When he
realized that foul play was meditated, he began to struggle, but he
was in a firm grasp, and the chloroform was already beginning to do
its work. His head began to swim, and he was speedily in a state of
insensibility. When this was accomplished, Mr. Felix Montgomery, eyeing
the insensible boy with satisfaction, put on his hat, walked quickly
to the door, which he locked on the outside, and made his way rapidly
downstairs. Leaving the key at the desk, he left the hotel and
disappeared.
Meanwhile Paul slowly recovered consciousness. As he came to himself,
he looked about him bewildered, not at first comprehending where he was.
All at once it flashed upon him, and he jumped up eagerly and rushed to
the door. He tried in vain to open it.
"I am regularly trapped!" he thought, with a feeling of mingled anger
and vexation. "What a fool I was to let myself be swindled so easily! I
wonder how long I have been lying here insensible?"
Paul was not a boy to give up easily. He meant to get back the ring if
it was a possible thing. The first thing was, of course, to get out of
his present confinement. He was not used to hotel arrangements and never
thought of the bell, but, as the only thing he could think of, began to
pound upon the door. But it so happened that at this time there were no
servants on that floor, and his appeals for help were not heard.
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