第6章

Buthewascurioustoknowhowshehadbeeninformed。Thepaperscouldtellhernothingbeyondthemerefact:themanblowntopiecesinGreenwichParknothavingbeenidentified。ItwasinconceivableonanytheorythatVerlocshouldhavegivenheraninklingofhisintention—whateveritwas。ThisprobleminterestedComradeOssiponimmensely。Hestoppedshort。

TheyhadgonethenalongthethreesidesofBrettPlace，andwereneartheendofBrettStreetagain。

`Howdidyoufirstcometohearofit？’heaskedinatonehetriedtorenderappropriatetothecharacteroftherevelationswhichhadbeenmadetohimbythewomanathisside。

Sheshookviolentlyforawhilebeforesheansweredinalistlessvoice。

`Fromthepolice。Achiefinspectorcame。ChiefInspectorHeathesaidhewas。Heshowedme——’

MrsVerlocchoked。`Oh，Tom，theyhadtogatherhimupwithashovel。’

Herbreastheavedwithdrysobs。InamomentOssiponfoundhistongue。

`Thepolice！Doyoumeantosaythepolicecamealready？ThatChiefInspectorHeathimselfactuallycametotellyou。

`Yes，’sheconfirmedinthesamelistlesstone。`Hecame。Justlikethis。Hecame。Ididn’tknow。Heshowedmeapieceofovercoat，and—Justlikethat。Doyouknowthis？hesays。

`Heat！Heat！Andwhatdidhedo？’

MrsVerloc’sheaddropped。`Nothing。Hedidnothing。Hewentaway。Thepolicewereonthatman’sside，’shemurmuredtragically。`Anotheronecame，too，`Another—anotherinspector，doyoumean？’askedOssipon，ingreatexcitement，andverymuchinthetoneofthescaredchild。

`Idon’tknow。Hecame。Helookedlikeaforeigner。HemayhavebeenoneofthemEmbassypeople。’

ComradeOssiponnearlycollapsedunderthisnewshock。

`Embassy！Areyouawarewhatyouaresaying？WhatEmbassy？WhatonearthdoyoumeanbyEmbassy？’

`It’sthatplaceinCheshamSquare。Thepeoplehecursedso。Idon’tknow。Whatdoesitmatter！’

`Andthatfellow，whatdidhedoorsaytoyou？’

`Idon’tremember……Nothing……Idon’tcare。Don’taskme，’shepleadedinawearyvoice。

`Allright。Iwon’t，’assentedOssipon，tenderly。Andhemeantit，too，notbecausehewastouchedbythepathosofthepleadingvoice，butbecausehefelthimselflosinghisfootinginthedepthsofthistenebrousaffair。

Police！Embassy！Phew！Forfearofadventuringhisintelligenceintowayswhereitsnaturallightsmightfailtoguideitsafelyhedismissedresolutelyallsuppositions，surmises，andtheoriesoutofhismind。Hehadthewomanthere，absolutelyflingingherselfathim，andthatwastheprincipalconsideration。

Butafterwhathehadheardnothingcouldastonishhimanymore。AndwhenMrsVerloc，asifstartledsuddenlyoutofadreamofsafety，begantourgeuponhimwildlythenecessityofanimmediateflightontheContinent，hedidnotexclaimintheleast。Hesimplysaidwithunaffectedregretthattherewasnotraintillthemorning，andstoodlookingthoughtfullyatherface，veiledinblacknet，inthelightofagas—lampveiledinagauzeofmist。

Nearhim，herblackformmergedinthenight，likeafigurehalfchiselledoutofablockofblackstone。Itwasimpossibletosaywhatsheknew，howdeepshewasinvolvedwithpolicemenandEmbassies。Butifshewantedtogetaway，itwasnotforhimtoobject。Hewasanxioustobeoffhimself。

Hefeltthatthebusiness，theshopsostrangelyfamiliartochiefinspectorsandmembersofforeignEmbassies，wasnottheplaceforhim。Thatmustbedropped。Buttherewastherest。Thesesavings。Themoney！

`Youmusthidemetillthemorningsomewhere，’shesaidinadismayedvoice。

`Factis，mydear，Ican’ttakeyouwhereIlive。Isharetheroomwithafriend。’

Hewassomewhatdismayedhimself。Inthemorningtheblessedtecswillbeoutinallthestations，nodoubt。Andiftheyoncegotholdofher，foronereasonoranothershewouldbelosttohimindeed。

`Butyoumust。Don’tyoucareformeatall—atall？Whatareyouthinkingof？’

Shesaidthisviolently，butsheletherclaspedhandsfallindiscouragement。

Therewasasilence，whilethemistfell，anddarknessreignedundisturbedoverBrettPlace。Notasoul，noteventhevagabond，lawless，andamoroussoulofacat，camenearthemanandthewomanfacingeachother。

`Itwouldbepossibleperhapstofindasafelodgingsomewhere，’Ossiponspokeatlast。`Butthetruthis，mydear，Ihavenotenoughmoneytogoandtrywith—onlyafewpence。Werevolutionistsarenotrich。’

Hehadfifteenshillingsinhispocket。Headded:

`Andthere’sthejourneybeforeus，too—firstthinginthemorningatthat。’

Shedidnotmove，madenosound，andComradeOssipon’sheartsankalittle。Apparentlyshehadnosuggestiontooffer。Suddenlysheclutchedatherbreast，asifshehadfeltasharppainthere。

`ButIhave，’shegasped。`Ihavethemoney。Ihaveenoughmoney。Tom！

Letusgofromhere。’

`Howmuchhaveyougot？’heinquired，withoutstirringtohertug;forhewasacautiousman。

`Ihavethemoney，Itellyou。Allthemoney。

`Whatdoyoumeanbyit？Allthemoneytherewasinthebank，orwhat？’

heasked，incredulously，butreadynottobesurprisedatanythinginthewayofluck。

`Yes，yes！’shesaidnervously。`Alltherewas。I’veitall。’

`Howonearthdidyoumanagetogetholdofitalready？’hemarvelled。

`Hegaveittome，’shemurmured，suddenlysubduedandtrembling。ComradeOssiponputdownhisrisingsurprisewithafirmhand。

`Why，then—wearesaved，’heutteredslowly。

Sheleanedforward，andsankagainsthisbreast。Hewelcomedherthere。

Shehadallthemoney。Herhatwasinthewayofverymarkedeffusion;

herveil，too。Hewasadequateinhismanifestations，butnomore。Shereceivedthemwithoutresistanceandwithoutabandonment，passively，asifonlyhalf—sensible。Shefreedherselffromhislaxembracewithoutdifficulty。

`Youwillsaveme，Tom，’shebrokeout，recoiling，butstillkeepingherholdonhimbythetwolapelsofhisdampcoat。`Saveme。Hideme。

Don’tletthemhaveme。Youmustkillmefirst。Icouldn’tdoitmyself—Icouldn’t，Icouldn’t—notevenforwhatIamafraidof。’

Shewasconfoundedlybizarre，hethought。Shewasbeginningtoinspirehimwithanindefiniteuneasiness。Hesaidsurlily，forhewasbusywithimportantthoughts:

`Whatthedevilareyouafraidof？’

`Haven’tyouguessedwhatIwasdriventodo！’criedthewoman。Distractedbythevividnessofherdreadfulapprehensions，herheadringingwithforcefulwords，thatkeptthehorrorofherpositionbeforehermind，shehadimaginedherincoherencetobeclearnessitself。Shehadnoconscienceofhowlittleshehadaudiblysaidinthedisjointedphrasescompletedonlyinherthought。

Shehadfeltthereliefofafullconfession，andshegaveaspecialmeaningtoeverysentencespokenbyComradeOssipon，whoseknowledgedidnotintheleastresembleherown。`Haven’tyouguessedwhatIwasdriventodo！’

Hervoicefell。`Youneedn’tbelonginguessingthenwhatIamafraidof，’shecontinuedinabitterandsombremurmur。`Iwon’thaveit。Iwon’t。

Iwon’t。Iwon’t。Youmustpromisetokillmefirst！’Sheshookthelapelsofhiscoat。`Itmustneverbe！’

Heassuredhercurtlythatnopromisesonhispartwerenecessary，buthetookgoodcarenottocontradictherinsetterms，becausehehadhadmuchtodowithexcitedwomen，andhewasinclinedingeneraltolethisexperienceguidehisconductinpreferencetoapplyinghissagacitytoeachspecialcase。Hissagacityinthiscasewasbusyinotherdirections。

Women’swordsfellintowater，buttheshortcomingsoftime—tablesremained。

TheinsularnatureofGreatBritainobtrudeditselfuponhisnoticeinanodiousform。`Mightjustaswellbeputunderlockandkeyeverynight，’

hethoughtirritably，asnonplussedasthoughhehadawalltoscalewiththewomanonhisback。Suddenlyheslappedhisforehead。HehadbydintofcudgellinghisbrainsjustthoughtoftheSouthampton—StMaloservice。

Theboatleftaboutmidnight。Therewasatrainat10。30。Hebecamecheeryandreadytoact。

`FromWaterloo。Plentyoftime。Weareallrightafterall……What’sthematternow？Thisisn’ttheway，’heprotested。

MrsVerloc，havinghookedherarmintohis，wastryingtodraghimintoBrettStreetagain。

`I’veforgottentoshuttheshopdoorasIwentout，’shewhispered，terriblyagitated。

TheshopandallthatwasinithadceasedtointerestComradeOssipon。

Heknewhowtolimithisdesires。Hewasonthepointofsaying`Whatofthat？Letitbe，’butherefrained。Hedislikedargumentabouttrifles。

Heevenmendedhispaceconsiderablyonthethoughtthatshemighthaveleftthemoneyinthedrawer。Buthiswillingnesslaggedbehindherfeverishimpatience。

Theshopseemedtobequitedarkatfirst。Thedoorstoodajar。MrsVerloc，leaningagainstthefront，graspedout:

`Nobodyhasbeenin。Look！Thelight—thelightintheparlour。’

Ossipon，stretchinghisheadforward，sawafaintgleaminthedarknessoftheshop。

`Thereis，’hesaid。

`Iforgotit。’MrsVerloc’svoicecamefrombehindherveilfaintly。

Andashestoodwaitingforhertoenterfirst，shesaidlouder:`Goinandputitout—orI’llgomad。’

Hemadenoimmediateobjectiontothisproposal，sostrangelymotived。

`Where’sallthatmoney？’heasked。

`Onme！Go，Tom。Quick！Putitout……Goin！’shecried，seizinghimbybothshouldersfrombehind。

Notpreparedforadisplayofphysicalforce，ComradeOssiponstumbledfarintotheshopbeforeherpush。Hewasastonishedatthestrengthofthewomanandscandalizedbyherproceedings。Buthedidnotretracehisstepsinordertoremonstratewithherseverelyinthestreet。Hewasbeginningtobedisagreeablyimpressedbyherfantasticbehaviour。Moreover，thisorneverwasthetimetohumourthewoman。ComradeOssiponavoidedeasilytheendofthecounter，andapproachedcalmlytheglazeddooroftheparlour。

Thecurtainoverthepanesbeingdrawnbackalittlehe，byaverynaturalimpulse，lookedin，justashemadereadytoturnthehandle。Helookedinwithoutathought，withoutintention，withoutcuriosityofanysort。

Helookedinbecausehecouldnothelplookingin。Helookedin，anddiscoveredMrVerlocreposingquietlyonthesofa。

Ayellcomingfromtheinnermostdepthsofhischestdiedoutunheardandtransformedintoasortofgreasy，sicklytasteonhislips。AtthesametimethementalpersonalityofComradeOssiponexecutedafranticleapbackwards。Buthisbody，leftthuswithoutintellectualguidance，heldontothedoorhandlewiththeunthinkingforceofaninstinct。Therobustanarchistdidnoteventotter。Andhestared，hisfaceclosetotheglass，hiseyesprotrudingoutofhishead。Hewouldhavegivenanythingtogetaway，buthisreturningreasoninformedhimthatitwouldnotdotoletgothedoorhandle。Whatwasit—madness，anightmare，oratrapintowhichhehadbeendecoyedwithfiendishartfulness？Why—whatfor？

Hedidnotknow。Withoutanysenseofguiltinhisbreast，inthefullpeaceofhisconscienceasfarasthesepeoplewereconcerned，theideathathewouldbemurderedformysteriousreasonsbythecoupleVerlocpassednotsomuchacrosshismindasacrossthepitofhisstomach，andwentout，leavingbehindatrailofsicklyfaintness—anindisposition。ComradeOssipondidnetfeelverywellinaveryspecialwayforamoment—alongmoment。Andhestared。MrVerloclayverystillmeanwhile，simulatingsleepforreasonsofhisown，whilethatsavagewomanofhiswasguardingthedoor—invisibleandsilentinthedarkanddesertedstreet。Wasallthissomesortofterrifyingarrangementinventedbythepoliceforhisespecialbenefit？Hismodestyshrankfromthatexplanation。

ButthetruesenseofthescenehewasbeholdingcametoOssiponthroughthecontemplationofthehat。Itseemedanextraordinarything，anominousobject，asign。Black，andrimupward，itlayonthefloorbeforethecouchasifpreparedtoreceivethecontributionsofpencefrompeoplewhowouldcomepresentlytobeholdMrVerlocinthefullnessofhisdomesticeasereposingonasofa。Fromthehattheeyesoftherobustanarchistwanderedtothedisplacedtable，gazedatthebrokendishforatime，receivedakindofopticalshockfromobservingawhitegleamundertheimperfectlyclosedeyelidsofthemanonthecouch。MrVerlocdidnotseemsomuchasleepnowaslyingdownwithabentheadandlookinginsistentlyathisleftbreast。AndwhenComradeOssiponhadmadeoutthehandleoftheknifeheturnedawayfromtheglazeddoor，andretchedviolently。

Thecrashofthestreetdoorflungtomadehisverysoulleapinapanic。

Thishousewithitsharmlesstenantcouldstillbemadeatrapof—atrapofaterriblekind。ComradeOssiponhadnosettledconceptionnowofwhatwashappeningtohim。Catchinghisthighagainsttheendofthecounter，hespunround，staggeredwithacryofpain，feltinthedistractingclatterofthebellhisarmspinnedtohissidebyaconvulsivehug，whilethecoldlipsofawomanmovedcreepilyonhisveryeartoformthewords:

`Policeman！Hehasseenme！’

Heceasedtostruggle;sheneverlethimgo。Herhandshadlockedthemselveswithaninseparabletwistoffingersonhisrobustback。Whilethefootstepsapproached，theybreathedquickly，breasttobreast，withhard，labouredbreaths，asiftheirshadbeentheattitudeofadeadlystruggle，while，infact，itwastheattitudeofdeadlyfear。Andthetimewaslong。

TheconstableonthebeathadintruthseensomethingofMrsVerloc;

onlycomingfromthelightedthoroughfareattheotherendofBrettStreet，shehadbeennomoretohimthanaflutterinthedarkness。Andhewasnotevenquitesurethattherehadbeenaflutter。Hehadnoreasontohurryup。Oncomingabreastoftheshopheobservedthatithadbeenclosedearly。Therewasnothingveryunusualinthat。Themanondutyhadspecialinstructionsaboutthatshop;whatwentonabouttherewasnottobemeddledwithunlessabsolutelydisorderly，butanyobservationsmadeweretobereported。Therewerenoobservationstomake;butfromasenseofdutyandforthepeaceofhisconscience，owingalsotothatdoubtfulflutterofthedarkness，theconstablecrossedtheroad，andtriedthedoor。Thespringlatch，whosekeywasreposingforeveroffdutyinthelateMrVerloc’swaistcoatpocket，heldaswellasusual。Whiletheconscientiousofficerwasshakingthehandle，Ossiponfeltthecoldlipsofthewomanstirringagaincreepilyagainsthisveryear:

`Ifhecomesinkillme—killme，Tom。’

Theconstablemovedaway，flashingashepassedthelightofhisdarklantern，merelyforform’ssake，attheshopwindow。Foramomentlongerthemanandthewomaninsidestoodmotionless，panting，breasttobreast;

thenherfingerscameunlocked，herarmsfellbyhersideslowly。Ossiponleanedagainstthecounter。Therobustanarchistwantedsupportbadly。

Thiswasawful。Hewasalmosttoodisgustedforspeech。Yethemanagedtoutteraplaintivethought，showingatleastthatherealizedhisposition。

`Onlyacoupleofminuteslaterandyou’dhavemademeblunderagainstthefellowpokingabout’herewithhisdamneddarklantern。

ThewidowofMrVerloc，motionlessinthemiddleoftheshop，saidinsistently:

`Goinandputthatlightout，Tom。Itwilldrivemecrazy。’

Shesawvaguelyhisvehementgestureofrefusal。NothingintheworldwouldhaveinducedOssipontogointotheparlour。Hewasnotsuperstitious，buttherewastoomuchbloodonthefloor;abeastlypoolofitallroundthehat。Hejudgedhehadbeenalreadytoonearthatcorpseforhispeaceofmind—forthesafetyofhisneck，perhaps！

`Atthemeterthen！There。Look。Inthatcorner。’

TherobustformofComradeOssipon，stridingbrusqueandshadowyacrosstheshop，squattedinacornerobediently;butthisobediencewaswithoutgrace。Hefumblednervously—andsuddenlyinthesoundofamutteredcursethelightbehindtheglazeddoorflickedouttoagasping，hystericalsighofawoman。Night，theinevitablerewardofmen’sfaithfullaboursonthisearth，nighthadfallenonMrVerloc，thetriedrevolutionist—`oneoftheoldlot’—thehumbleguardianofsociety;theinvaluablesecretagentAofBaronStott—Wartenheim’sdispatches;aservantoflawandorder，faithful，trusted，accurate，admirable，withperhapsonesingleamiableweakness:

theidealisticbeliefinbeinglovedforhimself。

Ossipongropedhiswaybackthroughthestuffyatmosphere，asblackasinknow，tothecounter。ThevoiceofMrsVerloc，standinginthemiddleoftheshop，vibratedafterhiminthatblacknesswithadesperateprotest。

`Iwillnotbehanged，Tom。Iwillnot——’

Shebrokeoff。Ossiponfromthecounterissuedawarning:`Don’tshoutlikethis，’thenseemedtoreflectprofoundly。`Youdidthisthingquitebyyourself？’heinquiredinahollowvoice，butwithanappearanceofmasterfulcalmnesswhichfilledMrsVerloc’sheartwithgratefulconfidenceinhisprotectingstrength。

`Yes，’shewhispered，invisible。

`Iwouldn’thavebelieveditpossible，’hemuttered。`Nobodywould。’

Sheheardhimmoveaboutandthesnappingofalockintheparlourdoor。

ComradeOssiponhadturnedthekeyonMrVerloc’srepose;andthishedidnotfromreverenceforitseternalnatureoranyotherobscurelysentimentalconsideration，butfortheprecisereasonthathewasnotatallsurethattherewasnotsomeoneelsehidingsomewhereinthehouse。Hedidnotbelievethewoman，orratherhewasincapablebynowofjudgingwhatcouldbetrue，possible，orevenprobableinthisastoundinguniverse。Hewasterrifiedoutofallcapacityforbeliefordisbeliefinregardtothisextraordinaryaffair，whichbeganwithpoliceinspectorsandEmbassiesandwouldendgoodnessknowswhere—onthescaffoldforsomeone。Hewasterrifiedatthethoughtthathecouldnotprovetheusehemadeofhistimeeversinceseveno’clock，forhehadbeenskulkingaboutBrettStreet。Hewasterrifiedatthissavagewomanwhohadbroughthiminthere，andwouldprobablysaddlehimwithcomplicity，atleastifhewerenotcareful。Hewasterrifiedattherapiditywithwhichhehadbeeninvolvedinsuchdanger—decoyedintoit。Itwassometwentyminutessincehehadmether—notmore。

ThevoiceofMrsVerlocrosesubdued，pleadingpiteously:`Don’tletthemhangme，Tom！Takemeoutofthecountry。I’llworkforyou。I’llslaveforyou。I’llloveyou。I’venooneintheworld……Whowouldlookatmeifyoudon’t！’Sheceasedforamoment;theninthedepthsofthelonelinessmaderoundherbyaninsignificantthreadofbloodtricklingoffthehandleofaknife，shefoundadreadfulinspirationtoher—whohadbeentherespectablegirloftheBelgravianmansion，theloyal，respectablewifeofMrVerloc。`Iwon’taskyoutomarryme，’shebreathedoutinshamefacedaccents。

Shemovedastepforwardinthedarkness。Hewasterrifiedather。Hewouldnothavebeensurprisedifshehadsuddenlyproducedanotherknifedestinedforhisbreast。Hecertainlywouldhavemadenoresistance。Hehadreallynotenoughfortitudeinhimjustthentotellhertokeepback。

Butheinquiredinacavernous，strangetone:`Washeasleep？’

`No，’shecried，andwentonrapidly:`Hewasn’t。Nothe。Hehadbeentellingmethatnothingcouldtouchhim。Aftertakingtheboyawayfromundermyveryeyestokillhim—theloving，innocent，harmlesslad。Myown，Itellyou。Hewaslyingonthecouchquiteeasy—afterkillingtheboy—myboy。Iwouldhavegoneonthestreetstogetoutofhissight。

Andhesaystomelikethis:`Comehere，’aftertellingmeIhadhelpedtokilltheboy。Youhear，Tom？Hesayslikethis:`Comehere，’aftertakingmyveryheartoutofmealongwiththeboytosmashinthedirt。’

Sheceased，thendreamilyrepeatedtwice:`Bloodanddirt。Bloodanddirt。’AgreatlightbrokeuponComradeOssipon。Itwasthathalf—wittedladthenwhohadperishedinthepark。Andthefoolingofeverybodyallroundappearedmorecompletethanever—colossal。Heexclaimedscientifically，intheextremityofhisastonishment:`Thedegenerate—byheavens！’

`Comehere。’ThevoiceofMrsVerlocroseagain。`WhatdidhethinkIwasmadeof？Tellme，Tom。Comehere！Me！Likethis！Ihadbeenlookingattheknife，andIthoughtIwouldcomethenifhewantedmesomuch。

Oh，yes！Icame—forthelasttime……Withtheknife。’

Hewasexcessivelyterrifiedather—thesisterofthedegenerate—

adegenerateherselfofamurderingtype……orelseofthelyingtype。

ComradeOssiponmighthavebeensaidtobeterrifiedscientificallyinadditiontoallotherkindsoffear。Itwasanimmeasurableandcompositefunk，whichfromitsveryexcessgavehiminthedarkafalseappearanceofcalmandthoughtfuldeliberation。Forhemovedandspokewithdifficulty，beingasifhalffrozeninhiswillandmind—andnoonecouldseehisghastlyface。Hefelthalfdead。

Heleapedafoothigh。UnexpectedlyMrsVerlochaddesecratedtheunbroken，reserveddecencyofherhomebyashrillandterribleshriek。

`Help，Tom！Saveme。Iwon’tbehanged！’

Herushedforward，gropingforhermouthwithasilencinghand，andtheshriekdiedout。Butinhisrushhehadknockedherover。Hefelthernowclingingroundhislegs，andhisterrorreacheditsculminatingpoint，becameasortofintoxication，entertaineddelusions，acquiredthecharacteristicsofdeliriumtremens。Hepositivelysawsnakesnow。Hesawthewomantwinedroundhimlikeasnake，nottobeshakenoff。Shewasnotdeadly。Shewasdeathitself—thecompanionoflife。

MrsVerloc，asifrelievedbytheoutburst，wasveryfarfrombehavingnoisilynow。Shewaspitiful。

`Tom，youcan’tthrowmeoffnow，’shemurmuredfromthefloor。`Notunlessyoucrushmyheadunderyourheel。Iwon’tleaveyou。’

`Getup，’saidOssipon。

Hisfacewassopaleastobequitevisibleintheprofoundblackdarknessoftheshop;whileMrsVerloc，veiled，hadnoface，almostnodiscernibleform。Thetremblingofsomethingsmallandwhite，aflowerinherhat，markedherplace，hermovements。

Itroseintheblackness。Shehadgotupfromthefloor，andOssiponregrettednothavingrunoutatonceintothestreet。Butheperceivedeasilythatitwouldnotdo。Itwouldnotdo。Shewouldrunafterhim。

Shewouldpursuehimshriekingtillshesenteverypolicemanwithinhearinginchase。Andthengoodnessonlyknewwhatshewouldsayofhim。Hewassofrightenedthatforamomenttheinsanenotionofstranglingherinthedarkpassedthroughhismind。Andhebecamemorefrightenedthanever！

Shehadhim。HesawhimselflivinginabjectterrorinsomeobscurehamletinSpainorItaly;tillsomefinemorningtheyfoundhimdead，too，withaknifeinhisbreast—likeMrVerloc。Hesigheddeeply。Hedarednotmove。AndMrsVerlocwaitedinsilencethegoodpleasureofhersaviour，derivingcomfortfromhisreflectivesilence。

Suddenlyhespokeupinanalmostnaturalvoice。Hisreflectionshadcometoanend。

`Let’sgetout，orwewilllosethetrain。’

`Wherearewegoingto，Tom？’sheasked，timidly。MrsVerlocwasnolongerafreewoman。

`Let’sgettoParisfirst，thebestwaywecan……Gooutfirst，andseeiftheway’sclear。’

Sheobeyed。Hervoicecamesubduedthroughthecautiouslyopeneddoor。

`It’sallright。’

Ossiponcameout。Notwithstandinghisendeavourstobegentle，thecrackedbellclatteredbehindthecloseddoorintheemptyshop，asiftryinginvaintowarnthereposingMrVerlocofthefinaldepartureofhiswife—accompaniedbyhisfriend。

Inthehansomtheypresentlypickedup，therobustanarchistbecameexplanatory。Hewasstillawfullypale，witheyesthatseemedtohavesunkawholehalf—inchintohistenseface。Butheseemedtohavethoughtofeverythingwithextraordinarymethod。

`Whenwearrive，’hediscoursedinaqueer，monotonoustone，`youmustgointothestationaheadofme，asifwedidnotknoweachother。Iwilltakethetickets，andslipyoursintoyourhandasIpassyou。Thenyouwillgointothefirst—classladies’waiting—room，andsittheretilltenminutesbeforethetrainstarts。Thenyoucomeout。Iwillbeoutside。

Yougoinfirstontheplatform，asifyoudidnotknowme。Theremaybeeyeswatchingtherethatknowwhat’swhat。Aloneyouareonlyawomangoingoffbytrain。Iamknown。Withme，youmaybeguessedatasMrsVerlocrunningaway。Doyouunderstand，mydear？’headdedwithaneffort。

`Yes，’saidMrsVerloc，sittingthereagainsthiminthehansomallrigidwiththedreadofthegallowsandthefearofdeath。`Yes，Tom。Andsheaddedtoherself，likeanawfulrefrain:`Thedropgivenwasfourteenfeet。’

Ossipon，notlookingather，andwithafacelikeafreshplastercastofhimselfafterawastingillness，said:`By—the—by，Ioughttohavethemoneyfortheticketsnow。’

MrsVerloc，undoingsomehooksofherbodice，whileshewentonstaringaheadbeyondthesplashboard，handedovertohimthenewpigskinpocket—book。

Hereceiveditwithoutaword，andseemedtoplungeitdeepsomewhereintohisverybreast。Thenheslappedhiscoatontheoutside。

Allthiswasdonewithouttheexchangeofasingleglance;theywereliketwopeoplelookingoutforthefirstsightofadesiredgoal。ItwasnottillthehansomswungroundacornerandtowardsthebridgethatOssiponopenedhislipsagain。