"His figure
works out, as nearly as I can estimate it, at 10s 7 1/2d. a grain. I
saw him about it yesterday afternoon, pointing out to the brown guy
that as the wholesale price is roughly 2 1/4d., I regarded his margin
of profit as somewhat broad."
"Indeed!"
"The first time I had ever seen him, Pyne. I brought an introduction
from Dr. Silver, of New York, and Kazmah supplied me without question
--at a price."
"You always saw Rashid?"
"Yes. If there were other visitors I waited. But yesterday I made a
personal appointment with Kazmah. He pretended to think I had come to
have a dream interpreted. He is clever, Pyne. He never moved a muscle
throughout the interview. But finally he assured me that all the
receivers in England had amalgamated, and that the price he charged
represented a very narrow margin of profit. Of course he is a liar. He
is making a fortune. Do you know him personally?"
"No," replied Sir Lucien, "outside his Bond Street home of mystery he
is unknown. A clever man, as you say. You obtain your opium from
Lola?"
"Yes. Kazmah sent her to me. She keeps me on ridiculously low rations,
and if I had not brought my own outfit I don't think she would have
sold me one. Of course, her game is beating up clients for the
Limehouse dive.
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