Diary of a Drug Fiend

Out of Harm's Way 301 My remarks were received with complete indifference. Even Lou merely shrugged her shoulders, and looked at Lamus as much as to say, ‘‘ You see I was right.” Lamus slowly shook his head. As a matter of fact, I could hardly see. My eyesight was disturbed in some peculiar way which frightened me, and my heart began to protest. I took out the cocaine once more. To my astonishment, Lamus bounded from his chair and took the bottle from my hands. I wanted to get up and kill him ; but a deathly faintness seized me. The room swam. Lamus returned to his chair, and once again silence fell on the studio. I think I must have lost consciousness for a while; for I do not remember who put an ice-cold towel round my head or how it came about that the freezing moisture dripped down my spine. I came to myself with a heavily heaved sigh. Every one was in the same position as before, except that Lou had taken off her furs and curled herself up on the settee. “If you feel well enough, Sir Peter,” said Lamus, “you may as well hear the end of the story.” Lou suddenly choked with sobs and buried her head in the cushions. Lamus gave a gesture which Lala apparently understood. She came forward and stood in front of me with her hands behind her back like a child repeating a lesson. “* Sir Peter,’’ she said in a gentle voice, ‘‘ Basil ex- plained to Lady Pendragon that she was taking a very wrong view of the matter. He told her that when people are getting over drug-habits they were liable to say and do things entirely foreign to their characters. We all know how abundantly you have shown your courage and your sense of honour. We know your race, and we know your exploits. What happened at the interview with Mr. Platt didn’t count. You were a sick man. That was all. Maisie suggested that she should go round and fetch you ;; and thank heaven she got there in time!”