While he was arranging these, van Rheijn opened the other parcel, which contained a bedoedan and a small box of tjandoe.
“I say,” cried van Beneden, who was the first to open the little box, “precious nasty stuff this looks!”
Murowski took the box from him, examined the contents, and then falling at once into a lecturing tone, he began:
“Opium is an amorphous, sticky substance which, being of a gummy nature, is not fissile but plastic. It is of a dark brown colour, possesses a faint sweetish smell, and is somewhat oily to the touch. Its chief constituents are morphine and narcotine, in the absence of these the drug has no value.”
“But,” interrupted van Beneden somewhat impatiently, “which of us is to submit to the experiment?”
“The best plan to settle that question,” said van Rheijn, “would be, I think, to draw lots.”
“Very good,” put in Murowski, “providing you allow me to stand out, as I shall have to watch the experiment.”
“Now, I think,” suggested Grenits, “you had better let me make the trial.”
“Why you, rather than anyone of us?”
“Why, because, being a prisoner,” replied Grenits, “I have plenty of time on my hands to get over the effects of the debauch.”