CHAPTER XX. KAZMAH'S METHODS
Rita Dresden married Monte Irvin in the spring and bade farewell tothe stage. The goal long held in view was attained at last. But anotherfarewell which at one time she had contemplated eagerly no longerappeared desirable or even possible. To cocamania had been added atolerance for opium, and at the last party given by Cyrus Kilfane shehad learned that she could smoke nearly as much opium as the Americanhabitue.
The altered attitude of Sir Lucien surprised and annoyed her. He, whohad first introduced her to the spirit of the coca leaf and to thegoddess of the poppy, seemed suddenly to have determined to convinceher of the folly of these communions. He only succeeded in losing herconfidence. She twice visited the "House of a Hundred Raptures" withMollie Gretna, and once with Mollie and Kilfane, unknown to Sir Lucien.
Urgent affairs of some kind necessitated his leaving England a few weeksbefore the date fixed for Rita's wedding, and as Kilfane had alreadyreturned to America, Rita recognized with a certain dismay that shewould be left to her own resources--handicapped by the presence of awatchful husband. This subtle change in her view of Monte Irvin she wasincapable of appreciating, for Rita was no psychologist. But the effectof the drug habit was pointedly illustrated by the fact that in a periodof little more than six months, from regarding Monte Irvin as a rock ofrefuge--a chance of salvation--she had come to regard him in the lightof an obstacle to her indulgence. Not that her respect had diminished.She really loved at last, and so well that the idea of discovery by thisman whose wholesomeness was the trait of character which most potentlyattracted her, was too appalling to be contemplated. The chance ofdiscovery would be enhanced, she recognized, by the absence of herfriends and accomplices.
Of course she was acquainted with many other devotees. In fact, she metso many of them that she had grown reconciled to her habits, believingthem to be common to all "smart" people--a part of the Bohemian life.The truth of the matter was that she had become a prominent member of acoterie closely knit and associated by a bond of mutual vice--a kindof masonry whereof Kazmah of Bond Street was Grand Master and Mrs. SinGrand Mistress.
The relations existing between Kazmah and his clients were of a mostpeculiar nature, too, and must have piqued the curiosity of anyone buta drug-slave. Having seen him once, in his oracular cave, Rita had beenaccepted as one of the initiated. Thereafter she had had no occasion tointerview the strange, immobile Egyptian, nor had she experienced anydesire to do so. The method of obtaining drugs was a simple one. Shehad merely to present herself at the establishment in Bond Street andto purchase either a flask of perfume or a box of sweetmeats. Therewere several varieties of perfume, and each corresponded to a particulardrug. The sweetmeats corresponded to morphine. Rashid, the attendant,knew all Kazmah's clients, and with the box or flask he gave them aquantity of the required drug. This scheme was precautionary. For if avisitor should chance to be challenged on leaving the place, there wasthe legitimate purchase to show in evidence of the purpose of the visit.
No conversation was necessary, merely the selection of a scent and theexchange of a sum of money. Rashid retired to wrap up the purchase, andwith it a second and smaller package was slipped into the customer'shand. That the prices charged were excessive--nay, ridiculous--did notconcern Rita, for, in common with the rest of her kind, she was carelessof expenditure.
Opium, alone, Kazmah did not sell. He sold morphine, tincture of opium,and other preparations; but those who sought the solace of the pipe werecompelled to deal with Mrs. Sin. She would arrange parties, or wouldprepare the "Hundred Raptures" in Limehouse for visitors; but, except inthe form of opiated cigarettes, she could rarely be induced to part withany of the precious gum. Thus she cleverly kept a firm hold upon thedevotees of the poppy.
Drug-takers form a kind of brotherhood, and outside the charmedcircle they are secretive as members of the Mafia, the Camorra, or theCatouse-Menegant.
In this secrecy, which, indeed, is a recognized symptom of drug mania,lay Kazmah's security. Rita experienced no desire to peer behind theveil which, literally and metaphorically, he had placed between himselfand the world. At first she had been vaguely curious, and had questionedSir Lucien and others, but nobody seemed to know the real identity ofKazmah, and nobody seemed to care provided that he continued tosupply drugs. They all led secret, veiled lives, these slaves of thelaboratory, and that Kazmah should do likewise did not surprise them. Hehad excellent reasons.
During this early stage of faint curiosity she had suggested to SirLucien that for Kazmah to conduct a dream-reading business seemed to beto add to the likelihood of police interference.
The baronet had smiled sardonically.
"It is an additional safeguard," he had assured her. "It corresponds tothe method of a notorious Paris assassin who was very generallyregarded by the police as a cunning pickpocket. Kazmah's business of'dreamreading' does not actually come within the Act. He is cleverenough for that. Remember, he does not profess to tell fortunes. It alsoenables him to balk idle curiosity."
At the time of her marriage Rita was hopelessly in the toils, andhad been really panic-stricken at the prospect--once so golden--of aprotracted sojourn abroad. The war, which rendered travel impossible,she regarded rather in the light of a heaven-sent boon. Irvin, thoughpersonally favoring a quiet ceremony, recognized that Rita cherisheda desire to quit theatreland in a chariot of fire, and accordingly thewedding was on a scale of magnificence which outshone that of any othercelebrated during the season. Even the lugubrious Mr. Esden, who gavehis daughter away, was seen to smile twice. Mrs. Esden moved in ararified atmosphere of gratified ambition and parental pride, which nodoubt closely resembled that which the angels breathe.
It was during the early days of her married life, and while Sir Lucienwas still abroad, that Rita began to experience difficulty in obtainingthe drugs which she required. She had lost touch to a certain extentwith her former associates; but she had retained her maid, Nina, and thegirl regularly went to Kazmah's and returned with the little flasks ofperfume. When an accredited representative was sent upon such a mission,Kazmah dispatched the drugs disguised in a scent flask; but on eachsuccessive occasion that Nina went to him the prices increased,and finally became so exorbitant that even Rita grew astonished anddismayed.
She mentioned the matter to another habitue, a lady of title addicted tothe use of the hypodermic syringe, and learned that she (Rita) was beingcharged nearly twice as much as her friend.
"I should bring the man to his senses, dear," said her ladyship. "I knowa doctor who will be only too glad to supply you. When I say a doctor,he is no longer recognized by the B.M.A., but he's none the less cleverand kind for all that."
To the clever and kind medical man Rita repaired on the followingday, bearing a written introduction from her friend. The discreditedphysician supplied her for a short time, charging only moderate fees.Then, suddenly, this second source of supply was closed. The mandeclared that he was being watched by the police, and that he dared notcontinue to supply her with cocaine and veronal. His shifty eyes gavethe lie to his words, but he was firm in his resolution, whatever mayhave led him to it, and Rita was driven back to Kazmah. His chargeshad become more exorbitant than ever, but her need was imperative.Nevertheless, she endeavored to find another drug dealer, and after atime was again successful.
At a certain supper club she was introduced to a suave little man, quitepalpably an uninterned alien, who smilingly offered to provide herwith any drug to be found in the British Pharmacopeia, at most moderatecharges. With this little German-Jew villain she made a pact, reflectingthat, provided that his wares were of good quality, she had triumphedover Kazmah.
The craving for chandu seized her sometimes and refused to be exorcisedby morphia, laudanum, or any other form of opium; but she had notdared to spend a night at the "House of a Hundred Raptures" since hermarriage. Her new German friend volunteered to supply the necessary gum,outfit, and to provide an apartment where she might safely indulge insmokin
g. She declined--at first. But finally, on Mollie Gretna's returnfrom France, where she had been acting as a nurse, Rita and Mollieaccepted the suave alien's invitation to spend an evening in his privateopium divan.
Many thousands of careers were wrecked by the war, and to the war andthe consequent absence of her husband Rita undoubtedly owed her relapseinto opium-smoking. That she would have continued secretly to employcocaine, veronal, and possibly morphine was probable enough; but theconstant society of Monte Irvin must have made it extremely difficultfor her to indulge the craving for chandu. She began to regret thegaiety of her old life. Loneliness and monotony plunged her into a stateof suicidal depression, and she grasped eagerly at every promise ofexcitement.
It was at about this time that she met Margaret Halley, and betweenthe two, so contrary in disposition, a close friendship arose. The girldoctor ere long discovered Rita's secret, of course, and the discoverywas hastened by an event which occurred shortly after they had becomeacquainted.
The suave alien gentleman disappeared.
That was the entire story in five words--or all of the story that Ritaever learned. His apartments were labelled "To Let," and the night clubsknew him no more. Rita for a time was deprived of drugs, and thenervous collapse which resulted revealed to Margaret Halley's trainedperceptions the truth respecting her friend.
Kazmah's terms proved to be more outrageous than ever, but Rita foundherself again compelled to resort to the Egyptian. She went personallyto the rooms in old Bond Street and arranged with Rashid to see Kazmahon the following day, Friday, for Kazmah only received visitors byappointment. As it chanced, Sir Lucien Pyne returned to England onThursday night and called upon Rita at Prince's Gate. She welcomed himas a friend in need, unfolding the pitiful story, to the truth of whichher nervous condition bore eloquent testimony.
Sir Lucien began to pace up and down the charming little room in whichRita had received him. She watched him, haggard-eyed. Presently:
"Leave Kazmah to me," he said. "If you visit him he will merely shieldhimself behind the mystical business, or assure you that he is making noprofit on his sales. Kilfane had similar trouble with him."
"Then you will see him?" asked Rita.
"I will make a point of interviewing him in the morning. Meanwhile, ifyou will send Nina around to Albemarle Street in about an hour I willsee what can be done."
"Oh, Lucy," whispered Rita, "what a pal you are."
Sir Lucien smiled in his cold fashion.
"I try to be," he said enigmatically; "but I don't always succeed."He turned to her. "Have you ever thought of giving up this doping?"he asked. "Have you ever realized that with increasing tolerance thequantities 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; Idon'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 whenMonte is back again, and we can really 'live.' This wretched existence,with everything restricted and rationed, and all one's friends inFlanders or Mesopotamia or somewhere, drives me mad! I tell you I shoulddie, Lucy, if I tried to do without it now."
The hollow presence of reform contemplated in a hazy future did notdeceive Sir Lucien. He suppressed a sigh, and changed the topic ofconversation.