第2章

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。