“This room is hot,” he said. “Do you mind opening the other door?”
“No, I would rather leave it closed. I like to keep my bedroom cool. The air from the gas stove gets into the room and overheats it.”
“As you please. You must not keep me long now. Things have turned out exactly as we planned.”
“Yes,” said the woman. “Yes.”
“You did what I required admirably—no one better. By the way, have you any of the hyoscine left?”
The nurse’s face grew very white.
“A little. Why do you ask?”
“You had better give it to me—it is safer.”
Nurse Ives rose and went into the other room. She soon returned with a small bottle which contained some white powder. Tarbot slipped the bottle into his pocket.
“Pelham is in the toils,” he said grimly. “You are prepared to swear that he was alone in the room with the child when he took the last dose?”