"A whole hive," Lord Almont interjected.
"Perhaps," Mr. Torrington smiled, "but let us at least do him the justice to admit that they buzz very merrily."
Cassis shrugged his shoulders.
"Buzzing is of no value in the present circumstances."
Mr. Torrington continued to smile.
"Except so far as it helps our young friend here to buzz off," he said.
The modern slang on the lips of the octogenarian made Barraclough laugh. But the nerves of Nugent Cassis were frayed and laughter was an irritant.
"Let us keep to the point," he insisted. "Did you follow out those instructions I suggested?"
Barraclough nodded. The idea of the false fire came from Cassis and, like most of his schemes, suffered from complexity of detail. He began enumerating the points to be sure that all was in order.
Mr. Torrington shook his head and interrupted.