You see, in a place like the Grand Babylon, as probably I needn't point out to you, food has to pass through so many hands that to poison one person without killing perhaps fifty would be a most delicate operation.

Moreover, Prince Eugen, unless he has changed his habits, is always served by his own attendant, old Hans, and therefore any attempt to tamper with a cooked dish immediately before serving would be hazardous in the extreme.' 'Granted,' said Racksole.

'The wine, however, might be more easily got at.
Had you thought of that ?' 'I had not,' Babylon admitted.

'You are an ingenious theorist, but I happen to know that Prince Eugen always has his wine opened in his own presence.

No doubt it would be opened by Hans.