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.

"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