ɪn tˈɜːmz ʌv ɹˈɛndɛlz plˈɑːt, ɪt ɹᵻfˈɜːz tə pˈætɹɪk sˈɛlbiz ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən ʌv sˈiːɪŋ ðə pˈɪktʃɚɹ ʌvðə bᵻhˈɛdᵻd dʒˈɑːn ðə bˈæptɪst wɪððə tˈaɪm hiː sˈʌfɚd ɐ nˌɪɹfˈeɪɾəl bˈiː stˈɪŋ, æz ɹᵻlˈeɪɾᵻd ɪnðə pɹˈoʊlɑːɡ.
In terms of Rendell's plot, it refers to Patrick Selby's association of seeing the picture of the beheaded John the Baptist with the time he suffered a near-fatal bee sting, as related in the prologue.