"It may be that the opium of his cigar was stronger than usual.

But how can I tell ?" "Opium! He never smoked opium!" Stella gazed upon him in fresh bewilderment.

"Surely--surely not!" she said, as though seeking to convince herself.
"_Mem-sahib_, how should I know ?" the Indian murmured soothingly.
She became suddenly aware that further inaction was unendurable.

She must see for herself.

She must know the whole, dreadful truth.