Diary of a Drug Fiend

288 The Diary of a Drug Fiend I couldn’t see the joke, but it was the biggest joke in the world. “It’s really awfully kind of you, my dear Mr. Platt,” I said with unction, feeling that I was cast for the star part in some stupendous comedy. “The obligation is entirely on my side,” returned my guest. ‘‘ You have no idea how your kind approval has set my mind at ease.” I took another sniff. I was fainting away into an inexpressible ecstasy. I re-corked the bottle and put it in my pocket, thanking Platt profusely. “ T can’t imagine your mind being ill at ease,’’ I went on with a note of irony, which was. however, absolutely genial. I was friends with every one in the world. “ If there was ever a man with a conscience void of offence toward God and man, that man is surely Jabez Platt.” “Ah, conscience, conscience,” he sighed. ‘‘ You have no idea, Sir Peter, how it has tormented me of late. The moral responsibility, the appalling moral responsibility.” “Whatever it is,’’ I answered, “ you are certainly the man to shoulder it.” “* Well,” he said, “ I think I may say without boasting that I trust I have never tried to shirk it. Your approval has absolved me of the last shred of hesitation. I must explain, my dear Sir Peter, that I have always been a poor man. The service of humanity demands many sacrifices from its devotees, and I assure you that in that bottle there lies not only, as I now feel assured, the salvation of mankind from one of its direst dangers, but an enormous fortune.” He leant forward and tapped my knee with his fore- finger. | ““ An enormous fortune,” he repeated in awed tones. And then lowering his voice still further, ‘‘ Enough, more than enough, for both of us.” “Why, how do I come in?” I asked in surprise, while a little thrill of avarice tickled my heart-strings. I reflected that what with one thing or another, I