The Argosy, Vol. 51

# Catalog Note: The Argos, April 1891

The Fate of the Hara Diamond, Chapter XIV ("Drashkil-Smoking"), depicts Captain Ducie's investigation of a hidden Russian diamond worth £150,000. After deciphering M. Platzoff's cryptogram, Ducie discovers the manuscript ends before revealing the gem's location. Frustrated but persistent, Ducie observes household members for clues, including noting the illness of the mulatto servant Cleon and the arrival of a substitute worker. The chapter's substantial portion concerns an extended dialogue between Ducie and Platzoff regarding the latter's use of "drashkil," a drug mixture containing opium and other ingredients obtained from India. Platzoff defends the value of drug-induced visionary experiences against Ducie's skepticism, comparing them to De Quincey's work. Platzoff recounts a vivid drashkil-dream in which he experienced life as a holy Indian fakir, describing the internal spiritual conflict between outward sanctity and inward depravity—a vision he considers as experientially real as waking life.