`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。