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。
