ence that followed a quiet voice intervened--a
voice calm and emotionless, tinged with a measure of polite
inquiry. Yet its level utterance fell like a bomb among the little
company. The curtain separating this from the inner room had been
drawn a few feet back, and Bellamy was standing there, in black
overcoat and white muffler, his silk hat on the back of his head,
his left hand, carefully gloved, resting still upon the curtain
which he had drawn aside.

"I hope I am not disturbing you at all?" he murmured softly.

For a moment the development of the situation remained uncertain.
The gleaming barrel of Streuss's revolver changed its destination.
Bellamy glanced at it with the pleased curiosity of a child.

"I really ought not to have intruded," he continued amiably. "I
happened to hear the address my friend Laverick gave to the taxicab
driver, and I was particularly anxious to have a word or two with
him before I left for the Continent."

Streuss was surely something of a charlatan! His revolver had
disappeared. The smile upon his lips was both gracious and
unembarrassed.

"One is always only too pleased to welcome Mr. Bellamy
anywhere--anyhow," he declared. "If apologies are needed at all," he
continued, "it is to our friend and host--Mr. Morrison here.
Permit me--Mr. Arthur Morrison--the Honorable David Bellamy!
These are Mr. Morrison's rooms."

Morrison could do no more than stare. Bellamy, on the contrary,
with a little bow came further into the apartment, removing his hat
from his head. Lassen glided round behind him, remaining between
Bellamy and the heavy curtains. Adolf Kahn moved as though
unconsciously in front of the door of the room in which they were.

Bellamy smiled courteously.

"I am afraid," he said, "that I must not stay for more than a moment.
I have a car full of friends below--we are on our way, in fact, to
the Covent Garden Ball--and one or two of them, I fear," he added
indulgently, "have already reached that stage of exhilaration which
such an entertainment in England seems to demand. They will
certainly come and rout me out if I am here much longer. There!" he
exclaimed, "you hear that?"

There was the sound of a motor horn from the street below. Streuss,
with an oath trembling upon his lips, lifted the blind. There were
two motor-cars waiting there--large cars with Limousine bodies,
and apparently full of men. After all, it was to be expected.
Bellamy was no fool!