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           SulphateofcopperpoisonSO4orsomethinginsomedriedpeasherememberedreadingofinacheapeatinghousesomewherebuthecouldn’trememberwhenitwasorwhere.Anyhowinspection,medicalinspection,ofalleatablesseemedtohimmorethanevernecessarywhichpossiblyaccountedforthevogueofDrTibble’sVi-Cocoaonaccountofthemedicalanalysisinvolved.

           —Haveashotatitnow,heventuredtosayofthecoffeeafterbeingstirred.

           ThusprevailedontoatanyratetasteitStephenliftedtheheavymugfromthebrownpuddleitcloppedoutofwhentakenupbythehandleandtookasipoftheoffendingbeverage.

           —Stillit’ssolidfood,hisgoodgeniusurged,I’masticklerforsolidfood,hisoneandonlyreasonbeingnotgormandisingintheleastbutregularmealsasthesinequanonforanykindofproperwork,mentalormanual.Yououghttoeatmoresolidfood.Youwouldfeeladifferentman.

           —LiquidsIcaneat,Stephensaid.ButO,obligemebytakingawaythatknife.Ican’tlookatthepointofit.ItremindsmeofRomanhistory.

           MrBloompromptlydidassuggestedandremovedtheincriminatedarticle,ablunthornhandledordinaryknifewithnothingparticularlyRomanorantiqueaboutittothelayeye,observingthatthepointwastheleastconspicuouspointaboutit.

           —Ourmutualfriend’sstoriesarelikehimself,MrBloomaproposofknivesremarkedtohisconfidantesottovoce.Doyouthinktheyaregenuine?Hecouldspinthoseyarnsforhoursonendallnightlongandlielikeoldboots.Lookathim.