa Escaped, Taking with Him An 
 Enormous Sum Of     Ready Money. He Was The     True Genius Of     The     Enterprise. 
 No One, His Wife And Mareno Excepted--We Know Of     No Other--Suspected 
 That The     Real Sin Sin Wa Was Clean-Shaven, Possessed two Eyes, And No 
 Pigtail! A Wonderfully Clever Man!" 
   
   
   
 The Native Servant Appeared to Announce That Dinner Was Served; African 
 Dusk Drew Its Swift Curtain Over The     Desert, And A Gun Spoke Sharply 
   
 From The     Citadel. In silence The     Party Watched the     Deepening velvet Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (Dope ) Part 10 Chapter 43 ( The     Story Of     The     Crime) Pg 386 
 The Sky, Witnessing the     Birth Of     A Million Stars, And In silence They 
 Entered the     Gaily Lighted dining-Room. 
   
   
   
 Seton Pasha Moved one Of     The     Lights So As To Illuminate A Small Oil 
 Painting which Hung Above The     Sideboard. It Represented the     Head And 
 Shoulders Of     A Savage-Looking red man, His Hair Close-Cropped like That 
 Of A Pugilist, And His Moustache Trimmed in such A Fashion That A Row Of 
 Large, Fierce Teeth Were Revealed in an Expression Which Might Have Been 
 Meant For A Smile. A Pair Of     Intolerant Steel-Blue Eyes Looked squarely 
 Out At The     Spectator. 
   
   
   
 "What A Time I Had," Said Seton, "To Get Him To Sit For That! But I 
 Managed to Secure His Wife'S Support, And The     Trick Was Done. You Are 
 Down To Toast Kismet, Margaret, But I Am Going to Propose The     Health, 
 Long Life And Prosperity Of     Chief Inspector Kerry, Of     The     Criminal 
 Investigation Department." 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 Publication Date: June 13th 2014 https://www.bookrix.com/-whdbd538e463635