“Enough? Yes, Leendert, too much!” replied van Rheijn.
“Yet Miklucho-Maclay, in his well-known experiment consumed one hundred and seven grains.”
“Well, if you reckon it up as I have done, you will find that a hundred and seven grains come to only eighteen matas and a fraction.”
“Very good, in that case we might begin at once.”
“Now please don’t be in such a hurry,” put in van Rheijn.
“Why should we put it off?” asked Grashuis. “We have now a few quiet hours before us, such an opportunity may not recur.”
“But, I take it,” objected van Nerekool, “our object is not merely to observe the sensations which opium smoking produces.”
“Methinks,” interrupted Grashuis, “that there has never been a question of anything else.”
“That may be so,” replied van Nerekool; “but yet I fancy we must all have some further object in view. Speaking for myself, I should be very sorry indeed to have anything to do with an experiment, whereby—well, how shall I best express myself?—whereby merely the animal side of the question is to be considered.”
“Yes, and so should I,” cried van Beneden.