Diary of a Drug Fiend

294 The Diary of a Drug Fiend Gretel appeared in the doorway. She was wearing a worried look which was perfectly incomprehensible. “Where is Lou? ” she said at once, her shrill voice off pitch with agitation. “Isn’t she with you?” I snapped back idiotically. A sudden spasm of alarm set me shivering. What the devil could have happened ? Platt was more upset than any of us, of course. He had pulled off a delicate and dangerous intrigue; and at the moment of success he saw that his plan was in some incomprehensible danger. His mind’s spy-glass showed him a bird’s-eye view of the Old Bailey. The fact that there was no tangible reason for alarm only intensified the feeling of uneasiness. “She must be hiding for a joke,’”’ said Gretel in a hard, cold voice, mastering her anxiety by deliberate violence. We hunted over the apartment. There was no sign of her ; and her fur coat and cap were missing from the hall. I turned to Mrs. Webster. ‘““ What happened ?”’ I asked curtly. The woman had resumed her mask. She threw a defiant glance at Platt, whose eyes shot a venomous question. “‘T can’t understand it at all,’”’ she said slowly. ‘‘ She seemed very uneasy all the time she was in the bed- room. I thought she was missing her dope. If I had had any on me, I’d have given her a big jolt. Dummer Esel{ Tl never go out without it again so long as I live. I forget what excuse she made. I thought it was just camouflage to go and get her heroin.” Silence fell between us. Platt was afraid to say what he wanted tosay. I was honestly puzzled. The incident had destroyed the effect of the cocaine I had taken. (It’s extraordinary how easy it is to break the spell). I went to the Tantalus and poured ont three brandies, dropping a pinch of snow into mine to make sure of getting back to where I was. Mrs. Webster had recovered her equipoise.