# 29: CLOSE CALL.

A minute later, Drake was laid out on the bench of the laboratory. By now, he could barely move a muscle.

“Master Drake,” said Nickelby, standing over his employer, “Can you hear me?”

For a few tense seconds there was nothing. Then with a herculean effort, Drake managed to blink three times, indicating that he could. 

“Alright, that’s something at least.”

Working quickly, Nickelby took a blood sample and placed it on the tray of the lab computer. After a few precious seconds, a match had been found in the extensive toxicology database.
“It is Curare sir,” said Nickelby. “Just hold on a couple more minutes.”

The butler disappeared and came back moments later with another syringe.
“I’m injecting an Acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitor into your bloodstream.”

After a few minutes, Drake’s breathing became less shallow and some feeling was beginning to return to his extremities.
Once again, the ever-faithful Nickelby had come through just in time.

That evening, Drake had almost fully recuperated.
Grateful to Nickelby, Drake wanted to grant his butler long-service leave, but Nickelby would have none of it. After a great deal of cajoling and haggling, Drake finally convinced his valet to take a five day break in the Bahamas, on the proviso that once he returned, the subject would never be broached again…