“Well, as far as that goes——”

 

“It’s very prevalent in high society.”

 

I’m sure Miss Russell knows far more about high society than I do. I didn’t

attempt to argue with her.

 

“Just tell me this, doctor,” said Miss Russell. “Suppose you are really a slave

of the drug habit. Is there any cure?”

 

One cannot answer a question like that offhand. I gave her a short lecture on

the subject, and she listened with close attention. I still suspected her of

seeking information about Mrs. Ferrars.

 

“Now, veronal, for instance——” I proceeded.

 

But, strangely enough, she didn’t seem interested in veronal. Instead she

changed the subject, and asked me if it was true that there were certain poisons

so rare as to baffle detection.

 

“Ah!” I said. “You’ve been reading detective stories.”

 

She admitted that she had.