"
"Her maid?"
"I think she must have known."
He sighed.
"The police have interrogated her," he said. "Probably she is being
watched."
"Oh, I don't think she knows anything about the drug syndicate,"
declared Margaret. "She merely acted as confidential messenger. Poor
Sir Lucien Pyne, I am sure, was addicted to drugs."
"Do you think"--Irvin spoke in a very low voice--"do you think he led
her into the habit?"
Margaret bit her lip, staring down at the red carpet.
"I would hate to slander a man who can never defend himself," she
replied finally. "But--I have sometimes thought he did."
Silence fell. Both were contemplating a theory which neither dared to
express in words.
"You see," continued Margaret, "it is evident that this man Kazmah was
patronized by people so highly placed that it is hopeless to look for
information from them. Again, such people have influence. I don't
suggest that they are using it to protect Kazmah, but I have no doubt
they are doing so to protect themselves."
Monte Irvin raised his eyes to her face. A weary, sad look had come
into them.
"You mean that it may be to somebody's interest to hush up the matter
as much as possible?"
Margaret nodded her head.
"The prevalence of the drug habit in society--especially in London
society--is a secret which has remained hidden so long from the
general public," she replied, "that one cannot help looking for
bribery and corruption.
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