CONRAD:TheSecretAgent，Chapter10CHAPTER10
THEAssistantCommissioner，drivenrapidlyinahansomfromtheneighbourhoodofSohointhedirectionofWestminster，gotoutattheverycentreoftheEmpireonwhichthesunneversets。Somestalwartconstables，whodidnotseemparticularlyimpressedbythedutyofwatchingtheaugustspot，salutedhim。PenetratingthroughaportalbynomeansloftyintotheprecinctsoftheHourwhichistheHouse，parexcellence，inthemindsofmanymillionsofmen，hewasmetatlastbythevolatileandrevolutionaryToodles。
ThatneatandniceyoungmanconcealedhisastonishmentattheearlyappearanceoftheAssistantCommissioner，whomhehadbeentoldtolookoutforsometimeaboutmidnight。Histurningupsoearlyheconcludedtobethesignthatthings，whatevertheywere，hadgonewrong。Withanextremelyreadysympathy，whichinniceyoungstersgoesoftenwithajoyoustemperament，hefeltsorryforthegreatPresencehecalled`TheChief，andalsofortheAssistantCommissioner，whosefaceappearedtohimmoreominouslywoodenthaneverbefore，andquitewonderfullylong。`Whataqueer，foreign—lookingchapheis，’hethoughttohimself，smilingfromadistancewithfriendlybuoyancy。Anddirectlytheycametogetherhebegantotalkwiththekindintentionofburyingtheawkwardnessoffailureunderaheapofwords。Itlookedasifthegreatassaultthreatenedforthatnightweregoingtofizzleout。Aninferiorhenchmanof`thatbruteCheeseman’
wasupboringmercilesslyaverythinHousewithsomeshamelesslycookedstatistics。He，Toodles，hopedhewouldborethemintoacountouteveryminute。ButthenhemightbeonlymarkingtimetoletthatguzzlingCheesemandineathisleisure。Anyway，theChiefcouldnotbepersuadedtogohome。
`Hewillseeyouatonce，Ithink。He’ssittingallaloneinhisroomthinkingofallthefishesofthesea，’concludedToodles，airily。`Comealong。’
Notwithstandingthekindnessofhisdisposition，theyoungPrivateSecretary（unpaid）wasaccessibletothecommonfailingsofhumanity。HedidnotwishtoharrowthefeelingsoftheAssistantCommissioner，wholookedtohimuncommonlylikeamanwhohasmadeamessofhisjob。Buthiscuriositywastoostrongtoberestrainedbymerecompassion。Hecouldnothelp，astheywentalong，tothrowoverhisshoulderlightly:
`Andyoursprat？’
`Gothim，’answeredtheAssistantCommissionerwithaconcisionwhichdidnotmeantoberepellentintheleast。
`Good。You’venoideahowthesegreatmendisliketobedisappointedinsmallthings。’
AfterthisprofoundobservationtheexperiencedToodlesseemedtoreflect。
Atanyratehesaidnothingforquitetwoseconds。Then:
`I’mglad。But—Isay—isitreallysuchaverysmallthingasyoumakeitout？’
`Doyouknowwhatmaybedonewithasprat？’theAssistantCommissioneraskedinhisturn。
`He’ssometimesputintoasardinebox，’chuckledToodles，whoseeruditiononthesubjectofthefishingindustrywasfreshand，incomparisonwithhisignoranceofallotherindustrialmatters，immense。`TherearesardinecanneriesontheSpanishcoastwhich——’
TheAssistantCommissionerinterruptedtheapprenticestatesman。
`Yes。Yes。Butaspratisalsothrownawaysometimesinordertocatchawhale。’
`Awhale。Phew！’exclaimedToodles，withbatedbreath。`You’reafterawhale，then？’
`Notexactly。WhatIamafterismorelikeadog—fish。Youdon’tknowperhapswhatadog—fishislike。’
`Yes;Ido。We’reburiedinspecialbooksuptoournecks—wholeshelvesfullofthem—withplates……It’sanoxious，rascallylooking，altogetherdetestablebeast，withasortofsmoothfaceandmoustaches。’
`DescribedtoaT，’commendedtheAssistantCommissioner。`Onlymineisclean—shavenaltogether。You’veseenhim。It’sawittyfish。’
`Ihaveseenhim！’saidToodles，incredulously。`Ican’tconceivewhereIcouldhaveseenhim。’
`AttheExplorers’，Ishouldsay，’droppedtheAssistantCommissioner，calmly。AtthenameofthatextremelyexclusiveclubToodleslookedscared，andstoppedshort。
`Nonsense，’heprotested，butinanawestrucktone。`Whatdoyoumean？
Amember？’
`Honorary，’mutteredtheAssistantCommissionerthroughhisteeth。
`Heavens！’
ToodleslookedsothunderstruckthattheAssistantCommissionersmiledfaintly。
`That’sbetweenourselvesstrictly，’hesaid。
`That’sthebeastliestthingI’veeverheardinmylife，’declaredToodles，feebly，asifastonishmenthadrobbedhimofallhisbuoyantstrengthinasecond。
TheAssistantCommissionergavehimanunsmilingglance。Tilltheycametothedoorofthegreatman’sroom，Toodlespreservedascandalizedandsolemnsilence，asthoughhewereoffendedwiththeAssistantCommissionerforexposingsuchanunsavouryanddisturbingfact。ItrevolutionizedhisideaoftheExplorers’Club’sextremeselectness，ofitssocialpurity。
Toodleswasrevolutionaryonlyinpolitics;hissocialbeliefsandpersonalfeelingshewishedtopreserveunchangedthroughalltheyearsallottedtohimonthisearthwhich，uponthewhole，hebelievedtobeaniceplacetoliveon。
Hestoodaside。
`Goinwithoutknocking，’hesaid。
Shadesofgreensilkfittedlowoverallthelightsimpartedtotheroomsomethingofaforest’sdeepgloom。Thehaughtyeyeswerephysicallythegreatman’sweakpoint。Thispointwaswrappedupinsecrecy。Whenanopportunityoffered，herestedthemconscientiously。TheAssistantCommissionerenteringsawatfirstonlyabigpalehandsupportingabighead，andconcealingtheupperpartofabigpaleface。Anopendispatch—boxstoodonthewriting—tablenearafewoblongsheetsofpaperandascatteredhandfulofquillpens。
Therewasabsolutelynothingelseontheflatsurfaceexceptalittlebronzestatuettedrapedinatoga，mysteriouslywatchfulininshadowyimmobility。
TheAssistantCommissioner，invitedtotakeachair，satdown。Inthedimlight，thesalientpointsofhispersonality，thelongface，theblackhair，hislankness，madehimlookmoreforeignthanever。
Thegreatmanmanifestednosurprise，noeagerness，nosentimentwhatever。
Theattitudeinwhichherestedhismenacedeyeswasprofoundlymeditative。
Hedidnotalterittheleastbit。Buthistonewasnotdreamy。
`Well！Whatisitthatyou’vefoundoutalready？Youcameuponsomethingunexpectedonthefirststep。’
`Notexactlyunexpected，SirEthelred。WhatImainlycameuponwasapsychologicalstate。’
TheGreatPresencemadeaslightmovement。`Youmustbelucid，please。’
`Yes，SirEthelred。Youknownodoubtthatmostcriminalsatsometimeorotherfeelanirresistibleneedofconfessing—ofmakingacleanbreastofittosomebody—toanybody。Andtheydoitoftentothepolice。InthatVerlocwhomHeatwishedsomuchtoscreenI’vefoundamaninthatparticularpsychologicalstate。Theman，figurativelyspeaking，flunghimselfonmybreast。ItwasenoughonmyparttowhispertohimwhoIwasandtoadd`Iknowthatyouareatthebottomofthisaffair。’Itmusthaveseemedmiraculoustohimthatweshouldknowalready，buthetookitallinthestride。Thewonderfulnessofitnevercheckedhimforamoment。
Thereremainedformeonlytoputtohimthetwoquestions:Whoputyouuptoit？andWhowasthemanwhodidit？Heansweredthefirstwithremarkableemphasis。Astothesecondquestion，Igatherthatthefellowwiththebombwashisbrother—in—law—quitealad—aweak—mindedcreature……Itisratheracuriousaffair—toolongperhapstostatefullyjustnow。’
`Whatthenhaveyoulearned？’askedthegreatman。
`First，I’velearnedthattheex—convictMichaelishadnothingtodowithit，thoughindeedtheladhadbeenlivingwithhimtemporarilyinthecountryuptoeighto’clockthismorning。ItismorethanlikelythatMichaelisknowsnothingofittothismoment。’
`Youarepositiveastothat？’askedthegreatman。
`Quitecertain，SirEthelred。ThisfellowVerlocwenttherethismorning，andtookawaytheladonthepretenceofgoingoutforawalkinthelanes。
Asitwasnotthefirsttimethathedidthis，Michaeliscouldnothavetheslightestsuspicionofanythingunusual。Fortherest，SirEthelred，theindignationofthismanVerlochadleftnothingindoubt—nothingwhatever。Hehadbeendrivenoutofhismindalmostbyanextraordinaryperformance，whichforyouormeitwouldbedifficulttotakeasseriouslymeant，butwhichproducedagreatimpressionobviouslyonhim。’
TheAssistantCommissionerthenimpartedbrieflytothegreatman，whosatstill，restinghiseyesunderthescreenofhishand，MrVerloc’sappreciationofMrVladimir’sproceedingsandcharacter。TheAssistantCommissionerdidnotseemtorefuseitacertainamountofcompetency。Butthegreatpersonageremarked:
`Allthisseemsveryfantastic。’
`Doesn’tit？Onewouldthinkaferociousjoke。Butourmantookitseriously，itappears。Hefelthimselfthreatened。Formerly，youknow，hewasindirectcommunicationwitholdStott—Wartenheimhimself，andhadcometoregardhisservicesasindispensable。Itwasanextremelyrudeawakening。Iimaginethathelosthishead。Hebecameangryandfrightened。Uponmyword，myimpressionisthathethoughttheseEmbassypeoplequitecapablenotonlytothrowhimoutbuttogivehimaway，too，insomemannerorother——’
`Howlongwereyouwithhim？’interruptedthePresencefrombehindhisbighand。
`Somefortyminutes，SirEthelred，inahouseofbadreputecalledContinentalHotel，closetedinaroomwhichby—the—byItookforthenight。Ifoundhimundertheinfluenceofthatreactionwhichfollowstheeffortofcrime。
Themancannotbedefinedasahardenedcriminal。Itisobviousthathedidnotplanthedeathofthatwretchedlad—hisbrother—in—law。Thatwasashocktohim—Icouldseethat。Perhapsheisamanofstrongsensibilities。
Perhapshewasevenfondofthelad—whoknows？Hemighthavehopedthatthefellowwouldgetclearaway;inwhichcaseitwouldhavebeenalmostimpossibletobringthisthinghometoanyone。Atanyrate，heriskedconsciouslynothingmorebutarrestforhim。’
TheAssistantCommissionerpausedinhisspeculationstoreflectforamoment。
`Thoughhow，inthatlastcase，hecouldhopetohavehisownshareinthebusinessconcealedismorethanIcantell，’hecontinued，inhisignoranceofpoorStevie’sdevotiontoMrVerloc（whowasgood），andofhistrulypeculiardumbness，whichintheoldaffairoffireworksonthestairshadformanyyearsresistedentreaties，coaxing，anger，andothermeansofinvestigationusedbyhisbelovedsister。ForSteviewasloyal……`No，1can’timagine。It’spossiblethatheneverthoughtofthatatall。Itsoundsanextravagantwayofputtingit，SirEthelred，buthisstateofdismaysuggestedtomeanimpulsivemanwho，aftercommittingsuicidewiththenotionthatitwouldendallhistroubles，haddiscoveredthatitdidnothingofthekind。’
TheAssistantCommissionergavethisdefinitioninanapologeticvoice。
Butintruththereisasortofluciditypropertoextravagantlanguage，andthegreatmanwasnotoffended。Aslightjerkymovementofthebigbodyhalflostinthegloomofthegreensilkshades，ofthebigheadleaningonthebighand，accompaniedanintermittentstifledbutpowerfulsound。
Thegreatmanhadlaughed。
`Whathaveyoudonewithhim？’
TheAssistantCommissioneransweredveryreadily:
`AsheseemedveryanxioustogetbacktohiswifeintheshopIlethimgo，SirEthelred。’
`Youdid？Butthefellowwilldisappear。’
`Pardonme。Idon’tthinkso。Wherecouldhegoto？Moreover，youmustrememberthathehasgottothinkofthedangerfromhiscomrades，too。
He’sthereathispost。Howcouldheexplainleavingit？Buteveniftherewerenoobstaclestohisfreedomofactionhewoulddonothing。Atpresenthehasn’tenoughmoralenergytotakearesolutionofanysort。PermitmealsotopointoutthatifIhaddetainedhimwewouldhavebeencommittedtoacourseofactiononwhichIwishedtoknowyourpreciseintentionsfirst。’
Thegreatpersonageroseheavily，animposing，shadowyforminthegreenishgloomoftheroom。
`I’llseetheAttorney—Generaltonight，andwillsendforyoutomorrowmorning。Isthereanythingmoreyou’dwishtotellmenow？’
TheAssistantCommissionerhadstoodupalso，slenderandflexible。
`Ithinknot，SirEthelred，unlessIweretoenterintodetailswhich——’
`No。Nodetails，please。’
Thegreatshadowyformseemedtoshrinkawayasifinphysicaldreadofdetails;thencameforward，expanded，enormous，andweighty，offeringalargehand。`Andyousaythatthismanhasgotawife？’
`Yes，SirEthelred，’saidtheAssistantCommissioner，pressingdeferentiallytheextendedhand。`Agenuinewifeandagenuinely，respectably，maritalrelation。HetoldmethatafterhisinterviewattheEmbassyhewouldhavethrowneverythingup，wouldhavetriedtosellhisshop，andleavethecountry，onlyhefeltcertainthathiswifewouldnotevenhearofgoingabroad。Nothingcouldbemorecharacteristicoftherespectablebondthanthat，’wenton，withatouchofgrimness，theAssistantCommissioner，whoseownwife，too，hadrefusedtohearofgoingabroad。`Yes，agenuinewife。
Andthevictimwasagenuinebrother—in—law。Fromacertainpointofviewwearehereinthepresenceofadomesticdrama。’
TheAssistantCommissionerlaughedalittle;butthegreatman’sthoughtsseemedtohavewanderedfaraway，perhapstothequestionsofhiscountry’sdomesticpolicy，thebattlegroundofhiscrusadingvalouragainstthepaynimCheeseman。TheAssistantCommissionerwithdrewquietly，unnoticed，asifalreadyforgotten。
Hehadhisowncrusadinginstincts。Thisaffair，which，inonewayoranother，disgustedChiefInspectorHeat，seemedtohimaprovidentiallygivenstarting—pointforacrusade。Hehaditmuchathearttobegin。Hewalkedslowlyhome，meditatingthatenterpriseontheway，andthinkingoverMrVerloc’spsychologyinacompositemoodofrepugnanceandsatisfaction。
Hewalkedallthewayhome。Findingthedrawing—roomdark，hewentupstairs，andspentsometimebetweenthebedroomandthedressing—room，changinghisclothes，goingtoandfrowiththeairofathoughtfulsomnambulist。
ButheshookitoffbeforegoingoutagaintojoinhiswifeatthehouseofthegreatladypatronessofMichaelis。
Heknewhewouldbewelcomedthere。Onenteringthesmallerofthetwodrawing—roomshesawhiswifeinasmallgroupnearthepiano。Ayoungishcomposerinpassofbecomingfamouswasdiscoursingfromamusicstooltotwothickmenwhosebackslookedold，andthreeslenderwomenwhosebackslookedyoung。Behindthescreenthegreatladyhadonlytwopersonswithher:amanandawoman，whosatsidebysideonarmchairsatthefootofhercouch。SheextendedherhandtotheAssistantCommissioner。
`Ineverhopedtoseeyouheretonight。Annietoldme——’
`Yes。Ihadnoideamyselfthatmyworkwouldbeoversosoon。’
TheAssistantCommissioneraddedinalowtone:`IamgladtotellyouthatMichaelisisaltogetherclearofthis——
Thepatronessoftheex—convictreceivedthisassuranceindignantly。
`Why？Wereyourpeoplestupidenoughtoconnecthimwith——’
`Notstupid，’interruptedtheAssistantCommissioner，contradictingdeferentially。`Cleverenough—quitecleverenoughforthat。’
Asilencefell。Themanatthefootofthecouchhadstoppedspeakingtothelady，andlookedonwithafaintsmile。
`Idon’tknowwhetheryouevermetbefore，’saidthegreatlady。
MrVladimirandtheAssistantCommissioner，introduced，acknowledgedeachother’sexistencewithpunctiliousandguardedcourtesy。
`He’sbeenfrighteningme，’declaredsuddenlytheladywhosatbythesideofMrVladimir，withaninclinationoftheheadtowardsthatgentleman。
TheAssistantCommissionerknewthelady。
`Youdonotlookfrightened，’hepronounced，aftersurveyingherconscientiouslywithhistiredandequablegaze。Hewasthinkingmeantimetohimselfthatinthishouseonemeteverybodysoonerorlater。MrVladimir’srosycountenancewaswreathedinsmiles，becausehewaswitty，buthiseyesremainedserious，liketheeyesofconvincedman。
`Well，hetriedtoatleast，’amendedthelady。
`Forceofhabitperhaps，’saidtheAssistantCommissioner，movedbyanirresistibleinspiration。
`Hehasbeenthreateningsocietywithallsortsofhorrors，’continuedthelady，whoseenunciationwascaressingandslow，`aproposofthisexplosioninGreenwichPark。Itappearswealloughttoquakeinourshoesatwhat’scomingifthosepeoplearenotsuppressedallovertheworld。Ihadnoideathiswassuchagraveaffair。’
MrVladimir，affectingnottolisten，leanedtowardsthecouch，talkingamiablyinsubduedtones，butheheardtheAssistantCommissionersay:
`I’venodoubtthatMrVladimirhasaveryprecisenotionofthetrueimportanceofthisaffair。’
MrVladimiraskedhimselfwhatthatconfoundedandintrusivepolicemanwasdrivingat。Descendedfromgenerationsvictimizedbytheinstrumentsofanarbitrarypower，hewasracially，nationally，andindividuallyafraidofthepolice。Itwasaninheritedweakness，altogetherindependentofhisjudgement，ofhisreason，ofhisexperience。Hewasborntoit。Butthatsentiment，whichresembledtheirrationalhorrorsomepeoplehaveofcats，didnotstandinthewayofhisimmensecontemptfortheEnglishpolice。Hefinishedthesentenceaddressedtothegreatlady，andturnedslightlyinhischair。
`Youmeanthatwehaveagreatexperienceofthesepeople。Yes;indeed，wesuffergreatlyfromtheiractivity，whileyou’—MrVladimirhesitatedforamoment，insmilingperplexity—`Whileyousuffertheirpresencegladlyinyourmidst，’hefinished，displayingadimpleineachclean—shavencheek。Thenheaddedmoregravely:`Imayevensay—becauseyoudo。’
WhenMrVladimirceasedspeakingtheAssistantCommissionerloweredhisglance，andtheconversationdropped。AlmostimmediatelyafterwardsMrVladimirtookleave。DirectlyhisbackwasturnedonthecouchtheAssistantCommissionerrose，too。
`IthoughtyouweregoingtostayandtakeAnniehome，’saidtheladypatronessofMichaelis。
`IfindthatI’veyetalittleworktodotonight。’
`Inconnection——’
`Well，yes—inaway。’
`Tellme，whatisitreally—thishorror？’
`It’sdifficulttosaywhatitis，butitmayyetbeacausecélébre，saidtheAssistantCommissioner。’
Heleftthedrawing—roomhurriedly，andfoundMrVladimirstillinthehall，wrappinguphisthroatcarefullyinalargesilkhandkerchief。Behindhimafootmanwaited，holdinghisovercoat。Anotherstoodreadytoopenthedoor。TheAssistantCommissionerwasdulyhelpedintohiscoat，andletoutatonce。Afterdescendingthefrontstepshestopped，asiftoconsiderthewayheshouldtake。Onseeingtxisthroughthedoorheldopen，MrVladimirlingeredinthehalltogetoutacigarandaskedforalight。
Itwasfurnishedtohimbyanelderlymanoutofliverywithanairofcalmsolicitude。Butthematchwentout;thefootmanthenclosedthedoor，andMrVladimirlightedhislargeHavanawithleisurelycare。Whenatlasthegotoutofthehouse，hesawwithdisgustthe`confoundedpoliceman’
stillstandingonthepavement。
`Canhebewaitingforme，’thoughtMrVladimir，lookingupanddownforsomesignsofahansom。Hesawnone。Acoupleofcarriageswaitedbythekerbstone，theirlampsblazingsteadily，thehorsesstandingperfectlystill，asifcarvedinstone，thecoachmensittingmotionlessunderthebigfurcapes，withoutasmuchasaquiverstirringthewhitethongsoftheirbigwhips。MrVladimirwalkedon，andthe`confoundedpoliceman’
fellintostepathiselbow。Hesaidnothing。AttheendofthefourthstrideMrVladimirfeltinfuriatedanduneasy。Thiscouldnotlast。
`Rottenweather，’hegrowled，savagely。
`Mild，’saidtheAssistantCommissionerwithoutpassion。Heremainedsilentforalittlewhile。`We’vegotholdofamancalledVerloc，’heannounced，casually。
MrVladimirdidnotstumble，didnotstaggerback，didnotchangehisstride。Buthecouldnotpreventhimselffromexclaiming:`What？’
TheAssistantCommissionerdidnotrepeathisstatement。`Youknowhim，’
hewentoninthesametone。
MrVladimirstopped，andbecameguttural。
`Whatmakesyousaythat？’
`Idon’t。It’sVerlocwhosaysthat。’
`Alyingdogofsomesort，’saidMrVladimirinsomewhatOrientalphraseology。
ButinhishearthewasalmostawedbythemiraculousclevernessoftheEnglishpolice。Thechangeofhisopiniononthesubjectwassoviolentthatitmadehimforamomentfeelslightlysick。Hethrewawayhiscigar，andmovedon。
`Whatpleasedmemostinthisaffair，’theAssistantCommissionerwenton，talkingslowly，`isthatitmakessuchanexcellentstarting—pointforapieceofworkwhichI’vefeltmustbetakeninhand—thatis，theclearingoutofthiscountryofalltheforeignpoliticalspies，police，andthatsortof—of—dogs。Inmyopiniontheyareaghastlynuisance;
alsoanelementofdanger。Butwecan’tverywellseekthemoutindividually。
Theonlywayistomaketheiremploymentunpleasanttotheiremployers。
Thething’sbecomingindecent。Anddangerous，too，forus，here。’
MrVladimirstoppedagainforamoment。
`Whatdoyoumean？’
`TheprosecutionofthisVerlocwilldemonstratetothepublicboththedangerandtheindecency。’
`Nobodywillbelievewhatamanofthatsortsays，’saidMrVladimir，contemptuously。
`Thewealthandprecisionofdetailwillcarryconvictiontothegreatmassofthepublic，’advancedtheAssistantCommissionergently。
`Sothatisseriouslywhatyoumeantodo。’
`We’vegottheman;wehavenochoice。’
`Youwillbeonlyfeedingupthelyingspiritoftheserevolutionaryscoundrels，’MrVladimirprotested。`Whatdoyouwanttomakeascandalfor？—frommorality—orwhat？’
MrVladimir’sanxietywasobvious。TheAssistantCommissioner，havingascertainedinthiswaythattheremustbesometruthinthesummarystatementsofMrVerloc，saidindifferently:
`There’sapracticalside，too。Wehavereallyenoughtodotolookafterthegenuinearticle。Youcan’tsaywearenoteffective。Butwedon’tintendtoletourselvesbebotheredbyshamsunderanypretextwhatever。’
MrVladimir’stonebecamelofty。
`Formypart，Ican’tshareyourview。Itisselfish。Mysentimentsformyowncountrycannotbedoubted;butI’vealwaysfeltthatweoughttobegoodEuropeansbesides—Imeangovernmentsandmen。’
`Yes，’saidtheAssistantCommissionersimply。`OnlyyoulookatEuropefromitsotherend。But，’hewentoninagood—naturedtone，`theforeigngovernmentscannotcomplainoftheinefficiencyofourpolice。Lookatthisoutrage;acasespeciallydifficulttotraceinasmuchasitwasasham。Inlessthantwelvehourswehaveestablishedtheidentityofamanliterallyblowntoshreds，havefoundtheorganizeroftheattempt，andhavehadaglimpseoftheinciterbehindhim。Andwecouldhavegonefurther;
onlywestoppedatthelimitsofourterritory。’
`Sothisinstructivecrimewasplannedabroad，’MrVladimirsaid，quickly。
`Youadmititwasplannedabroad？’
`Theoretically。Theoreticallyonly，onforeignterritory;abroadonlybyafiction，’saidtheAssistantCommissioner，alludingtothecharacterofEmbassieswhicharesupposedtobepartandparcelofthecountrytowhichtheybelong。`Butthat’sadetail。Italkedtoyouofthisbusinessbecauseit’syourgovernmentthatgrumblesmostatourpolice。Youseethatwearenotsobad。Iwantedparticularlytotellyouofoursuccess。’
`I’msureI’mverygrateful，’mutteredMrVladimirthroughhisteeth。
`Wecanputourfingeroneveryanarchisthere，’wentontheAssistantCommissioner，asthoughhewerequotingChiefInspectorHeat。`Allthat’swantednowistodoawaywiththeagentprovocateurtomakeeverythingsafe。’
MrVladimirhelduphishandtoapassinghansom。
`You’renotgoinginhere，’remarkedtheAssistantCommissioner，lookingatabuildingofnobleproportionsandhospitableaspect，withthelightofagreathallfallingthroughitsglassdoorsonabroadflightofsteps。
ButMrVladimir，sitting，stony—eyed，insidethehansom，droveoffwithoutaword。
TheAssistantCommissionerhimselfdidnotturnintothenoblebuilding。
ItwastheExplorers’Club。ThethoughtpassedthroughhismindthatMrVladimir，honorarymember，wouldnotbeseenveryoftenthereinthefuture。
Helookedathiswatch。Itwasonlyhalfpastten。Hehadhadaveryfullevening。