`It’sextremelyunpleasantforme，’hemused。`Karlhasbeeninbedwithbronchitisforaweek。There’sanevenchancethathewillnevergetupagain。Michaelisisluxuriatinginthecountrysomewhere。Afashionablepublisherhasofferedhimfivehundredpoundsforabook。Itwillbeaghastlyfailure。Hehaslostthehabitofconsecutivethinkinginprison，youknow。’
　　TheProfessoronhisfeet，nowbuttoninghiscoat，lookedabouthimwithperfectindifference。
　　`Whatareyougoingtodo？’askedOssipon，wearily。HedreadedtheblameoftheCentralRedCommittee，abodywhichhadnopermanentplaceofabode，andofwhosemembershiphewasnotexactlyinformed。IfthisaffaireventuatedinthestoppageofthemodestsubsidyallottedtothepublicationoftheF。P。pamphlets，thenindeedhewouldhavetoregretVerloc’sinexplicablefolly。
　　`Solidaritywiththeextremestformofactionisonething，andsillyrecklessnessisanother，’hesaid，withasortofmoodybrutality。`Idon’tknowwhatcametoVerloc。There’ssomemysterythere。However，he’sgone。
　　Youmaytakeitasyoulike，butunderthecircumstancestheonlypolicyforthemilitantrevolutionarygroupistodisclaimallconnectionwiththisdamnedfreakofyours。Howtomakethedisclaimerconvincingenoughiswhatbothersme。’
　　Thelittlemanonhisfeet，buttonedupandreadytogo，wasnotallerthantheseatedOssipon。Helevelledhisspectaclesatthelatter’sfacepoint—blank。
　　`Youmightaskthepoliceforatestimonialofgoodconduct。Theyknowwhereeveryoneofyousleptlastnight。Perhapsifyouaskedthemtheywouldconsenttopublishsomesortofofficialstatement。’
　　`Nodoubttheyareawarewellenoughthatwehadnothingtodowiththis，’mumbledOssipon，bitterly。`Whattheywillsayisanotherthing。’
　　Heremainedthoughtful，disregardingtheshort，owlish，shabbyfigurestandingbyhisside。`ImustlayhandsonMichaelisatonce，andgethimtospeakfromhisheartatoneofourgatherings。Thepublichasasortofsentimentalregardforthatfellow。Hisnameisknown。AndIamintouchwithafewreportersonthebigdailies。Whathewouldsaywouldbeutterbosh，buthehasaturnoftalkthatmakesitgodownallthesame。’
　　`Liketreacle，’interjectedtheProfessor，ratherlow，keepinganimpassiveexpression。
　　TheperplexedOssiponwentoncommuningwithhimselfhalfaudibly，afterthemannerofamanreflectinginperfectsolitude。
　　`Confoundedass！Toleavesuchanimbecilebusinessonmyhands。AndIdon’tevenknowif——’
　　Hesatwithcompressedlips。Theideaofgoingfornewsstraighttotheshoplackedcharm。HisnotionwasthatVerloc’sshopmighthavebeenturnedalreadyintoapolicetrap。Theywillbeboundtomakesomearrests，hethought，withsomethingresemblingvirtuousindignation，fortheeventenorofhisrevolutionarylifewasmenacedbynofaultofhis。Andyetunlesshewentthereherantheriskofremaininginignoranceofwhatperhapsitwouldbeverymaterialforhimtoknow。Thenhereflectedthat，ifthemanintheparkhadbeensoverymuchblowntopiecesastheeveningpaperssaid，hecouldnothavebeenidentified。Andifso，thepolicecouldhavenospecialreasonforwatchingVerloc’sshopmorecloselythananyotherplaceknowntobefrequentedbymarkedanarchists—nomorereason，infact，thanforwatchingthedoorsoftheSilenus。Therewouldbealotofwatchingallround，nomatterwherehewent。Still——
　　`IwonderwhatIhadbetterdonow？’hemuttered，takingcounselwithhimself。
　　Araspingvoiceathiselbowsaid，withsedatescorn:`Fastenyourselfuponthewomanforallshe’sworth。’
　　AfterutteringthesewordstheProfessorwalkedawayfromthetable。
　　Ossipon，whomthatpieceofinsighthadtakenunawares，gaveoneineffectualstart，andremainedstill，withahelplessgaze，asthoughnailedfasttotheseatofhischair。Thelonelypiano，withoutasmuchasamusicstooltohelpit，struckafewchordscourageously，andbeginningaselectionofnationalairs，playedhimoutatlasttothetuneof`TheBlueBellsofScotland’。Thepainfullydetachednotesgrewfaintbehindhisbackwhilehewentslowlyupstairs，acrossthehall，andintothestreet。
　　Infrontofthegreatdoorwayadismalrowofnewspapersellersstandingclearofthepavementdealtwiththeirwaresfromthegutter。Itwasaraw，gloomydayoftheearlyspring;andthegrimysky，themudofthestreet，theragsofthedirtymenharmonizedexcellentlywiththeeruptionofthedamp，rubbishysheetsofpapersoiledwithprinters’ink。Theposters，maculatedwithfilth，garnishedliketapestrythesweepofthekerbstone。
　　Thetradeinafternoonpaperswasbrisk，yet，incomparisonwiththeswift，constantmarchoffoottraffic，theeffectwasofindifference，ofadisregardeddistribution。Ossiponlookedhurriedlybothwaysbeforesteppingoutintothecross—currents，buttheProfessorwasalreadyoutofsight。
　　CONRAD:TheSecretAgent，Chapter5CHAPTER5
　　TheProfessorhadturnedintoastreettotheleft，andwalkedalong，withhisheadcarriedrigidlyerect，inacrowdwhoseeveryindividualalmostovertoppedhisstuntedstature。Itwasvaintopretendtohimselfthathewasnotdisappointed。Butthatwasmerefeeling;thestoicismofMsthoughtcouldnotbedisturbedbythisoranyotherfailure。Nexttime，orthetimeafternext，atellingstrokewouldbedelivered—somethingreallystartling—ablowfittoopenthefirstcrackintheimposingfrontofthegreatedificeoflegalconceptionsshelteringtheatrociousinjusticeofsociety。Ofhumbleorigin，andwithanappearancereallysomeanastostandinthewayofhisconsiderablenaturalabilities，hisimaginationhadbeenfiredearlybythetalesofmenrisingfromthedepthsofpovertytopositionsofauthorityandaffluence。Theextreme，almostasceticpurityofhisthought，combinedwithanastoundingignoranceofworldlyconditions，hadsetbeforehimagoalofpowerandprestigetobeattainedwithoutthemediumofarts，graces，tact，wealth—bysheerweightofmeritalone。
　　Onthatviewheconsideredhimselfentitledtoundisputedsuccess。Hisfather，adelicatedarkenthusiastwithaslopingforehead，hadbeenanitinerantandrousingpreacherofsomeobscurebutrigidChristiansect—amansupremelyconfidentintheprivilegesofhisrighteousness。Intheson，individualistbytemperament，oncethescienceofcollegeshadreplacedthoroughlythefaithofconventicles，thismoralattitudetranslateditselfintoafrenziedpuritanismofambition。Henurseditassomethingsecularlyholy。Toseeitthwartedopenedhiseyestothetruenatureoftheworld，whosemoralitywasartificial，corruptandblasphemous。Thewayofeventhemostjustifiablerevolutionsispreparedbypersonalimpulsesdisguisedintocreeds。TheProfessor’sindignationfoundinitselfafinalcausethatabsolvedhimfromthesinofturningtodestructionastheagentofhisambition。Todestroypublicfaithinlegalitywastheimperfectformulaofhispedanticfanaticism;butthesubconsciousconvictionthattheframeworkofanestablishedsocialordercannotbeeffectuallyshatteredexceptbysomeformofcollectiveorindividualviolencewaspreciseandcorrect。Hewasamoralagent—thatwassettledinhismind。Byexercisinghisagencywithruthlessdefianceheprocuredforhimselftheappearancesofpowerandpersonalprestige。Thatwasundeniabletohisvengefulbitterness。
　　Itpacifieditsunrest;andintheirownwaythemostardentofrevolutionariesareperhapsdoingnomorebutseekingforpeaceincommonwiththerestofmankind—thepeaceofsoothedvanity，ofsatisfiedappetites，orperhapsofappeasedconscience。
　　Lostinthecrowd，miserableandundersized，hemeditatedconfidentlyonhispower，keepinghishandintheleftpocketofhistrousers，graspinglightlytheindiarubberball，thesupremeguaranteeofhissinisterfreedom:
　　butafterawhilehebecamedisagreeablyaffectedbythesightoftheroadwaythrongedwithvehiclesandofthepavementcrowdedwithmenandwomen。
　　Hewasinalong，straightstreet，peopledbyamerefractionofanimmensemultitude;butallroundhim，onandon，eventothelimitsofthehorizonhiddenbytheenormouspilesofbricks，hefeltthemassofmankindmightyinitsnumbers。Theyswarmednumerouslikelocusts，industriouslikeants，thoughtlesslikeanaturalforce，pushingonblindandorderlyandabsorbed，impervioustosentiment，tologic，toterror，too，perhaps。
　　Thatwastheformofdoubthefearedmost。Impervioustofear！Oftenwhilewalkingabroad，whenhehappenedalsotocomeoutofhimself，hehadsuchmomentsofdreadfulandsanemistrustofmankind。Whatifnothingcouldmovethem？Suchmomentscometoallmenwhoseambitionaimsatadirectgraspuponhumanity—toartists，politicians，thinkers，reformers，orsaints。Adespicableemotionalstatethis，againstwhichsolitudefortifiesasuperiorcharacter;andwithsevereexultationtheProfessorthoughtoftherefugeofhisroom，withitspadlockedcupboard，lostinawildernessofpoorhouses，thehermitageoftheperfectanarchist。Inordertoreachsoonerthepointwherehecouldtakehisomnibus，heturnedbrusquelyoutofthepopulousstreetintoanarrowandduskyalleypavedwithflagstones。
　　Ononesidethelowbrickhouseshadintheirdustywindowsthesightless，moribundlookofincurabledecay—emptyshellsawaitingdemolition。Fromtheothersidelifehadnotdepartedwhollyasyet。Facingtheonlygas—lampyawnedthecavernofasecond—hand—furnituredealer，where，deepinthegloomofasortofnarrowavenuewindingthroughabizarreforestofwardrobes，withanundergrowthtangleoftablelegs，atallpier—glassglimmeredlikeapoolofwaterinawood。Anunhappy，homelesscouch，accompaniedbytwounrelatedchairs，stoodintheopen。TheonlyhumanbeingmakinguseofthealleybesidestheProfessor，comingstalwartanderectfromtheoppositedirection，checkedhisswingingpacesuddenly。
　　`Hallo！’hesaid，andstoodalittleononesidewatchfully。
　　TheProfessorhadalreadystopped，withareadyhalfturnwhichbroughthisshouldersveryneartheotherwall。Hisrighthandfelllightlyonthebackoftheoutcastcouch，theleftremainedpurposefullyplungeddeepinthetrouserpocket，andtheroundnessoftheheavyrimmedspectaclesimpartedanowlishcharactertohismoody，unperturbedface。
　　Itwaslikeameetinginasidecorridorofamansionfulloflife。
　　Thestalwartmanwasbuttonedupinadarkovercoat，andcarriedanumbrella。
　　Hishat，tiltedback，uncoveredagooddealofforehead，whichappearedverywhiteinthedusk。Inthedarkpatchesoftheorbitstheeyeballsglimmeredpiercingly。Long，droopingmoustaches，thecolourofripecorn，framedwiththeirpointsthesquareblockofhisshavedchin。
　　`Iamnotlookingforyou，’hesaid，curtly。
　　TheProfessordidnotstiraninch。Theblendednoisesoftheenormoustownsankdowntoaninarticulatelowmurmur。ChiefInspectorHeatoftheSpecialCrimeDepartmentchangedhistone。
　　`Notinahurrytogethome？’heasked，withmockingsimplicity。
　　Theunwholesome—lookinglittlemoralagentofdestructionexultedsilentlyinthepossessionofpersonalprestige，keepingincheckthismanarmedwiththedefensivemandateofamenacedsociety。MorefortunatethanCaligula，whowishedthattheRomanSenatehadonlyoneheadforthebettersatisfactionofhiscruellust，hebeheldinthatonemanalltheforceshehadsetatdefiance:theforceoflaw，property，oppression，andinjustice。Hebeheldallhisenemiesandfearlesslyconfrontedthemallinasupremesatisfactionofhisvanity。Theystoodperplexedbeforehimasifbeforeadreadfulportent。Hegloatedinwardlyoverthechanceofthismeetingaffirminghissuperiorityoverallthemultitudeofmankind。
　　Itwasinrealityachancemeeting。ChiefInspectorHeathadhadadisagreeablybusydaysincehisdepartmentreceivedthefirsttelegramfromGreenwichalittlebeforeeleveninthemorning。Firstofall，thefactoftheoutragebeingattemptedlessthanaweekafterhehadassuredahighofficialthatnooutbreakofanarchistactivitywastobeapprehendedwassufficientlyannoying。Ifheeverthoughthimselfsafeinmakingastatement，itwasthen。Hehadmadethatstatementwithinfinitesatisfactiontohimself，becauseitwasclearthatthehighofficialdesiredgreatlytohearthatverything。Hehadaffirmedthatnothingofthesortcouldevenbethoughtofwithoutthedepartmentbeingawareofitwithintwenty—fourhours;andhehadspokenthusinhisconsciousnessofbeingthegreatexpertofhisdepartment。Hehadgoneevensofarastoutterwordswhichtruewisdomwouldhavekeptback。ButChiefInspectorHeatwasnotverywise—atleastnottrulyso。Truewisdom，whichisnotcertainofanythinginthisworldofcontradictions，wouldhavepreventedhimfromattaininghispresentposition。Itwouldhavealarmedhissuperiors，anddoneawaywithhischancesofpromotion。Hispromotionhadbeenveryrapid。
　　`Thereisn’toneofthem，sir，thatwecouldn’tlayourhandsonatanytimeofnightorday。Weknowwhateachofthemisdoinghourbyhour，’
　　hehaddeclared。Andthehighofficialhaddeignedtosmile。ThiswassoobviouslytherightthingtosayforanofficerofChiefInspectorHeat’sreputationthatitwasperfectlydelightful。Thehighofficialbelievedthedeclaration，whichchimedinwithhisideaofthefitnessofthings。
　　Hiswisdomwasofanofficialkind，orelsehemighthavereflecteduponamatternotoftheorybutofexperiencethatintheclose—wovenstuffofrelationsbetweentheconspiratorandpolicethereoccurunexpectedsolutionsofcontinuity，suddenholes`inspaceandtime。Agivenanarchistmaybewatchedinchbyinchandminutebyminute，butamomentalwayscomeswhensomehowallsightandtouchofhimarelostforafewhours，duringwhichsomething（generallyanexplosion）moreorlessdeplorabledoeshappen。
　　Butthehighofficial，carriedawaybyhissenseoffitnessofthings，hadsmiled，andnowtherecollectionofthatsmilewasveryannoyingtoChiefInspectorHeat，principalexpertinanarchistprocedure。
　　Thiswasnottheonlycircumstancewhoserecollectiondepressedtheusual’serenityoftheeminentspecialist。Therewasanotherdatingbackonlytothatverymorning。ThethoughtthatwhencalledurgentlytohisAssistantCommissioner’sprivateroomhehadbeenunabletoconcealhisastonishmentwasdistinctlyvexing。Hisinstinctofasuccessfulmanhadtaughthimlongagothat，asageneralrule，areputationisbuiltonmannerasmuchasonachievement。Andhefeltthathismannerwhenconfrontedwiththetelegramhadnotbeenimpressive。Hehadopenedhiseyeswidely，andhadexclaimed`Impossible！’exposinghimselftherebytotheunanswerableretortofafinger—tiplaidforciblyonthetelegramwhichtheAssistantCommissioner，afterreadingitaloud，hadflungonthedesk。Tobecrushed，asitwere，underthetipofaforefingerwasanunpleasantexperience。
　　Verydamaging，too！Furthermore，ChiefInspectorHeatwasconsciousofnothavingmendedmattersbyallowinghimselftoexpressaconviction。
　　`OnethingIcantellyouatonce:noneofourlothadanythingtodowiththis。’
　　Hewasstronginhisintegrityofagooddetective，buthesawnowthatanimpenetrablyattentivereservetowardsthisincidentwouldhaveservedhisreputationbetter。Ontheotherhand，headmittedtohimselfthatitwasdifficulttopreserveone’sreputationifrankoutsidersweregoingtotakeahandinthebusiness。Outsidersarethebaneofthepoliceasofotherprofessions。ThetoneoftheAssistantCommissioner’sremarkshadbeensourenoughtosetone’steethonedge。
　　AndsincebreakfastChiefInspectorHeathadnotmanagedtogetanythingtoeat。
　　Startingimmediatelytobeginhisinvestigationonthespot，hehadswallowedagooddealofraw，unwholesomefoginthepark。Thenhehadwalkedovertothehospital;andwhentheinvestigationinGreenwichwasconcludedatlasthehadlosthisinclinationforfood。Notaccustomed，asthedoctorsare，toexaminecloselythemangledremainsofhumanbeings，hehadbeenshockedbythesightdisclosedtohisviewwhenawaterproofsheethadbeenliftedoffatableinacertainapartmentofthehospital。
　　Anotherwaterproofsheetwasspreadoverthattableinthemannerofatableclothwiththecornersturnedupoverasortofmound—aheapofrags，scorchedandbloodstained，halfconcealingwhatmighthavebeenanaccumulationofrawmaterialforacannibalfeast。Itrequiredconsiderablefirmnessofmindnottorecoilbeforethatsight。ChiefInspectorHeat，anefficientofficerofhisdepartment，stoodhisground，butforawholeminutehedidnotadvance。Alocalconstableinuniformcastasidelongglance，andsaidwithstolidsimplicity:
　　`He’sallthere。Everybitofhim。Itwasajob。’
　　Hehadbeenthefirstmanonthespotaftertheexplosion。Hementionedthefactagain。Hehadseensomethinglikeaheavyflashoflightninginthefog。AtthattimehewasstandingatthedooroftheKingWilliamStreetLodgetalkingtothekeeper。Theconcussionmadehimtingleallover。HeranbetweenthetreestowardstheObservatory。`Asfastasmylegswouldcarryme，’herepeatedtwice。
　　ChiefInspectorHeat，bendingforwardoverthetableinagingerlyandhorrifiedmanner，lethimrunon。Thehospitalporterandanothermanturneddownthecornersofthecloth，andsteppedaside。TheChiefInspector’seyessearchedthegruesomedetailofthatheapofmixedthings，whichseemedtohavebeencollectedinshamblesandragshops。
　　`Youusedashovel，’heremarked，observingasprinklingofsmallgravel，tinybrownbitsofbark，andparticlesofsplinteredwoodasfineasneedles。
　　`Hadtoinoneplace，’saidthestolidconstable。`Isentakeepertofetchaspade。Whenheheardmescrapingthegroundwithitheleanedhisforeheadagainstatree，andwasassickasadog。’
　　TheChiefInspector，stoopingguardedlyoverthetable，foughtdowntheunpleasantsensationinhisthroat。Theshatteringviolenceofdestructionwhichhadmadeofthatbodyaheapofnamelessfragmentsaffectedhisfeelingswithasenseofruthlesscruelty，thoughhisreasontoldhimtheeffectmusthavebeenasswiftasaflashoflightning。Theman，whoeverhewas，haddiedinstantaneously;andyetitseemedimpossibletobelievethatahumanbodycouldhavereachedthatstateofdisintegrationwithoutpassingthroughthepangsofinconceivableagony。Nophysiologist，andstilllessofametaphysician，ChiefInspectorHeatrosebytheforceofsympathy，whichisaformoffear，abovethevulgarconceptionoftime。Instantaneous！
　　Herememberedallhehadeverreadinpopularpublicationsoflongandterrifyingdreamsdreamedintheinstantofwaking;ofthewholepastlifelivedwithfrightfulintensitybyadrowningmanashisdoomedheadbobsup，screaming，forthelasttime。TheinexplicablemysteriesofconsciousexistencebesetChiefInspectorHeattillheevolvedahorriblenotionthatagesofatrociouspainandmentaltorturecouldbecontainedbetweentwosuccessivewinksofaneye。AndmeantimetheChiefInspectorwentonpeeringatthetablewithacalmfaceandtheslightlyanxiousattentionofanindigentcustomerbendingoverwhatmaybecalledtheby—productsofabutcher’sshopwithaviewtoaninexpensiveSundaydinner。Allthetimehistrainedfacultiesofanexcellentinvestigator，whoscornsnochanceofinformation，followedtheself—satisfied，disjointedloquacityoftheconstable。
　　`Afair—hairedfellow，’thelastobservedinaplacidtone，andpaused。
　　`Theoldwomanwhospoketothesergeantnoticedafair—hairedfellowcomingoutofMazeHillStation。’Hepaused。`Andhewasafair—hairedfellow。
　　Shenoticedtwomencomingoutofthestationaftertheuptrainhadgoneon，’hecontinued，slowly。`Shecouldn’ttelliftheyweretogether。Shetooknoparticularnoticeofthebigone，buttheotherwasafair，slightchap，carryingatinvarnishcaninonehand。’Theconstableceased。
　　`Knowthewoman？’mutteredtheChiefInspector，withhiseyesfixedonthetable，andavaguenotioninhismindofaninquesttobeheldpresentlyuponapersonlikelytoremainforeverunknown。
　　`Yes。She’shousekeepertoaretiredpublican，andattendsthechapelinParkPlacesometimes，’theconstableutteredweightily，andpaused，withanotherobliqueglanceatthetable。Thensuddenly:`Well，hereheis—allofhimIcouldsee。Fair。Slight—slightenough。Lookatthatfootthere。Ipickedupthelegsfirst，oneafteranother。Hewasthatscatteredyoudidn’tknowwhereto’
　　Theconstablepaused;theleastflickerofaninnocent，self—laudatorysmileinvestedhisroundfacewithaninfantileexpression。
　　`Stumbled，’heannounced，positively。`Istumbledoncemyself，andpitchedonmyhead，too，whilerunningup。Themrootsdostickoutallabouttheplace。Stumbledagainsttherootofatreeandfell，andthatthinghewascarryingmusthavegoneoffrightunderhischest，Iexpect。’
　　Theechoofthewords`Personsunknown’repeatingitselfinhisinnerconsciousnessbotheredtheChiefInspectorconsiderably。Hewouldhavelikedtotracethisaffairbacktoitsmysteriousoriginforhisowninformation。
　　Hewasprofessionallycurious。Beforethepublichewouldhavelikedtovindicatetheefficiencyofhisdepartmentbyestablishingtheidentityofthatman。Hewasaloyalservant。That，however，appearedimpossible。
　　Thefirsttermoftheproblemwasunreadable—lackedallsuggestionbutthatofatrociouscruelty。
　　Overcominghisphysicalrepugnance，ChiefInspectorHeatstretchedouthishandwithoutconvictionforthesalvingofhisconscience，andtookuptheleastsoiledoftherags。Itwasanarrowstripofvelvetwithalargertriangularpieceofdarkblueclothhangingfromit。Heheldituptohiseyes;andthepoliceconstablespoke。
　　`Velvetcollar。Funnytheoldwomanshouldhavenoticedthevelvetcollar。
　　Darkblueovercoatwithavelvetcollar，shehastoldus。Hewasthechapshesaw，andnomistake。Andhereheisallcomplete，velvetcollarandall。Idon’tthinkImissedasinglepieceasbigasapostagestamp。’
　　AtthispointthetrainedfacultiesoftheChiefInspectorceasedtohearthevoiceoftheconstable。Hemovedtooneofthewindowsforbetterlight。Hisface，avertedfromtheroom，expressedastartled，intenseinterestwhileheexaminedcloselythetriangularpieceofbroadcloth。Byasuddenjerkhedetachedit，andonlyafterstuffingitintohispocketturnedroundtotheroom，andflungthevelvetcollarbackonthetable。
　　`Coverup，’hedirectedtheattendants，curtly，withoutanotherlook，and，salutedbytheconstable，carriedoffhisspoilhastily。
　　Aconvenienttrainwhirledhimuptotown，aloneandponderingdeeply，inathird—classcompartment。Thatsingedpieceofclothwasincrediblyvaluable，andhecouldnotdefendhimselffromastonishmentatthecasualmannerithadcomeintohispossession。ItwasasifFatehadthrustthatclueintohishands。Andafterthemanneroftheaverageman，whoseambitionistocommandevents，hebegantomistrustsuchagratuitousandaccidentalsuccess—justbecauseitseemedforceduponhim。Thepracticalvalueofsuccessdependsnotalittleonthewayyoulookatit。ButFatelooksatnothing。Ithasnodiscretion。Henolongerconsiderediteminentlydesirableallroundtoestablishpubliclytheidentityofthemanwhohadblownhimselfupthatmorningwithsuchhorriblecompleteness。Buthewasnotcertainoftheviewhisdepartmentwouldtake。Adepartmentistothoseitemploysacomplexpersonalitywithideasandevenfadsofitsown。Itdependsontheloyaldevotionofitsservants，andthedevotedloyaltyoftrustedservantsisassociatedwithacertainamountofaffectionatecontempt，whichkeepsitsweet，asitwere。ByabenevolentprovisionofNaturenomanisaherotohisvalet，orelsetheheroeswouldhavetobrushtheirownclothes。Likewisenodepartmentappearsperfectlywisetotheintimacyofitsworkers。Adepartmentdoesnotknowsomuchassomeofitsservants。Beingadispassionateorganism，itcanneverbeperfectlyinformed。Itwouldnotbegoodforitsefficiencytoknowtoomuch。ChiefInspectorHeatgotoutofthetraininastateofthoughtfulnessentirelyuntaintedwithdisloyalty，butnotquitefreeofthatjealousmistrustwhichsooftenspringsonthegroundofperfectdevotion，whethertowomenortoinstitutions。
　　Itwasinthismentaldisposition，physicallyveryempty，butstillnauseatedbywhathehadseen，thathehadcomeupontheProfessor。Undertheseconditionswhichmakeforirascibilityinasound，normalman，thismeetingwasspeciallyunwelcometoChiefInspectorHeat。HehadnotbeenthinkingoftheProfessor;hehadnotbeenthinkingofanyindividualanarchistatall。Thecomplexionofthatcasehadsomehowforceduponhimthegeneralideaoftheabsurdityofthingshuman，whichintheabstractissufficientlyannoyingtoanunphilosophicaltemperament，andinconcreteinstancesbecomesexasperatingbeyondendurance。AtthebeginningofhiscareerChiefInspectorHeathadbeenconcernedwiththemoreenergeticformsofthieving。Hehadgainedhisspursinthatsphere，andnaturallyenoughhadkeptforit，afterhispromotiontoanotherdepartment，afeelingnotveryfarremovedfromaffection。Thievingwasnotasheerabsurdity。Itwasaformofhumanindustry，perverseindeed，butstillanindustryexercisedinanindustriousworld;itwasworkundertakenforthesamereasonastheworkinpotteries，incoalmines，infields，intool—grindingshops。Itwaslabour，whosepracticaldifferencefromtheotherformsoflabourconsistedinthenatureofitsrisk，whichdidnotlieinankylosis，orleadpoisoning，orfire—damp，orgrittydust，butinwhatmaybebrieflydefinedinitsownspecialphraseologyas`Sevenyears’hard’。ChiefInspectorHeatwas，ofcourse，notinsensibletothegravityofmoraldifferences。Butneitherwerethethieveshehadbeenlookingafter。TheysubmittedtotheseveresanctionofamoralityfamiliartoChiefInspectorHeatwithacertainresignation。Theywerehisfellowcitizensgonewrongbecauseofimperfecteducation，ChiefInspectorHeatbelieved;butallowingforthatdifference，hecouldunderstandthemindofaburglar，because，asamatteroffact，themindandtheinstinctsofaburglarareofthesamekindasthemindandtheinstinctsofapoliceofficer。Bothrecognizethesameconventions，andhaveaworkingknowledgeofeachother’smethodsandoftheroutineoftheirrespectivetrades。
　　Theyunderstandeachother，whichisadvantageoustoboth，andestablishesasortofamenityintheirrelations。Productsofthesamemachine，oneclassedasusefulandtheotherasnoxious，theytakethemachineforgrantedindifferentways，butwithaseriousnessessentiallythesame。ThemindofChiefInspectorHeatwasinaccessibletoideasofrevolt。Buthisthieveswerenotrebels。Hisbodilyvigour，hiscool，inflexiblemanner，hiscourage，andhisfairness，hadsecuredforhimmuchrespectandsomeadulationinthesphereofhisearlysuccesses。Hehadfelthimselfreveredandadmired。
　　AndChiefInspectorHeat，arrestedwithinsixpacesoftheanarchistnicknamedtheProfessor，gaveathoughtofregrettotheworldofthieves—sane，withoutmorbidideals，workingbyroutine，respectfulofconstitutedauthorities，freefromalltaintofhateanddespair。
　　Afterpayingthistributetowhatisnormalintheconstitutionofsociety（fortheideaofthievingappearedtohisinstinctasnormalastheideaofproperty），ChiefInspectorHeatfeltveryangrywithhimselfforhavingstopped，forhavingspoken，forhavingtakenthatwayatallonthegroundofitbeingashortcutfromthestationtotheheadquarters……Andhespokeagaininhisbig，authoritativevoice，which，beingmoderated，hadathreateningcharacter。
　　`Youarenotwanted，Itellyou，’herepeated。
　　Theanarchistdidnotstir。Aninwardlaughofderisionuncoverednotonlyhisteethbuthisgumsaswell，shookhimallover，withouttheslightestsound。ChiefInspectorHeatwasledtoadd，againsthisbetterjudgement:
　　`Notyet。WhenIwantyouIwillknowwheretofindyou。’
　　Thosewereperfectlyproperwords，withinthetraditionandsuitabletohischaracterofapoliceofficeraddressingoneofhisspecialflock。
　　Butthereceptiontheygotdepartedfromtraditionandpropriety。Itwasoutrageous。Thestunted，weaklyfigurebeforehimspokeatlast。
　　`I’venodoubtthepaperswouldgiveyouanobituarynoticethen。Youknowbestwhatthatwouldbeworthtoyou。Ishouldthinkyoucanimagineeasilythesortofstuffthatwouldbeprinted。Butyoumaybeexposedtotheunpleasantnessofbeingburiedtogetherwithme，thoughIsupposeyourfriendswouldmakeanefforttosortusoutasmuchaspossible。’
　　Withallhishealthycontemptforthespiritdictatingsuchspeeches，theatrociousallusivenessofthewordshaditseffectonChiefInspectorHeat。Hehadtoomuchinsight，andtoomuchexactinformationaswell，todismissthemasrot。Theduskofthisnarrowlanetookonasinistertintfromthedark，fraillittlefigure，itsbacktothewall，andspeakingwithaweak，self—confidentvoice。Tothevigorous，tenaciousvitalityoftheChiefInspector，thephysicalwretchednessofthatbeing，soobviouslynotfittolive，wasominous;foritseemedtohimthatifhehadthemisfortunetobesuchamiserableobjecthewouldnothavecaredhowsoonhedied。
　　Lifehadsuchastrongholduponhimthatafreshwaveofnauseabrokeoutinslightperspirationuponhisbrow。Themurmuroftownlife，thesubduedrumbleofwheelsinthetwoinvisiblestreetstotherightandleft，camethroughthecurveofthesordidlanetohisearswithapreciousfamiliarityandanappealingsweetness。Hewashuman。ButChiefInspectorHeatwasalsoaman，andhecouldnotletsuchwordspass。