Roland picked up one of them, and looked at it critically.
"I assure you," he said, "although I am quite aware you do not believe a word I say, that I have not seen those capsules before." He drew towards him a piece of paper, opened the capsule, and, let the white powder fall on the paper.

He looked critically at the powder, and a shade of astonishment came over his face.

He picked up the penknife, took a particle on the tip of it, and touched it with his tongue.
"Don't fool with that thing!" said Stratton.
"Oh, my dear fellow," he said, "morphia is not a poison in small quantities." The moment he had tasted it, however, he suddenly picked up the paper, put the five grains on his tongue, and swallowed them.
Instantly the reporter sprang to his feet.

He saw at once the reason for all the assumed coolness.

The doctor was merely gaining time in order to commit suicide.
"What have you done ?" cried the reporter.
"Done, my dear fellow?
nothing very much.