“And before you rose did you feel the curious giddiness?”
“No, not until after I stood up. I tried to shout and attract help, but could not. Then I reached to press the bell, but stumbled forward, and the next instant I was lost in what seemed to be a dense fog.”
“Curious!” ejaculated Trépard, who stood by with folded arms, eagerly listening to every word—“very curious!”
“Did you feel any strange sensation on the left side of your neck beneath the ear, or upon your lower lip?” inquired Deane earnestly.
She reflected for a moment, then said:
“Now that I remember, there was a curious numbness of my lip.”
“Followed immediately by unconsciousness?”
“Yes, almost immediately.”
The doctors exchanged glances, which showed that the mark upon the lip was the chief enigma of the situation.
Trépard glanced at his watch, dissolved yet another pillule of hydrated peroxide of iron, and handed her the draught to swallow. The antidote had acted almost like magic.