"Couldn't you find out, Sabina?"
"Well, I don't see how," said Sabina slowly. "I've never seen him without it. One night there was an alarm of fire, and everybody rushed to their doors, and Mr. Dare came too; but his hair and his beard and everything was just the same as usual. Still I'm sure I've seen it a little on one side."
"You provide his food here, do you not? Do you ever help your aunt?"
"Sometimes, ma'am. I take in his tea and all that, you know. We're by way of being very friendly, Mr. Dare and me."
"Sabina, if you had the stuff, could you not quietly put something into his tea which would make him sleep for an hour or two? And, when he was asleep, could you not find out what I want to know?"
Sabina was silent for a moment.
"What should I get for it?" she said at last. "It's always a risk to run."
"Twenty pounds," said Flossy promptly. "There is very little risk."
"And where should I get the stuff?"
"I—I have it with me," said Mrs. Vane.