She wouldn't admit
that she knew the flasks contained cocaine or veronal, but she did
admit that her mistress had been addicted to the drug habit for
several years. It began when she was on the stage."
"Ah, yes," murmured the Assistant Commissioner; "she was Rita Dresden,
was she not--'The Maid of the Masque' A very pretty and talented
actress. A pity--a great pity. So the girl, characteristically, is
trying to save herself?"
"She is," said Kerry grimly. "But it cuts no ice. There is another
point. After this report was made out, a message reached me from Miss
Halley, as a result of which I visited Mr. Quentin Gray early this
morning."
"Dear, dear," sighed the Assistant Commissioner, "your intense zeal
and activity are admirable, Chief Inspector, but appalling. And what
did you learn?"
From an inside pocket Chief Inspector Kerry took out a plain brown
paper packet containing several cigarettes and laid the packet on the
table.
"I got these, sir," he said grimly. "They were left at Mr. Gray's some
weeks ago by the late Sir Lucien. They are doped."
The Assistant Commissioner, his head resting upon his hand, gazed
abstractedly at the packet. "If only you could trace the source of
supply," he murmured.
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