IfoundtheBaronwalkingupanddownhisbedroominapitiablestateofdistress，squeezinghishandstogether。Heassuredmehehadthefullestconfidenceinourpoliceandinmyabilities，buthehadthereamanjustcomeoverfromPariswhoseinformationcouldbetrustedimplicitly。Hewantedmetohearwhatthatmanhadtosay。Hetookmeatonceintoadressing—roomnextdoor，whereIsawabigfellowinaheavyovercoatsittingallaloneonachair，andholdinghishatandstickinonehand。TheBaronsaidtohiminFrench"Speak，myfriend。"Thelightinthatroomwasnotverygood。
　　Italkedwithhimforsomefiveminutesperhaps。Hecertainlygavemeapieceofverystartlingnews。ThentheBarontookmeasidenervouslytopraisehimuptome，andwhenIturnedroundagainIdiscoveredthatthefellowhadvanishedlikeaghost。Gotupandsneakedoutdownsomebackstairs，Isuppose。Therewasnotimetorunafterhim，asIhadtohurryoffaftertheAmbassadordownthegreatstaircase，andseethepartystartedsafefortheopera。However，Iactedupontheinformationthatverynight。
　　Whetheritwasperfectlycorrectornot，itdidlookseriousenough。VerylikelyitsavedusfromanuglytroubleonthedayoftheImperialvisittotheCity。
　　`Sometimelater，amonthorsoaftermypromotiontoChiefInspector，myattentionwasattractedtoabigburlyman，IthoughtIhadseensomewherebefore，comingoutinahurryfromajeweller’sshopintheStrand。Iwentafterhim，asitwasonmywaytowardsCharingCross，andthereseeingoneofourdetectivesacrosstheroad，Ibeckonedhimover，andpointedoutthefellowtohim，withinstructionstowatchhismovementsforacoupleofdaysandthenreporttome。Nolaterthannextafternoonmymanturneduptotellmethathefellowhadmarriedhislandlady’sdaughterataregistrar’sofficethatverydayat11。30a。m。，andhadgoneoffwithhertoMargateorweek。Ourmanhadseentheluggagebeingputonthecab。ThereweresomeoldParislabelsononeofthebags。SomehowIcouldn’tgetthefellowoutofmyhead，andtheverynexttimeIhadtogotoParisonserviceIspokeabouthimtothatfriendofmineintheParispolice。Myfriendsaid:"FromwhatyoutellmeIthinkyoumustmeanaratherwell—knownhanger—onandemissaryoftheRevolutionaryRedCommittee。HesaysheisanEnglishmanbybirth。WehaveanideathathehasbeenforagoodfewyearsnowasecretagentofoneoftheforeignEmbassiesinLondon。"Thiswokeupmymemorycompletely。HewasthevanishingfellowIsawsittingonachairinBaronStott—Wartenheim’sbathroom。Itoldmyfriendthathewasquiteright。Thefellowwasasecretagenttomycertainknowledge。
　　Afterwardsmyfriendtookthetroubletoferretoutthecompleterecordofthatmanforme。IthoughtIhadbetterknowalltherewastoknow;
　　butIdon’tsupposeyouwanttohearhishistorynow，sir？’
　　TheAssistantCommissionershookhissupportedhead。`Thehistoryofyourrelationswiththatusefulpersonageistheonlythingthatmattersjustnow，’hesaid，closingslowlyhisweary，deep—seteyes，andthenopeningthemswiftlywithagreatlyrefreshedglance。
　　`There’snothingofficialaboutthem，’saidtheChiefInspector，bitterly。
　　`Iwentintohisshoponeevening，toldhimwhoIwas，andremindedhimofourfirstmeeting。Hedidn’tasmuchastwitchaneyebrow。Hesaidthathewasmarriedandsettlednow，andthatallhewantedwasnottobeinterferedwithinhislittlebusiness。Itookituponmyselftopromisehimthat，aslongashedidn’tgoinforanythingobviouslyoutrageous，hewouldbeleftalonebythepolice。Thatwasworthsomethingtohim，becauseawordfromustotheCustom—HousepeoplewouldhavebeenenoughtogetsomeofthesepackageshegetsfromParisandBrusselsopenedinDover，withconfiscationtofollowforcertain，andperhapsaprosecutionaswellattheendofit。’
　　`That’saveryprecarioustrade，’murmuredtheAssistantCommissioner。
　　`Whydidhegoinforthat？’
　　TheChiefInspectorraisedscornfuleyebrowsdispassionately。
　　`Mostlikelygotaconnection—friendsontheContinent—amongstpeoplewhodealinsuchwares。Theywouldbejustthesorthewouldconsortwith。
　　He’salazydog，too—liketherestofthem。’
　　`Whatdoyougetfromhiminexchangeforyourprotection？’
　　TheChiefInspectorwasnotinclinedtoenlargeonthevalueofMrVerloc’sservices。
　　`Hewouldnotbemuchgoodtoanybodybutmyself。Onehasgottoknowagooddealbeforehandtomakeuseofamanlikethat。Icanunderstandthesortofhinthecangive。AndwhenIwantahinthecangenerallyfurnishittome。’
　　TheChiefInspectorlosthimselfsuddenlyinadiscreetreflectivemood;
　　andtheAssistantCommissionerrepressedasmileatthefleetingthoughtthatthereputationofChiefInspectorHeatmightpossiblyhavebeenmadeinagreatpartbytheSecretAgentVerloc。
　　`Inamoregeneralwayofbeingofuse，allourmenoftheSpecialCrimessectionondutyatCharingCrossandVictoriahaveorderstotakecarefulnoticeofanybodytheymayseewithhim。Hemeetsthenewarrivalsfrequently，andafterwardskeepstrackofthem。Heseemstohavebeentoldoffforthatsortofduty。WhenIwantanaddressinahurry，Icanalwaysgetitfromhim。Ofcourse，Iknowhowtomanageourrelations。Ihaven’tseenhimtospeaktothreetimesinthelasttwoyears。Idrophimaline，unsigned，andheanswersmeinthesamewayatmyprivateaddress。’
　　FromtimetotimetheAssistantCommissionergaveanalmostimperceptiblenod。TheChiefInspectoraddedthathedidnotsupposeMrVerloctobedeepintheconfidenceoftheprominentmembersoftheRevolutionaryInternationalCouncil，butthathewasgenerallytrustedofthattherecouldnonodoubt。
　　`WheneverI’vehadreasontothinktherewassomethinginthewind，’heconcluded，`I’vealwaysfoundhecouldtellmesomethingworthknowing。’
　　TheAssistantCommissionermadeasignificantremark。
　　`Hefailedyouthistime。’
　　`NeitherhadIwindofanythinginanyotherway，’reportedChiefInspectorHeat。`Iaskedhimnothingsohecouldtellmenothing。Heisn’toneofourmen。Itisn’tasifhewereinourpay。’
　　`No，’mutteredtheAssistantCommissioner。`He’saspyinthepayofaforeigngovernment。Wecouldneverconfesstohim。’
　　`Imustdomyworkinmyownway，’declaredtheChiefInspector。`WhenitcomestothatIwoulddealwiththedevilhimself，andtaketheconsequences。
　　Therearethingsnotfitforeverybodytoknow。’
　　`Yourideaofsecrecyseemstoconsistinkeepingthechiefofyourdepartmentinthedark。That’sstretchingitperhapsalittletoofar，isn’tit？Helivesoverhisshop？’
　　`Who—Verloc？Oh，yes。HelivesoverhisshopThewife’smother，I
　　fancy，liveswiththem。’
　　`Isthehousewatched？’
　　`Oh，dear，no。Itwouldn’tdo。Certainpeoplewhocometherearewatched。
　　Myopinionisthatheknowsnothingofthisaffair。’
　　`Howdoyouaccountforthis？’TheAssistantCommissionernoddedattheclothraglyingbeforehimonthetable。
　　`Idon’taccountforitatall，sir。It’ssimplyunaccountable。Itcan’tbeexplainedbywhatIknow。’TheChiefInspectormadethoseadmissionswiththefranknessofamanwhosereputationisestablishedasifonarock。`Atanyratenotatthispresentmoment。IthinkthatthemanwhohadmosttodowithitwillturnouttobeMichaelis。’
　　`Youdo？’`Yes，sir;becauseIcananswerforalltheothers。’
　　`Whataboutthatothermansupposedtohaveescapedfromthepark？’
　　`Ishouldthinkhe’sfarawaybythistime，’opinedtheChiefInspector。
　　TheAssistantCommissionerlookedhardathim，androsesuddenly，asthoughhavingmadeuphismindtosomecourseofaction。Asamatteroffact，hehadthatverymomentsuccumbedtoafascinatingtemptation。TheChiefInspectorheardhimselfdismissedwithinstructionstomeethissuperiorearlynextmorningforfurtherconsultationuponthecase。Helistenedwithanimpenetrableface，andwalkedoutoftheroomwithmeasuredsteps。
　　WhatevermighthavebeentheplansoftheAssistantCommissionertheyhadnothingtodowiththatdeskwork，whichwasthebaneofhisexistencebecauseofitsconfinednatureandapparentlackofreality。Itcouldnothavehad，orelsethegeneralairofalacritythatcameupontheAssistantCommissionerwouldhavebeeninexplicable。Assoonashewasleftalonehelookedforhishatimpulsively，andputitonhishead。Havingdonethat，hesatdownagaintoreconsiderthewholematter。Butashismindwasalreadymadeup，thisdidnottakelong。AndbeforeChiefInspectorHeathadgoneveryfaronthewayhome，healsoleftthebuilding。
　　CONRAD:TheSecretAgent，Chapter7CHAPTER7
　　TheAssistantCommissionerwalkedalongashortandnarrowstreetlikeawet，muddytrench，thencrossingaverybroadthoroughfareenteredapublicedifice，andsoughtspeechwithayoungprivatesecretary（unpaid）
　　ofagreatpersonage。
　　Thisfair，smooth—facedyoungman，whosesymmetricallyarrangedhairgavehimtheairofalargeandneatschoolboy，mettheAssistantCommissioner’srequestwithadoubtfullook，andspokewithbatedbreath。
　　`Wouldheseeyou？Idon’tknowaboutthat。HehaswalkedoverfromtheHouseanhouragototalkwiththePermanentUnder—Secretary，andnowhe’sreadytowalkbackagain。Hemighthavesentforhim;buthedoesitforthesakeofalittleexercise，Isuppose。It’salltheexercisehecanfindtimeforwhilethissessionlasts。Idon’tcomplain;Iratherenjoytheselittlestrolls。Heleansonmyarm，anddoesn’topenhislips。
　　But，Isay，he’sverytired，and—well—notinthesweetestoftempersjustnow。’
　　`It’sinconnectionwiththatGreenwichaffair。’
　　`Oh！Isay！He’sverybitteragainstyoupeople。ButIwillgoandsee，ifyouinsist。’
　　`Do。That’sagoodfellow，’saidtheAssistantCommissioner。
　　Theunpaidsecretaryadmiredthispluck。Composingforhimselfaninnocentface，heopenedadoor，andwentinwiththeassuranceofaniceandprivilegedchild。Andpresentlyhereappeared，withanodtotheAssistantCommissioner，whopassingthroughthesamedoorleftopenforhim，foundhimselfwiththegreatpersonageinalargeroom。
　　Vastinbulkandstature，withalongwhiteface，which，broadenedatthebasebyabigdoublechin，appearedegg—shapedinthefringeofgreyishwhisker，thegreatpersonageseemedanexpandingman。Unfortunatefromatailoringpointofview，thecrossfoldsinthemiddleofabuttonedblackcoataddedtotheimpression，asifthefasteningsofthegarmentweretriedtotheutmost。Fromthehead，setupwardonathickneck，theeyes，withpuffylowerlids，staredwithahaughtydrooponeachsideofahooked，aggressivenose，noblysalientinthevastpalecircumferenceoftheface。
　　Ashinysilkhatandapairofworngloveslyingreadyattheendofalongtablelookedexpanded，too，enormous。
　　Hestoodonthehearthruginbig，roomyboots，andutterednowordofgreeting。
　　`Iwouldliketoknowifthisisthebeginningofanotherdynamitecampaign;’
　　heaskedatonceinadeep，verysmoothvoice。`Don’tgointodetails。
　　Ihavenotimeforthat。’
　　TheAssistantCommissioner’sfigurebeforethisbigandrusticPresencehadthefrailslendernessofareedaddressinganoak。Andindeedtheunbrokenrecordofthatman’sdescentsurpassedinthenumberofcenturiestheageoftheoldestoakinthecountry。
　　`No。AsfarasonecanbepositiveaboutanythingIcanassureyouthatitisnot。’
　　`Yes。Butyourideaofassurancesoverthere，’saidthegreatman，withacontemptuouswaveofhishandtowardsawindowgivingonthebroadthoroughfare，`seemtoconsistmainlyinmakingtheSecretaryofStatelookafool。I
　　havebeentoldpositivelyinthisveryroomlessthanamonthagothatnothingofthesortwasevenpossible。’
　　TheAssistantCommissionerglancedinthedirectionofthewindowcalmly。
　　`Youwillallowmetoremark，SirEthelred，thatsofarIhavehadnoopportunitytogiveyouassurancesofanykind。’
　　ThehaughtydroopoftheeyeswasfocusednowupontheAssistantCommissioner。
　　`True，’confessedthedeep，smoothvoice。`IsentforHeat。Youarestillratheranoviceinyournewberth。Andhowareyougettingonoverthere？’
　　`IbelieveIamlearningsomethingeveryday。’
　　`Ofcourse，ofcourse。Ihopeyouwillgeton。’
　　`Thankyou，SirEthelred。I’velearnedsomethingtoday，andevenwithinthelasthourorso。Thereismuchinthisaffairofakindthatdoesnotmeettheeyeinausualanarchistoutrage，evenifonelookedintoitasdeepascanbe。That’swhyIamhere。’
　　Thegreatmanputhisarmsakimbo，thebacksofhisbighandsrestingonhiships。
　　`Verywell。Goon。Onlynodetails，pray。Sparemethedetails。’
　　`Youshallnotbetroubledwiththem，SirEthelred，’theAssistantCommissionerbegan，withacalmanduntroubledassurance。Whilehewasspeakingthehandsonthefaceoftheclockbehindthegreatman5back—aheavy，glisteningaffairofmassivescrollsinthesamedarkmarbleasthemantelpiece，andwithaghostly，evanescenttick—hadmovedthroughthespaceofsevenminutes。Hespokewithastudiousfidelitytoaparentheticalmanner，intowhicheverylittlefact—thatis，everydetail—fittedwithdelightfulease。Notamurmurnorevenamovementhintedatinterruption。
　　ThegreatPersonagemighthavebeenthestatueofoneofhisownprincelyancestorsstrippedofaCrusader’swarharness，andputintoanill—fittingfrockcoat。TheAssistantCommissionerfeltasthoughhewereatlibertytotalkforanhour。Buthekepthishead，andattheendofthetimementionedabovehebrokeoffwithasuddenconclusion，which，reproducingtheopeningstatement，pleasantlysurprisedSirEthelredbyitsapparentswiftnessandforce。
　　`Thekindofthingwhichmeetsusunderthesurfaceofthisaffair，otherwisewithoutgravity，isunusual—inthispreciseformatleast—
　　andrequiresspecialtreatment。’
　　ThetoneofSirEthelredwasdeepened，fullofconviction。`Ishouldthinkso—involvingtheAmbassadorofaforeignpower！’`Oh！TheAmbassador！’
　　protestedtheother，erectandslender，allowinghimselfamerehalfsmile，`Itwouldbestupidofmetoadvanceanythingofthekind。Anditisabsolutelyunnecessary，becauseifIamrightinmysurmises，whetherambassadororhallporterit’sameredetail。’
　　SirEthelredopenedawidemouth，likeacavern，intowhichthehookednoseseemedanxioustopeer;therecamefromitasubduedrollingsound，asfromadistantorganwiththescornfulindignationstop。
　　`No！Thesepeoplearetooimpossible。WhatdotheymeanbyimportingtheirmethodsofCrim—Tartaryhere？ATurkwouldhavemoredecency。’
　　`Youforget，SirEthelred，thatstrictlyspeakingweknownothingpositively—asyet。’
　　`No！Buthowwouldyoudefineit？Shortly？’
　　`Barefacedaudacityamountingtochildishnessofapeculiarsort。’
　　`Wecan’tputupwiththeinnocenceofnastylittlechildren，’saidthegreatandexpandedpersonage，expandingalittlemoreasitwere。Thehaughty，droopingglancestruckcrushinglythecarpetattheAssistantCommissioner’sfeet。`They’llhavetogetahardrapontheknucklesoverthisaffair。Wemustbeinapositionto—Whatisyourgeneralidea，statedshortly？Noneedtogointodetails。’
　　`No，SirEthelred。Inprinciple，Ishouldlayitdownthattheexistenceofsecretagentsshouldnotbetolerated，astendingtoaugmentthepositivedangersoftheevilagainstwhichtheyareused。Thatthespywillfabricatehisinformationisamerecommonplace。Butinthesphereofpoliticalandrevolutionaryaction，relyingpartlyonviolence，theprofessionalspyhaseveryfacilitytofabricatetheveryfactsthemselves，andwillspreadthedoubleevilofemulationinonedirection，andofpanic，hastylegislation，unreflectinghate，intheother。However，thisisanimperfectworld——’
　　Thedeep—voicedPresenceonthehearthrug，motionless，withbigelbowsstuckout，saidhastily:
　　`Belucid，please。’
　　`Yes，SirEthelred—Animperfectworld。Thereforedirectlythecharacterofthisaffairsuggesteditselftome，Ithoughtitshouldbedealtwithwithspecialsecrecy，andventuredtocomeoverhere。’
　　`That’sright，’approvedthegreatPersonage，glancingdowncomplacentlyoverhisdoublechin。`Iamgladthere’ssomebodyoveratyourshopwhothinksthattheSecretaryofStatemaybetrustednowandthen。’
　　TheAssistantCommissionerhadanamusedsmile。`IwasreallythinkingthatitmightbebetteratthisstageforHeattobereplacedby——’
　　`What！Heat？Anass—eh？’exclaimedthegreatmanwithdistinctanimosity。
　　`Notatall。Pray，SirEthelred，don’tputthatunjustinterpretationonmyremarks。’
　　`Thenwhat？Toocleverbyhalf？’
　　`Neither—atleastnotasarule。AllthegroundsofmysurmisesI
　　havefromhim。TheonlythingI’vediscoveredbymyselfisthathehasbeenmakinguseofthatmanprivately。Whocouldblamehim？He’sanoldpolicehand。Hetoldmevirtuallythathemusthavetoolstoworkwith。
　　ItoccurredtomethatthistoolshouldbesurrenderedtotheSpecialCrimesdivisionasawhole，insteadofremainingtheprivatepropertyofChiefInspectorHeat。Iextendedmyconceptionofourdepartmentaldutiestothesuppressionofthesecretagent。ButChiefInspectorHeatisanolddepartmentalhand。Hewouldaccusemeofpervertingitsmoralityandattackingitsefficiency。Hewoulddefineitbitterlyasprotectionextendedtothecriminalclassofrevolutionists。Itwouldmeanjustthattohim。’
　　`Yes。Butwhatdoyoumean？’
　　`Imeantosay，first，thatthere’sbutpoorcomfortinbeingabletodeclarethatanygivenactofviolence—damagingpropertyordestroyinglife—isnottheworkofanarchismatall，butofsomethingelsealtogether—somespeciesofauthorizedscoundrelism。This，Ifancy，ismuchmorefrequentthanwesuppose。Next，it’sobviousthattheexistenceofthesepeopleinthepayofforeigngovernmentsdestroysinameasuretheefficiencyofoursupervision。Aspyofthatsortcanaffordtobemorerecklessthanthemostrecklessofconspirators。Hisoccupationisfreefromallrestraint。
　　He’swithoutasmuchfaithasisnecessaryforcompletenegation，andwithoutthatmuchlawasisimpliedinlawlessness。Thirdly，theexistenceofthesespiesamongsttherevolutionarygroups，whichwearereproachedforharbouringhere，doesawaywithallcertitude。YouhavereceivedareassuringstatementfromChiefInspectorHeatsometimeago。Itwasbynomeansgroundless—andyetthisepisodehappens。Icallitanepisode，becausethisaffair，Imakeboldtosay，isepisodic;itisnopartofanygeneralscheme，howeverwild。TheverypeculiaritieswhichsurpriseandperplexChiefInspectorHeatestablishitscharacterinmyeyes。Iamkeepingclearofdetails，SirEthelred。’
　　ThePersonageonthehearthrughadbeenlisteningwithprofoundattention。
　　`Justso。Beasconciseasyoucan。’
　　TheAssistantCommissionerintimatedbyanearnest，deferentialgesturethathewasanxioustobeconcise。
　　`Thereisapeculiarstupidityandfeeblenessintheconductofthisaffairwhichgivesmeexcellenthopesofgettingbehinditandfindingtheresomethingelsethananindividualfreakoffanaticism。Foritisaplannedthing，undoubtedly。Theactualperpetratorseemstohavebeenledbythehandtothespot，andthenabandonedhurriedlytohisowndevices。
　　Theinferenceisthathewasimportedfromabroadforthepurposeofcommittingthisoutrage。AtthesametimeoneisforcedtotheconclusionthathedidnotknowenoughEnglishtoaskhisway，unlessoneweretoacceptthefantastictheorythathewasadeafmute。Iwondernow—Butthisisidle。
　　Hehasdestroyedhimselfbyanaccident，obviously。Notanextraordinaryaccident。Butanextraordinarylittlefactremains:theaddressonhisclothingdiscoveredbythemerestaccident，too。Itisanincrediblelittlefact，soincrediblethattheexplanationwhichwillaccountforitisboundtotouchthebottomofthisaffair。InsteadofinstructingHeattogoonwiththiscase，myintentionistoseekthisexplanationpersonally—bymyself，Imean—whereitmaybepickedup。ThatisinacertainshopinBrettStreet，andonthelipsofacertainsecretagentonceuponatimetheconfidentialandtrustedspyofthelateBaronStott—Wartenheim，AmbassadorofaGreatPowertotheCourtofStJames’s。’
　　TheAssistantCommissionerpaused，thenadded:`Thosefellowsareaperfectpest。’Inordertoraisehisdroopingglancetothespeaker’sface，thePersonageonthehearthrughadgraduallytiltedhisheadfartherback，whichgavehimanaspectofextraordinaryhaughtiness。
　　`WhynotleaveittoHeat？’
　　`Becauseheisanolddepartmentalhand。Theyhavetheirownmorality。
　　Mylineofinquirywouldappeartohimanawfulperversionofduty。Forhimtheplaindutyistofastentheguiltuponasmanyprominentanarchistsashecanonsomeslightindicationshehadpickedupinthecourseofhisinvestigationonthespot;whereasI，hewouldsay，ambentuponvindicatingtheirinnocence。IamtryingtobeaslucidasIcaninpresentingthisobscuremattertoyouwithoutdetails。’
　　`Hewould，wouldhe？’mutteredtheproudheadofSirEthelredfromitsloftyelevation。
　　`Iamafraidso—withanindignationanddisgustofwhichyouorI
　　canhavenoidea。He’sanexcellentservant。Wemustnotputanunduestrainonhisloyalty。That’salwaysamistake。Besides，Iwantafreehand—
　　afreerhandthanitwouldbeperhapsadvisabletogiveChiefInspectorHeat。Ihaven’ttheslightestwishtosparethismanVerloc。Hewill，I
　　imagine，beextremelystartledtofindhisconnectionwiththisaffair，whateveritmaybe，broughthometohimsoquickly。Frighteninghimwillnotbeverydifficult。Butourtrueobjectiveliesbehindhimsomewhere。
　　IwantyourauthoritytogivehimsuchassurancesofpersonalsafetyasImaythinkproper。’
　　`Certainly，’saidthePersonageonthehearthrug。`Findoutasmuchasyoucan;finditoutinyourownway。
　　`Imustsetaboutitwithoutlossoftime，thisveryevening，’saidtheAssistantCommissioner。
　　SirEthelredshiftedonehandunderhiscoattails，andtiltingbackhisheadlookedathimsteadily。
　　`We’llhavealatesittingtonight，’hesaid。`CometotheHousewithyourdiscoveriesifwearenotgonehome。I’llwarnToodlestolookoutforyou。He’lltakeyouintomyroom。’
　　ThenumerousfamilyandthewideconnectionsoftheyouthfullookingPrivateSecretarycherishedforhimthehopeofanaustereandexalteddestiny。Meantime，thesocialsphereheadornedinhishoursofidlenesschosetopethimundertheabovenickname。AndSirEthelred，hearingitonthelipsofhiswifeandgirlseveryday（mostlyatbreakfast—time），hadconferreduponitthedignityofunsmilingadoption。
　　TheAssistantCommissionerwassurprisedandgratifiedextremely。
　　`IshallcertainlybringmydiscoveriestotheHouseonthechanceofyouhavingthetimeto——’
　　`Iwon’thavethetime，’interruptedthegreatPersonage。`ButIwillseeyou。Ihaven’tthetimenow—Andyouaregoingyourself？’
　　`Yes，SirEthelred。Ithinkitthebestway。’
　　ThePersonagehadtiltedhisheadsofarbackthat，inordertokeeptheAssistantCommissionerunderhisobservation，hehadtonearlyclosehiseyes。
　　`H’m。Ha！Andhowdoyoupropose—Willyouassumeadisguise？’
　　`Hardlyadisguise！I’llchangemyclothes，ofcourse。’
　　`Ofcourse，’repeatedthegreatman，withasortofabsent—mindedloftiness。
　　Heturnedhisbigheadslowly，andoverhisshouldergaveahaughty，obliquestaretotheponderousmarbletimepiecewiththesly，feebletick。Thegilthandshadtakentheopportunitytostealthroughnolessthanfiveandtwentyminutesbehindhisback。
　　TheAssistantCommissioner，whocouldnotseethem，grewalittlenervousintheinterval。Butthegreatmanpresentedtohimacalmandundismayedface。
　　`Verywell，’hesaid，andpaused，asifindeliberatecontemptoftheofficialclock。`Butwhatfirstputyouinmotioninthisdirection？’
　　`Ihavebeenalwaysofopinion，’begantheAssistantCommissioner。
　　`Ah。Yes！Opinion。That’sofcourse。Buttheimmediatemotive？’
　　`WhatshallIsay，SirEthelred？Anewman’santagonismtooldmethods。
　　Adesiretoknowsomethingatfirsthand。Someimpatience。It’smyoldwork，buttheharnessisdifferent。Ithasbeenchafingmealittleinoneortwotenderplaces。’
　　`Ihopeyou’llgetonoverthere，’saidthegreatman，kindly，extendinghishand，softtothetouch，butbroadandpowerfullikethehandofaglorifiedfarmer。TheAssistantCommissionershookit，andwithdrew。
　　IntheouterroomToodles，whohadbeenwaitingperchedontheedgeofatable，advancedtomeethim，subduinghisnaturalbuoyancy。
　　`Well？Satisfactory？’heasked，withairyimportance。
　　`Perfectly。You’veearnedmyundyinggratitude，’answeredtheAssistantCommissioner，whoselongfacelookedwoodenincontrastwiththepeculiarcharacteroftheother’sgravity，whichseemedperpetuallyreadytobreakintoripplesandchuckles。
　　`That’sallright。But，seriously，youcan’timaginehowirritatedheisbytheattacksonhisBillfortheNationalizationofFisheries。Theycallitthebeginningofsocialrevolution。Ofcourse，itisarevolutionarymeasure。Butthesefellowshavenodecency。Thepersonalattacks——’
　　`Ireadthepapers，’remarkedtheAssistantCommissioner。
　　`Odious？Eh？Andyouhavenonotionwhatamassofworkhehasgottogetthrougheveryday。Hedoesitallhimself。SeemsunabletotrustanyonewiththeseFisheries。’
　　`Andyethe’sgivenawholehalfhourtotheconsiderationofmyverysmallsprat，’interjectedtheAssistantCommissioner。