He had been drinking hard for years, so that it was a very bad case; and besides, he seemed to have something on his mind, which made it worse.

Logotheti came to see him now, and took a vast deal of trouble to be agreeable.  At his first visit Feist flew into a rage and accused the Greek of having kidnapped him and shut him up in a prison, where he was treated like a lunatic; but to this Logotheti was quite indifferent; he only shook his head rather sadly, and offered Feist a very excellent cigarette, such as it was quite impossible to buy, even in London.  After a little hesitation the patient took it, and the effect was very soothing to his temper.  Indeed it was wonderful, for in less than two minutes his features relaxed, his eyes became quiet, and he actually apologised for having spoken so rudely.  Logotheti had been kindness itself, he said, had saved his life at the very moment when he was going to cut his throat, and had been in all respects the good Samaritan.  The cigarette was perfectly delicious.  It was about the best smoke he had enjoyed since he had left the States, he said.  He wished Logotheti to please to understand that he wanted to settle up for all expenses as soon as possible, and to pay his weekly bills at Dr. Bream’s.  There had been twenty or thirty pounds in notes in his pocket-book, and a letter of credit, but all his things had been taken away from him.  He concluded it was all right, but it seemed rather strenuous to take his papers too.  Perhaps Mr. Logotheti, who was so kind, would make sure that they were in a safe place, and tell the doctor to let him see any other friends who called.  Then he asked for another of those wonderful cigarettes, but Logotheti was awfully sorry—­there had only been two, and he had just smoked the other himself.  He showed his empty case.

‘By the way,’ he said, ’if the doctor should happen to come in and notice the smell of the smoke, don’t tell him that you had one of mine.  My tobacco is rather strong, and he might think it would do you harm, you know.  I see that you have some light ones there, on the table.  Just let him think that you smoked one of them.  I promise to bring some more to-morrow, and we’ll have a couple together.’

That was what Logotheti said, and it comforted Mr. Feist, who recognised the opium at once; all that afternoon and through all the next morning he told himself that he was to have another of those cigarettes, and perhaps two, at three o’clock in the afternoon, when Logotheti had said that he would come again.

Before leaving his own rooms on the following day, the Greek put four cigarettes into his case, for he had not forgotten his promise; he took two from a box that lay on the table, and placed them so that they would be nearest to his own hand when he offered his case, but he took the other two from a drawer which was always locked, and of which the key was at one end of his superornate watch-chain, and he placed them on the other side of the case, conveniently for a friend to take.  All four cigarettes looked exactly alike.