The private
entrance to the Kazmah house of business was the back window of the
Cubanis Cigarette Company's office. From thence down the back stair to
Kazmah's door it was a simple matter for Mareno to pass unobserved.
Sir Lucien resumed his role of private inquiry agent, and Mareno
recited the 'revelations' from notes supplied to him.
"But the 'dream reading' part of the business was merely carried on to
mask the really profitable side of the concern. We have recently
learned that drugs were distributed from that one office alone to the
amount of thirty thousand pounds' worth annually! This is excluding
the profits of the House of a Hundred Raptures and of the private
chandu orgies organized by Mrs. Sin.
"The Kazmah group gradually acquired control of the entire market, and
we know for a fact that at one period during the war they were
actually supplying smuggled cocaine, indirectly, to no fewer than
twelve R.A.M.C. hospitals! The complete ramifications of the system we
shall never know.
"I come, now, to the tragedy, or series of tragedies, which brought
about the collapse of the most ingenious criminal organization which
has ever flourished, probably, in any community. I will dare to be
frank. Sir Lucien was the victim of a woman's jealousy.
Pages:
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402