Atthedoorhehesitated，blinkingatanottoosplendidsunlight—andthepaperwiththereportofthesuicideofaladywasinhispocket。Hisheartwasbeatingagainstit。Thesuicideofalady—`thisactofmadnessordespair’。
　　Hewalkedalongthestreetwithoutlookingwhereheputhisfeet;andhewalkedinadirectionwhichwouldnotbringhimtotheplaceofappointmentwithanotherlady（anelderlynurserygovernessputtinghertrustinanApollo—likeambrosialhead）。Hewaswalkingawayfromit。Hecouldfacenowoman。Itwasruin。Hecouldneitherthink，work，sleep，noreat。Buthewasbeginningtodrinkwithpleasure，withanticipation，withhope。
　　Itwasruin。Hisrevolutionarycareer，sustainedbythesentimentandtrustfulnessofmanywomen，wasmenacedbyanimpenetrablemystery—themysteryofahumanbrainpulsatingwrongfullytotherhythmofjournalisticphrases……Willhangforeveroverthisact……，—itwasincliningtowardsthegutter—`……ofmadnessordespair。’
　　`Iamseriouslyill，’hemutteredtohimselfwithscientificinsight。
　　Alreadyhisrobustform，withanEmbassy’ssecret—servicemoney（inheritedfromMrVerloc）inhispockets，wasmarchinginthegutterasifintrainingforthetaskofaninevitablefuture。Alreadyhebowedhisbroadshoulders，hisheadofambrosiallocks，asifreadytoreceivetheleatheryokeofthesandwichboard。Asonthatnight，morethanaweekago，ComradeOssiponwalkedwithoutlookingwhereheputhisfeet，feelingnofatigue，feelingnothing，seeingnothing，hearingnotasound。`Animpenetrablemystery……
　　’Hewalkeddisregarded。`……Thisactofmadnessordespair。’
　　AndtheincorruptibleProfessorwalked，too，avertinghiseyesfromtheodiousmultitudeofmankind。Hehadnofuture。Hedisdainedit。Hewasaforce。Histhoughtscaressedtheimagesofruinanddestruction。
　　Hewalkedfrail，insignificant，shabby，miserable—andterribleinthesimplicityofhisideacallingmadnessanddespairtotheregenerationoftheworld。Nobodylookedathim。Hepassedonunsuspectedanddeadly，likeapestInthestreetfullofmen。
　　CONRAD:TheSecretAgent，Chapter2CHAPTER2
　　Suchwasthehouse，thehousehold，andthebusinessMrVerlocleftbehindhimonhiswaywestwardatthehourofhalfpastteninthemorning。
　　Itwasunusuallyearlyforhim;hiswholepersonexhaledthecharmofalmostdewyfreshness;heworehisblueclothovercoatunbuttoned;hisbootswereshiny;hischeeks，freshlyshaven，hadasortofgloss;andevenhisheavy—liddedeyes，refreshedbyanightofpeacefulslumber，sentoutglancesofcomparativealertness。ThroughtheparkrailingstheseglancesbeheldmenandwomenridingintheRow，couplescanteringpastharmoniously，othersadvancingsedatelyatawalk，loiteringgroupsofthreeorfour，solitaryhorsemenlookingunsociable，andsolitarywomenfollowedatalongdistancebyagroomwithacockadetohishatandaleatherbeltoverhistight—fittingcoat。Carriageswentbowlingby，mostlytwo—horsebroughams，withhereandthereavictoriawiththeskinofsomewildbeastinsideandawoman’sfaceandhatemergingabovethefoldedhood。AndapeculiarlyLondonsun—againstwhichnothingcouldbesaidexceptthatitlookedbloodshot—
　　glorifiedallthisbyitsstare。IthungatamoderateelevationaboveHydeParkCornerwithanairofpunctualandbenignvigilance。TheverypavementunderMrVerloc’sfeethadanold—goldtingeinthatdiffusedlight，inwhichneitherwall，nortree，norbeast，normancastashadow。
　　MrVerlocwasgoingwestwardthroughatownwithoutshadowsinanatmosphereofpowderedoldgold。Therewerered，copperygleamsontheroofsofhouses，onthecornersofwalls，onthepanelsofcarriages，ontheverycoatsofthehorses，andonthebroadbackofMrVerloc’sovercoat，wheretheyproducedadulleffectofrustiness。ButMrVerlocwasnotintheleastconsciousofhavinggotrusty。Hesurveyedthroughtheparkrailingstheevidencesofthetown’sopulenceandluxurywithanapprovingeye。Allthesepeoplehadtobeprotected。Protectionisthefirstnecessityofopulenceandluxury。Theyhadtobeprotected;andtheirhorses，carriages，houses，servantshadtobeprotected;andthesourceoftheirwealthhadtobeprotectedintheheartofthecityandtheheartofthecountry;
　　thewholesocialorderfavourabletotheirhygienicidlenesshadtobeprotectedagainsttheshallowenviousnessofunhygieniclabour。Ithadto—andMrVerlocwouldhaverubbedhishandswithsatisfactionhadhenotbeenconstitutionallyaversefromeverysuperfluousexertion。Hisidlenesswasnothygienic，butitsuitedhimverywell。Hewasinamannerdevotedtoitwithasortofinertfanaticism，orperhapsratherwithafanaticalinertness。Bornofindustriousparentsforalifeoftoil，hehadembracedindolencefromanimpulseasprofound，asinexplicableandasimperiousastheimpulsewhichdirectsaman’spreferenceforoneparticularwomaninagiventhousand。Hewastoolazyevenforameredemagogue，foraworkmanorator，foraleaderoflabour。Itwastoomuchtrouble。Herequiredamoreperfectformofease;oritmighthavebeenthathewasthevictimofaphilosophicalunbeliefintheeffectivenessofeveryhumaneffort。
　　Suchaformofindolencerequires，implies，acertainamountofintelligence。
　　MrVerlocwasnotdevoidofintelligence—andatthenotionofamenacedsocialorderhewouldperhapshavewinkedtohimselfiftherehadnotbeenanefforttomakeinthatsignofscepticism。Hisbig，prominenteyeswerenotwelladaptedtowinking。Theywereratherofthesortthatclosessolemnlyinslumberwithmajesticeffect。
　　Undemonstrativeandburlyinafat—pigstyle，MrVerloc，withouteitherrubbinghishandswithsatisfactionorwinkingscepticallyathisthoughts，proceededonhisway。Hetrodthepavementheavilywithhisshinyboots，andhisgeneralget—upwasthatofawell—to—domechanicinbusinessforhimself。Hemighthavebeenanythingfromapicture—framemakertoalocksmith;
　　anemployeroflabourinasmallway。Buttherewasalsoabouthimanindescribableairwhichnomechaniccouldhaveacquiredinthepracticeofhishandicrafthoweverdishonestlyexercised:theaircommontomenwholiveonthevices，thefollies，orthebaserfearsofmankind;theairofmoralnihilismcommontokeepersofgamblinghellsanddisorderlyhouses;toprivatedetectivesandinquiryagents;todrinksellersand，Ishouldsay，tothesellersofinvigoratingelectricbeltsandtotheinventorsofpatentmedicines。
　　ButofthatlastIamnotsure，nothavingcarriedmyinvestigationssofarintothedepths。ForallIknow，theexpressionoftheselastmaybeperfectlydiabolic。Ishouldn’tbesurprised。WhatIwanttoaffirmisthatMrVerloc’sexpressionwasbynomeansdiabolic。
　　BeforereachingKnightsbridge，MrVerloctookaturntotheleftoutofthebusymainthoroughfare，uproariouswiththetrafficofswayingomnibusesandtrottingvans，inthealmostsilent，swiftflowofhansoms。Underhishat，wornwithaslightbackwardtilt，hishairhadbeencarefullybrushedintorespectfulsleekness;forhisbusinesswaswithanembassy。AndMrVerloc，steadylikearock—asoftkindofrock—marchednowalongastreetwhichcouldwitheveryproprietybedescribedasprivate。Initsbreadth，emptiness，andextentithadthemajestyofinorganicnature，ofmatterthatneverdies。Theonlyreminderofmortalitywasadoctor’sbroughamarrestedinaugustsolitudeclosetothekerbstone。Thepolishedknockersofthedoorsgleamedasfarastheeyecouldreach，thecleanwindowsshonewithadarkopaquelustre。Andallwasstill。Butamilkcartrattlednoisilyacrossthedistantperspective;abutcherboy，drivingwiththenoblerecklessnessofacharioteeratOlympicGames，dashedroundthecornersittinghighaboveapairofredwheels。Aguilty—lookingcatissuingfromunderthestonesranforawhileinfrontofMrVerloc，thendivedintoanotherbasement;andathickpoliceconstable，lookingastrangertoeveryemotion，asifhe，too，werepartofinorganicnature，surgingapparentlyoutofalamp—post，tooknottheslightestnoticeofMrVerloc。
　　WithaturntotheleftMrVerlocpursuedhiswayalonganarrowstreetbythesideofayellowwallwhich，forsomeinscrutablereason，hadNo。
　　1CheshamSquarewrittenonitinblackletters。CheshamSquarewasatleastsixtyyardsaway，andMrVerloc，cosmopolitanenoughnottobedeceivedbyLondon’stopographicalmysteries，heldonsteadily，withoutasignofsurpriseorindignation。Atlast，withbusiness—likepersistency，hereachedtheSquare，andmadediagonallyforthenumber20。Thisbelongedtoanimposingcarriagegateinahigh，cleanwallbetweentwohouses，ofwhichonerationallyenoughborethenumber9andtheotherwasnumbered37;
　　butthefactthatthislastbelongedtoPorthillStreet，astreetwellknownintheneighbourhood，wasproclaimedbyaninscriptionplacedabovetheground—floorwindowsbywhateverhighlyefficientauthorityischargedwiththedutyofkeepingtrackofLondon’sstrayedhouses。WhypowersarenotaskedofParliament（ashortActwoulddo）forcompellingthoseedificestoreturnwheretheybelongisoneofthemysteriesofmunicipaladministration。
　　MrVerlocdidnottroublehisheadaboutit，hismissioninlifebeingtheprotectionofthesocialmechanism，notitsperfectionmentorevenitscriticism。
　　ItwassoearlythattheporteroftheEmbassyissuedhurriedlyoutofhislodgestillstrugglingwiththeleftsleeveofhisliverycoat。
　　Hiswaistcoatwasred，andheworeknee—breeches，buthisaspectwasflustered。
　　MrVerloc，awareoftherushonhisflank，droveitoffbysimplyholdingoutanenvelopestampedwiththearmsoftheEmbassy，andpassedon。Heproducedthesametalismanalsotothefootmanwhoopenedthedoor，andstoodbacktolethimenterthehall。
　　Aclearfireburnedinatallfireplace，andanelderlymanstandingwithhisbacktoit，ineveningdressandwithachainroundhisneck，glancedupfromthenewspaperhewasholdingspreadoutinbothhandsbeforehiscalmandsevereface。Hedidn’tmove;butanotherlackey，inbrowntrousersandclawhammercoatedgedwiththinyellowcord，approachingMrVerloclistenedtothemurmurofhisname，andturningroundonhisheelinsilence，begantowalk，withoutlookingbackonce。MrVerloc，thusledalongaground—floorpassagetotheleftofthegreatcarpetedstaircase，wassuddenlymotionedtoenteraquitesmallroomfurnishedwithaheavywriting—tableandafewchairs。Theservantshutthedoor，andMrVerlocremainedalone。Hedidnottakeaseat。Withhishatandstickheldinonehandheglancedabout，passinghisotherpodgyhandoverhisuncoveredsleekhead。
　　Anotherdooropenednoiselessly，andMrVerlocimmobilizinghisglanceinthatdirectionsawatfirstonlyblackclothes。Thebaldtopofahead，andadroopingdarkgreywhiskeroneachsideofapairofwrinkledhands。
　　Thepersonwhohadenteredwasholdingabatchofpapersbeforehiseyesandwalkeduptothetablewitharathermincingstep，turningthepapersoverthewhile。PrivyCouncillorWurmt，Chancellord’Ambassade，wasrathershortsighted。Thismeritoriousofficial，layingthepapersonthetable，disclosedafaceofpastycomplexionandofmelancholyuglinesssurroundedbyalotoffine，long，darkgreyhairs，barredheavilybythickandbushyeyebrows。Heputonablack—framedpince—nezuponabluntandshapelessnose，andseemedstruckbyMrVerloc’sappearance。Undertheenormouseyebrowshisweakeyesblinkedpatheticallythroughtheglasses。
　　Hemadenosignofgreeting;neitherdidMrVerlocwhocertainlyknewhisplace;butasubtlechangeaboutthegeneraloutlinesofhisshouldersandbacksuggestedaslightbendingofMrVerloc’sspineunderthevastsurfaceofhisovercoat。Theeffectwasofunobtrusivedeference。
　　`Ihaveheresomeofyourreports，’saidthebureaucratinanunexpectedlysoftandwearyvoice，andpressingthetipofhisforefingeronthepaperswithforce。Hepaused;andMrVerloc，whohadrecognizedhisownhandwritingverywell，waitedinanalmostbreathlesssilence。`Wearenotverysatisfiedwiththeattitudeofthepolicehere，’theothercontinued，witheveryappearanceofmentalfatigue。’
　　TheshouldersofMrVerloc，withoutactuallymoving，suggestedashrug。
　　Andforthefirsttimesincehelefthishomethatmorninghislipsopened。
　　`Everycountryhasitspolice，’hesaid，philosophically。ButastheofficialoftheEmbassywentonblinkingathimsteadilyhefeltconstrainedtoadd:`AllowmetoobservethatIhavenomeansofactionuponthepolicehere。’
　　`Whatisdesired，’saidthemanofpapers，`istheoccurrenceofsomethingdefinitewhichshouldstimulatetheirvigilance。Thatiswithinyourprovince—isitnotso？’
　　MrVerlocmadenoanswerexceptbyasigh，whichescapedhiminvoluntarily，forinstantlyhetriedtogivehisfaceacheerfulexpression。Theofficialblinkeddoubtfully，asifaffectedbythedimlightoftheroom。Herepeatedvaguely:
　　`Thevigilanceofthepolice—andtheseverityofthemagistrates。
　　Thegeneralleniencyofthejudicialprocedurehere，andtheutterabsenceofallrepressivemeasures，areascandaltoEurope。Whatiswishedforjustnowistheaccentuationoftheunrest—ofthefermentationwhichundoubtedlyexists——’
　　`Undoubtedly，undoubtedly，’brokeinMrVerlocinadeep，deferentialbassofanoratoricalquality，soutterlydifferentfromthetoneinwhichhehadspokenbeforethathisinterlocutorremainedprofoundlysurprised。
　　`Itexiststoadangerousdegree。Myreportsforthelasttwelvemonthsmakeitsufficientlyclear。’
　　`Yourreportsforthelasttwelvemonths，’StateCouncillorWurmtbeganinhisgentleanddispassionatetone，`havebeenreadbyme。Ifailedtodiscoverwhyyouwrotethematall。’
　　Asadsilencereignedforatime。MrVerlocseemedtohaveswallowedhistongue，andtheothergazedatthepapersonthetablefixedly。Atlasthegavethemaslightpush。
　　`Thestateofaffairsyouexposethereisassumedtoexistasthefirstconditionofyouremployment。Whatisrequiredatpresentisnotwriting，butthebringingtolightofadistinct，significantfact—Iwouldalmostsayofanalarmingfact。’
　　`Ineednotsaythatallmyendeavoursshallbedirectedtothatend，’
　　MrVerlocsaid，withconvincedmodulationsinhisconversationalhuskytone。Butthesenseofbeingblinkedatwatchfullybehindtheblindglitteroftheseeyeglassesontheothersideofthetabledisconcertedhim。Hestoppedshortwithagestureofabsolutedevotion。Theusefulhard—working，ifobscurememberoftheEmbassyhadanairofbeingimpressedbysomenewlybornthought。
　　`Youareverycorpulent，’hesaid。
　　Thisobservation，reallyofapsychologicalnature，andadvancedwiththemodesthesitationofanofficemanmorefamiliarwithinkandpaperthanwiththerequirementsofactivelife，stungMrVerlocinthemannerofarudepersonalremark。Hesteppedbackapace。
　　`Eh？Whatwereyoupleasedtosay？’heexclaimed，withhuskyresentment。
　　TheChancellord’Ambassade，entrustedwiththeconductofthisinterview，seemedtofindittoomuchforhim。
　　`Ithink，’hesaid，`thatyouhadbetterseeMrVladimir。Yes，decidedlyIthinkyououghttoseeMrVladimir。Begoodenoughtowaithere，’headded，andwentoutwithmincingsteps。
　　AtonceMrVerlocpassedhishandoverhishair。Aslightperspirationhadbrokenoutofhisforehead。Helettheairescapefromhispursed—uplipslikeamanblowingataspoonfulofhotsoup。Butwhentheservantinbrownappearedatthedoorsilently，MrVerlochadnotmovedaninchfromtheplacehehadoccupiedthroughouttheinterview。Hehadremainedmotionless，asiffeelinghimselfsurroundedbypitfalls。
　　Hewalkedalongapassagelightedbyalonelygas—jet，thenupaflightofwindingstairs，andthroughaglazedandcheerfulcorridoronthefirstfloor。Thefootmanthrewopenadoor，andstoodaside。ThefeetofMrVerlocfeltathickcarpet。Theroomwaslarge，withthreewindows;andayoungmanwithashaven，bigface，sittinginaroomyarmchairbeforeavastmahoganywriting—table，saidinFrenchtotheChancellord’Ambassade，whowasgoingoutwiththepapersinhishand:
　　`Youarequiteright，moncher。He’sfat—theanimal。’
　　MrVladimir，FirstSecretary，hadadrawing—roomreputationasanagreeableandentertainingman。Hewassomethingofafavouriteinsociety。Hiswitconsistedindiscoveringdrollconnectionsbetweenincongruousideas;andwhentalkinginthatstrainhesatwellforwardonhisseat，withhislefthandraised，asifexhibitinghisfunnydemonstrationsbetweenthethumbandforefinger，whilehisroundandclean—shavenfaceworeanexpressionofmerryperplexity。
　　ButtherewasnotraceofmerrimentorperplexityinthewayhelookedatMrVerloc。Lyingfarbackinthedeeparmchair，withsquarelyspreadelbows，andthrowingonelegoverathickknee，hehadwithhissmoothandrosycountenancetheairofapreternaturallythrivingbabythatwillnotstandnonsensefromanybody。
　　`YouunderstandFrench，Isuppose？’hesaid。
　　MrVerlocstatedhuskilythathedid。Hiswholevastbulkhadaforwardinclination。Hestoodonthecarpetinthemiddleoftheroom，clutchinghishatandstickinonehand;theotherhunglifelesslybyhisside。HemutteredunobtrusivelysomewheredeepdowninhisthroatsomethingabouthavingdonehismilitaryserviceintheFrenchartillery。Atonce，withcontemptuousperversity，MrVladimirchangedthelanguage，andbegantospeakidiomaticEnglishwithouttheslightesttraceofaforeignaccent。
　　`Ah！Yes。Ofcourse。Let’ssee。Howmuchdidyougetforobtainingthedesignoftheimprovedbreech—blockoftheirnewfield—gun？’
　　`Fiveyears’rigorousconfinementinafortress，’MrVerlocanswered，unexpectedly，butwithoutanysignoffeeling。
　　`Yougotoffeasily，’wasMrVladimir’scomment。`And，anyhow，itservedyourightforlettingyourselfgetcaught。Whatmadeyougoinforthatsortofthing—eh？’
　　MrVerloc’shuskyconversationalvoicewasheardspeakingofyouth，ofafatalinfatuationforanunworthy——
　　`Aha！Cherchezlafemme，’MrVladimirdeignedtointerrupt，unbending，butwithoutaffability;therewas，onthecontrary，atouchofgrimnessinhiscondescension。`HowlonghaveyoubeenemployedbytheEmbassyhere？’
　　heasked。
　　`EversincethetimeofthelateBaronStott—Wartenheim，’MrVerlocansweredinsubduedtones，andprotrudinghislipssadly，insignofsorrowforthedeceaseddiplomat。TheFirstSecretaryobservedthisplayofphysiognomysteadily。
　　`Ah！eversince……Well！Whathaveyougottosayforyourself？’heasked，sharply。
　　MrVerlocansweredwithsomesurprisethathewasnotawareofhavinganythingspecialtosay。Hehadbeensummonedbyaletter—Andheplungedhishandbusilyintothesidepocketofhisovercoat，butbeforethemocking，cynicalwatchfulnessofMrVladimir，concludedtoleaveitthere。
　　`Bah！’saidthelatter。`Whatdoyoumeanbygettingoutofconditionlikethis？Youhaven’tgoteventhephysiqueofyourprofession。You—
　　amemberofastarvingproletariat—never！You—adesperatesocialistoranarchist—whichisit？’
　　`Anarchist，’statedMrVerlocinadeadenedtone。
　　`Bosh！’wentonMrVladimir，withoutraisinghisvoice。`YoustartledoldWurmthimself。Youwouldn’tdeceiveanidiot。Theyallarethatby—the—by，butyouseemtomesimplyimpossible。SoyoubeganyourconnectionwithusbystealingtheFrenchgundesigns。Andyougotyourselfcaught。ThatmusthavebeenverydisagreeabletoourGovernment。Youdon’tseemtobeverysmart。
　　MrVerloctriedtoexculpatehimselfhuskily。
　　`AsI’vehadoccasiontoobservebefore，afatalinfatuationforanunworthy——’
　　MrVladimirraisedalarge，white，plumphand。
　　`Ah，yes。Theunluckyattachment—ofyouryouth。Shegotholdofthemoney，andthensoldyoutothepolice—eh？’
　　ThedolefulchangeinMrVerloc’sphysiognomy，themomentarydroopingofhiswholeperson，confessedthatsuchwastheregrettablecase。MrVladimir’shandclaspedtheanklereposingonhisknee。Thesockwasofdarkbluesilk。
　　`Yousee，thatwasnotverycleverofyou。Perhapsyouaretoosusceptible。’
　　MrVerlocintimatedinathroaty，veiledmurmurthathewasnolongeryoung。
　　`Oh！That’safailingwhichagedoesnotcure，’MrVladimirremarked，withsinisterfamiliarity。`Butno！Youaretoofatforthat。Youcouldnothavecometolook’likethisifyouhadbeenatallsusceptible。I’lltellyouwhatIthinkisthematter:youarealazyfellow。HowlonghaveyoubeendrawingpayfromthisEmbassy？’
　　`Elevenyears，’wastheanswer，afteramomentofsulkyhesitation。
　　`I’vebeenchargedwithseveralmissionstoLondonwhileHisExcellencyBaronStott—WartenheimwasstillAmbassadorinParis。ThenbyhisExcellency’sinstructionsIsettleddowninLondon。IamEnglish。’
　　`Youare！Areyou？Eh？’
　　`Anatural—bornBritishsubject，’MrVerlocsaid，stolidly。`ButmyfatherwasFrench，andso——’
　　`Nevermindexplaining，’interruptedtheother。`IdaresayyoucouldhavebeenlegallyaMarshalofFranceandaMemberofParliamentinEngland—andthen，indeed，youwouldhavebeenofsomeusetoourEmbassy。’
　　ThisflightoffancyprovokedsomethinglikeafaintsmileonMrVerloc’sface。MrVladimirretainedanimperturbablegravity。
　　`But，asI’vesaid，youarealazyfellow;youdon’tuseyouropportunities。
　　InthetimeofBaronStott—Wartenheimwehadalotofsoft—headedpeoplerunningthisEmbassy。Theycausedfellowsofyoursorttoformafalseconceptionofthenatureofasecretservicefund。Itismybusinesstocorrectthismisapprehensionbytellingyouwhatthesecretserviceisnot。Itisnotaphilanthropicinstitution。I’vehadyoucalledhereonpurposetotellyouthis。’
　　MrVladimirobservedtheforcedexpressionofbewildermentonVerloc’sface，andsmiledsarcastically。
　　`Iseethatyouunderstandmeperfectly。Idaresayyouareintelligentenoughforyourwork。Whatwewantnowisactivity—activity。’
　　OnrepeatingthislastwordMrVladimirlaidalongwhiteforefingerontheedgeofthedesk。EverytraceofhuskinessdisappearedfromVerloc’svoice。Thenapeofhisgrossneckbecamecrimsonabovethevelvetcollarofhisovercoat。Hislipsquiveredbeforetheycamewidelyopen。
　　`Ifyou’llonlybegoodenoughtolookupmyrecord，’heboomedoutinhisgreat，clear，oratoricalbass，`you’llseeIgaveawarningonlythreemonthsagoontheoccasionoftheGrandDukeRomuald’svisittoParis，whichwastelegraphedfromheretotheFrenchpolice，and——’
　　`Tut，tut！’brokeoutMrVladimir，withafrowninggrimace。`TheFrenchpolicehadnouseforyourwarning。Don’troarlikethis。Whatthedevildoyoumean？’
　　WithanoteofproudhumilityMrVerlocapologizedforforgettinghimself。
　　Hisvoice，famousforyearsatopen—airmeetingsandatworkmen’sassembliesinlargehalls，hadcontributed，hesaid，tohisreputationofagoodandtrustworthycomrade。Itwas，therefore，apartofhisusefulness。Ithadinspiredconfidenceinhisprinciples。`Iwasalwaysputuptospeakbytheleadersatacriticalmoment，’MrVerlocdeclared，withobvioussatisfaction。
　　Therewasnouproarabovewhichhecouldnotmakehimselfheard，headded;
　　andsuddenlyhemadeademonstration。
　　`Allowme，’hesaid。Withloweredforehead，withoutlookingup，swiftlyandponderously，hecrossedtheroomtooneofthefrenchwindows。Asifgivingwaytoanuncontrollableimpulse，heopeneditalittle。MrVladimir，jumpingupamazedfromthedepthsofthearmchair，lookedoverhisshoulder;
　　andbelow，acrossthecourtyardoftheEmbassy，wellbeyondtheopengate，couldbeseenthebroadbackofapolicemanwatchingidlythegorgeousperambulatorofawealthybabybeingwheeledinstateacrosstheSquare。
　　`Constable！’saidMrVerloc，withnomoreeffortthanifhewerewhispering;
　　andMrVladimirburstintoalaughonseeingthepolicemanspinroundasifproddedbyasharpinstrument。MrVerlocshutthewindowquietly，andreturnedtothemiddleoftheroom。
　　`Withavoicelikethat，’hesaid，puttingonthehuskyconversationalpedal，`Iwasnaturallytrusted。AndIknewwhattosay，too。’
　　MrVladimir，arranginghiscravat，observedhimintheglassoverthemantelpiece。
　　`Idaresayyouhavethesocialrevolutionaryjargonbyheartwellenough，’
　　hesaid，contemptuously。`Voxet……Youhaven’teverstudiedLatin—haveyou？’
　　`No’，growledMrVerloc。`Youdidnotexpectmetoknowit。Ibelongtothemillion。WhoknowsLatin？Onlyafewhundredimbecileswhoaren’tfittotakecareofthemselves。’
　　ForsomethirtysecondslongerMrVladimirstudiedinthemirrorthefleshyprofile，thegrossbulk，ofthemanbehindhim。Andatthesametimehehadtheadvantageofseeinghisownface，clean—shavedandround，rosyaboutthegills，andwiththethin，sensitivelipsformedexactlyfortheutteranceofthosedelicatewitticismswhichhadmadehimsuchafavouriteintheveryhighestsociety。Thenheturned，andadvancedintotheroomwithsuchdeterminationthattheveryendsofhisquaintlyold—fashionedbownecktieseemedtobristlewithunspeakablemenaces。ThemovementwassoswiftandfiercethatMrVerloc，castinganobliqueglance，quailedinwardly。`Aha！Youdarebeimpudent，’MrVladimirbegan，withanamazinglygutturalintonationnotonlyutterlyun—English，butabsolutelyun—European，andstartlingeventoMrVerloc’sexperienceofcosmopolitanslums。`Youdare！Well，IamgoingtospeakEnglishtoyou。Voicewon’tdo。Wehavenouseforyourvoice。Wedon’twantavoice。Wewantfacts—startlingfacts—damnyou，’headded，withasortofferociousdiscretion，rightintoMrVerloc’sface。
　　`Don’tyoutrytocomeovermewithyourHyperboreanmanners。’MrVerlocdefendedhimself，huskily，lookingatthecarpet。Atthishisinterlocutor，smilingmockinglyabovethebristlingbowofhisnecktie，switchedtheconversationintoFrench。
　　`Yougiveyourselfforanagentprovocateur。Theproperbusinessofanagentprovocateuristoprovoke。AsfarasIcanjudgefromyourrecordkepthere，youhavedonenothingtoearnyourmoneyforthelastthreeyears。’
　　`Nothing！’exclaimedVerloc，stirringnotalimb，andnotraisinghiseyes，batwiththenoteofsincerefeelinginhistone。`Ihaveseveraltimespreventedwhatmighthavebeen——’
　　`Thereisaproverbinthiscountrywhichsayspreventionisbetterthancure，’interruptedMrVladimir，throwinghimselfintothearmchair。
　　`Itisstupidinageneralway。Thereisnoendtoprevention。Butitischaracteristic。Theydislikefinalityinthiscountry。Don’tyoubetooEnglish。Andinthisparticularinstance，don’tbeabsurd。Theevilisalreadyhere。Wedon’twantprevention—wewantcure。’
　　Hepaused，turnedtothedesk，andturningoversomepaperslyingthere，spokeinachanged，business—liketone，withoutlookingatMrVerloc。
　　`Youknow，ofcourse，oftheInternationalConferenceassembledinMilan？’
　　MrVerlocintimatedhoarselythathewasinthehabitofreadingthedailypapers。Toafurtherquestionhisanswerwasthat，ofcourse，heunderstoodwhatheread。AtthisMrVladimir，smilingfaintlyatthedocumentshewasstillscanningoneafteranother，murmured`AslongasitisnotwritteninLatin，Isuppose。
　　`OrChinese，’addedMrVerloc，stolidly。
　　`H’m。Someofyourrevolutionaryfriends’effusionsarewritteninacharabiaeverybitasincomprehensibleasChinese—`MrVladimirletfalldisdainfullyagreysheetofprintedmatter。`WhatarealltheseleafletsheadedF。P。，withahammer，pen，andtorchcrossed？Whatdoesitmean，thisF。P。？’MrVerlocapproachedtheimposingwriting—table。
　　`TheFutureoftheProletariat。It’sasociety，’heexplained，standingponderouslybythesideofthearmchair，`notanarchistinprinciple，butopentoallshadesofrevolutionaryopinion。’
　　`Areyouinit？’
　　`OneoftheVice—Presidents，’MrVerlocbreathedoutheavily;andtheFirstSecretaryoftheEmbassyraisedhisheadtolookathim。
　　`Thenyououghttobeashamedofyourself，’hesaid，incisively。`Isn’tyoursocietycapableofanythingelsebutprintingthispropheticboshinblunttypeonthisfilthypaper—eh？Whydon’tyoudosomething？Lookhere。I’vethismatterinhandnow，andItellyouplainlythatyouwillhavetoearnyourmoney。ThegoodoldStott—Wartenheimtimesareover。