The baroness had taken off the gingham gown she had worn in the makeshift laboratory, and had replaced it with a house dress of costly material, but which was made up rather plainly.
Over this gown she slipped a voluminous black cloak. Then she went over to the trunk in which she had placed the black bag, and drew the bag forth.
“The door is locked, Florine?� she asked, without turning her head.
“Yes, my lady!� answered the maid, with a touch of mockery as she used this form of address that is so uncommon in America. “I have just looked, to make sure.�
“Stand by it, in case of accidents,� ordered the baroness.
Without speaking, Florine took her station at the door which led to the outer corridor, although she knew such a precaution was unnecessary.
The baroness took from the bag the steel case into which she had packed the glass cylinder containing the powerful vapor she had produced in the bathroom.
Unscrewing the cap of the case, she drew out the glass cylinder, and, holding it carefully in her left hand, reached again into the bag with her right.
This time she brought out a diminutive rubber bulb, attached to a syringe with a thin, hollow, threaded screw on the bottom.
Carefully she sent the screw through the center of the rubber cork in the glass cylinder. When this had been accomplished, she concealed the cylinder in the wide sleeve of her cloak.