" He
turned to her. "Have you ever thought of giving up this doping?" he
asked. "Have you ever realized that with increasing tolerance the
quantities must increase as well, and that a day is sure to come
when--"
Rita repressed a nervous shudder.
"You are trying to frighten me," she replied. "You have tried before;
I don't know why. But it's no good, Lucy. You know I cannot give it
up."
"You can try."
"I don't want to try!" she cried irritably. "It will be time enough
when Monte is back again, and we can really 'live.' This wretched
existence, with everything restricted and rationed, and all one's
friends in Flanders or Mesopotamia or somewhere, drives me mad! I tell
you I should die, Lucy, if I tried to do without it now."
The hollow presence of reform contemplated in a hazy future did not
deceive Sir Lucien. He suppressed a sigh, and changed the topic of
conversation.
CHAPTER XXI
THE CIGARETTES FROM BUENOS AYRES
Sir Lucien's intervention proved successful. Kazmah's charges became
more modest, and Rita no longer found it necessary to deprive herself
of hats and dresses in order to obtain drugs. But, nevertheless, these
were not the halcyon days of old. She was now surrounded by spies. It
was necessary to resort to all kinds of subterfuge in order to cover
her expenditures at the establishment in old Bond Street.
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