“Yes. I take some harmless powders, sometimes.”
“Harmless, eh? A harmless headache powder is like a mild cocktail. It doesn’t exist. So you’re adding drug habit to drink habit. Fortunately, it isn’t hard to stop. It has begun to show on you already, in that puffy grayness under the eyes. All the coal-tar powders vitiate the blood as well as affect the heart. Sleep badly?”
“Very often.”
“Take anything for that?”
“You mean opiates? I’m not a fool, Doctor.”
“You mean you haven’t gone quite that far,” said the other grimly. “You’ve started in on two habits; but not the worst. Well, that’s all. Come back when you need to.”
Miss Ennis’s big, dull eyes opened wide. “Aren’t you going to give me anything? Any medicine?”
“You don’t need it.”
“Or any advice?”
Dr. Strong permitted himself a little smile at the success of his strategy. “Give it to yourself,” he suggested. “You showed, in flashes, during the dinner talk last night, that you have both wit and sense, when you choose to use them. Do it now.”