r 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,
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