So strong was it that only an unforeseen accident could prevent its taking action. Once under its influence, and the sturdiest man would fall into a deathlike stupor, which might last for several hours.
The baroness had made the vapor as strong as it was possible to do without rendering it too dangerous.
She had no intention of killing any of her victims. Her object merely was to make them unconscious, and then get possession of them.[Pg 21]
Incidentally, she took care to freight herself with all their portable wealth, such as jewelry and precious stones.
Even this last she did not do herself in the case of Lord Vinton.
As will have been divined, this mysterious young and beautiful woman who chose to be known at the Hotel Amsterdam as the Baroness Latour had plenty of men at her orders.
All she did was to prepare the way for them, and then let them do the rough work.
She satisfied herself by listening at the keyhole—in which the key had been left—that the spray had operated properly, and that Lord Vinton was most assuredly in a state of coma. Then she glided swiftly back to her own rooms, was let in without a moment’s delay by the watchful Florine, and sank into a chair to regain her breath.
“You may go to bed, Florine.�
Florine, the docile, said “Good night!� and departed to her own apartment, adjoining that of her employer.