At first there was a confused babble of sounds. Everybody seemed to be talking at once. But fortunately they were speaking in French and not in Russian. It was easier for Corsini to catch what they said. A tall, bearded man was speaking. "This infernal Corsini, for instance. No doubt he is in the pay of Golitzine. We cannot remove him, it seems." Zouroff took up the running. "I did my best, you know, gentlemen; but he escaped me, and since then Beilski has put a cordon round him that we cannot break through." "And yet Beilski is a fool," growled the bearded man. "I know," answered Zouroff. "Beilski is what you say, but he has got Golitzine at his back, and Golitzine has the intelligence of several monkeys. When Beilski is in doubt, he goes to the secretary." Another man spoke. "You know we have every confidence in you, Prince; but we all know of your attachment to La Belle Quéro--by the way, why is she not here to-night, to preside over our festivities?" Zouroff spoke in a harsh, strained voice. "La Belle Quéro is ill, confined to her room. You have probably not heard that she was attacked with sudden indisposition at the Opera to-night, and that her understudy had to take her place." None of the men had been at the Opera, they had not heard. One or two indulged in expressions of sympathy. The bearded man, a powerful nobleman, only just second to Zouroff himself in importance and length of lineage, continued his remarks. "I spoke just now of your well-known attachment to La Belle Quéro. Is it possible, Prince, that in an unguarded moment, you may have dropped some hints of your purpose to her? I did not wish, for a moment, to offend your _amour propre_, but rumour has it that she is very much attracted by this handsome young Italian. It is strange that he should have escaped you, who usually lay your plans so well." Zouroff paused for a moment before he replied. These men were as keen-witted as himself; it was impossible to deceive them for long. "Gentlemen, I will be quite frank with you. One is always a fool where women are concerned. In a moment of ungoverned temper, I did hint to Madame Quéro something that might have set her wits to work, and she may have acted upon that." "From her _penchant_ for the Italian?" suggested the bearded man, who, privately, was not too fond of the Prince, and always indulged in a pin-prick when possible. Zouroff flushed a deep red. It angered him deeply that other persons should know Corsini had been preferred to him. He looked round the assembly. He knew that the bearded man was bidding for the leadership that had been willingly accorded to himself. If his position were menaced, he must recover it immediately, and by a bold stroke. He surveyed the small knot of men, his bold bearing and resolute demeanour at once challenging their allegiance, and compelling it.