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。