“All this is true; but the excitement was hardly enough to drown David’s normal personality.”
“It all helps, though. It predisposes things. It is, as I look at it, the final stage setting, with all the characters in their places awaiting the entrance of the villain to finish up the tragedy. And in this case the villain entered just at the critical moment. Mr. Leighton,” he asked abruptly, “have you ever known David to drink a glass of wine?”
“I can’t say that I have,” he answered doubtfully.
“Well, alcoholic stimulus, with certain temperaments—you know what it does. It starts up an altogether abnormal psychology, doesn’t it?”
“Very apt to.”
“Depends a little on the stage setting, doesn’t it? But, even without that it has its odd effects. On rare occasions, for instance, I have known Meudon to take a single drink of liquor. The result has been similar to that brought on by hypnotism.”
“Well?”
“There’s your clew!” Raoul announced triumphantly. “You have heard General Herran’s story. He tells us that just before they parted he and David drank several toasts together—and the toasts, I fancy, were stronger than mere wine.”
“You think, then——”