Many thousands of careers were wrecked by the war, and to the war and
the consequent absence of her husband Rita undoubtedly owed her
relapse into opium-smoking. That she would have continued secretly to
employ cocaine, veronal, and possibly morphine was probable enough;
but the constant society of Monte Irvin must have made it extremely
difficult for her to indulge the craving for chandu. She began to
regret the gaiety of her old life. Loneliness and monotony plunged her
into a state of suicidal depression, and she grasped eagerly at every
promise of excitement.
It was at about this time that she met Margaret Halley, and between
the two, so contrary in disposition, a close friendship arose. The
girl doctor ere long discovered Rita's secret, of course, and the
discovery was hastened by an event which occurred shortly after they
had become acquainted.
The suave alien gentleman disappeared.
That was the entire story in five words--or all of the story that Rita
ever learned. His apartments were labelled "To Let," and the night
clubs knew him no more. Rita for a time was deprived of drugs, and the
nervous collapse which resulted revealed to Margaret Halley's trained
perceptions the truth respecting her friend.
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