He reached over and took the bee from Mrs. May's arm. The insect had become entangled in her sleeve and was buzzing angrily. "The little creature is furious," he said. "As a matter of fact, they are always more or less furious. If there is any danger there is danger now." He held the bee lightly in his hand. Then he released it. "The stings have been removed," he said. "I bred these myself, and I know how to treat them. I am sorry to have caused a disturbance." He spoke with serious, earnest, politeness, but there was a mocking light in his eyes as he turned upon Mrs. May. Nobody had a thought or a glance for anybody else, and the spectacle of Marion lying back half fainting in her chair passed unnoticed. "Then they are usually dangerous?" Vera asked. "My dear young lady, they are dreadful," Tchigorsky explained. "They invade other nests and eat the honey as they might have invaded your hives. By way of experiment I tried one of these on your hives to-night, and your bees seemed to recognize an enemy at once. They all deserted their hives and not one of them has returned. As some amends for what I have done I am going to send you two of the finest swarms in England." Vera shuddered. "I shall never want to see a bee again," she said. Once more the eyes of Tchigorsky and Mrs. May met. She knew well that Tchigorsky was talking at her through the rest, and that in his own characteristic way he was informing her that the last plot had failed. With a queer smile on her face she proceeded to peel a peach. "You are so horribly clever," she said, "that I feel half afraid of you. But I don't suppose we shall meet again." "Not unless you come to Russia," said Tchigorsky, "whither I start to-morrow. But I am leaving my affairs in competent hands." Again was the suggestion of a threat; again Mrs. May smiled. The smile was on her face long after the three most interested in the tragedy had left the dining hall and gone to the billiard room for a smoke. "Are you really leaving us?" Geoffrey asked. "I want Mrs. May to imagine so," said Tchigorsky. "In a day or two her spies will bring her information that I have left England. As a matter of fact, I have succeeded in tapping a vein of information that has baffled me for a long time. "Still, I am not going away and my disguise will be the one you saw me in. If luck goes well I shall be attached to Mrs. May in the character of a native servant before long. So if you see any suspicious-looking Asiatic prowling about, don't put a bullet into him, for you may kill me by mistake." Geoffrey smiled and promised. "That was a rare fright you gave Mrs. May over the bees," he said. "How did you manage it?" Tchigorsky smiled as he lighted a cigarette.