The drug had a marvellous and almost instantaneous effect. But it was used only in case of great emergency, when, for instance, he was suddenly summoned by the Emperor, or perchance he had to accompany his wife to some public function. That the drug had bad effects I knew quite well. I have often seen him pacing the room holding his hands to his head, when, three hours later, the dope was gradually losing its potency, leaving him inert and ill. When the valet had retired, I stood gazing down into the growing life of Jermyn Street, deploring the state of society which had resulted in the pretty Violet Hewitt becoming, at twenty, a victim to opium. Truly in the world of London, as in Berlin, there are many strange phases of life, and even I, familiar as I was with the gaieties of the capitals, and the night life of Berlin, the Montmartre in Paris, and the West End in London, here confess that when I discovered the pretty girl sleeping in that dirty bunk in that fetid atmosphere I was staggered. Before three o'clock in the afternoon "Willie" reappeared, well groomed and perfectly dressed. I had been out lunching at the "Berkeley" with a friend, and on re-entering the chambers, found him in the sitting-room smoking a cigarette. The effects of his overnight dissipation had entirely passed. He seated himself upon the arm of a chair and asked: "Well, Heltzendorff, I suppose you've been out to lunch--eh? Anything interesting in this town?" "The usual set at the 'Berkeley,'" I replied. "Oh! The 'Berkeley!' Very nice, but too respectable. That is where one takes one's aunt, is it not?" he laughed. I admitted that it was a most excellent restaurant. "Good food and good amusement, my dear Heltzendorff, one can never find together. The worse the food the better the entertainment. Do you remember the 'Rat Mort'--eh?" "No," I said sharply. "That is a long-past and unwelcome memory." The Imperial profligate laughed heartily. "Oh, my dear Heltzendorff, you are becoming quite pharisaical. You! Oh! that is really amusing!" "The 'Rat Mort' never amused me," I said, "a café of the Montmartre where those who dined were----" I did not finish my sentence. "Were very pretty and interesting women, Heltzendorff," he declared. "Ah! don't you recollect when you and I dined there not long ago, all of us at a long table--so many charming ladies--oh!" "I have forgotten it, Prince," I said, rebuking him. "It has passed from my memory. That place is just as unfitted for you as is Lung Ching's." "Lung Ching's! Ah--yes, the old yellow fellow is a good sort," he exclaimed, as though recollecting. "And the lady you took there--eh?" "The lady?" he echoed. "Why, _Gott!_ I left her there. I did not remember. _Gott!_ I left little Miss Violet in that place!" he gasped. "Well?" I asked. "Well, what can I do. I must go and see." I smiled, and then told him what I had done.