Hugo seeing Dottie as nothing more than an old and unarmed woman is one of the most twisted and disingenuous pieces of thinking I've seen. Dottie was neither harmless nor innocent. Hugo is his own worst critic.
Our Vile Viper Vane is involved in a conspiracy of corruption and the letter was a thinly veiled threat. It's backfired big time because Vane could care less about their past protection and favors. There is no honor among thieves.
One Stoker was a challenge, two were inevitability. The worst of the time disruption and Dottie's meddling is fixed at last. Oh my, two Stokers. I bet Thomas would like some spare Hugos so he could have one for his own.
You do realize by this time in Grangerland, the panoply of sex acts onboard would have exceeded a half dozen Roman orgies in total.
I'm beginning to wonder at the virility of the crew.