the usual way. I - I think I'm a bit nervous tonight. I
can't stand your gun-fire."

"All right. When did you begin?"

"Five weeks ago when you were away. I didn't mean to get into
it, Red, on my word I didn't, after all you've warned me. But
it was so beastly hot - and there was a lot of extra work at
the office. My head got to going it night and day. I - say"
- he leaned suddenly forward, has head on his hands - "I can
tell you better if you give me some kind of a bracer - I feel
- so - deadly."

Burns got up and prepared something in a glass something not
particularly palatable, but when it had taken action, which it
promptly did, Chester's white face had acquired a tinge of
colour and he could go on.

"I stopped in Gardner's office one day when my head was worse
than usual. Had to meet a man in ten minutes - important deal
on for the house - had to be at my best. Told Gardner so. He
fixed me."

"He did - blame him - fixed you for a dope-fiend. I've told
you a hundred times you had precisely the kind of temperament
that must avoid that sort of thing like the gallows." Burns
hit the desk with his fist as he spoke, with a thump of
impatience.

"It seems to set me up for a while - I can do anything. Then