第9章

Nowork，nopay。’

MrVerlocfeltaqueersensationoffaintnessinhisstoutlegs。Hesteppedbackonepace，andblewhisnoseloudly。

Hewas，intruth，startledandalarmed。TherustyLondonsunshinestrugglingclearoftheLondonmistshedalukewarmbrightnessintotheFirstSecretary’sprivateroom:andinthesilenceMrVerlocheardagainstawindow—panethefaintbuzzingofafly—hisfirstflyoftheyear—heraldingbetterthananynumberofswallowstheapproachofspring。Theuselessfussingofthattiny，energeticorganismaffectedunpleasantlythisbigmanthreatenedinhisindolence。

InthepauseMrVladimirformulatedinhismindaseriesofdisparagingremarksconcerningMrVerloc’sfaceandfigure。Thefellowwasunexpectedlyvulgar，heavy，andimpudentlyunintelligent。

Helookeduncommonlylikeamasterplumbercometopresenthisbill。TheFirstSecretaryoftheEmbassy，fromhisoccasionalexcursionsintothefieldofAmericanhumour，hadformedaspecialnotionofthatclassofmechanicastheembodimentoffraudulentlazinessandincompetency。

Thiswasthenthefamousandtrustysecretagent，sosecretthathewasneverdesignatedotherwisebutbythesymbolDinthelateBaronStott—Wartenheim’sofficial，semi—official，andconfidentialcorrespondence;thecelebratedagentDwhosewarningshadthepowertochangetheschemesandthedatesofroyal，imperial，grand—ducaljourneys，andsometimescausethemtobeputoffaltogether！Thisfellow！

AndMrVladimirindulgedmentallyinanenormousandderisivefitofmerriment，partlyathisownastonishment，whichhejudgednaive，butmostlyattheexpenseoftheuniversallyregrettedBaronStott—Wartenheim。HislateExcellency，whomtheaugustfavourofhisImperialmasterhadimposedasAmbassadoruponseveralreluctantMinistersofForeignAffairs，hadenjoyedinhislifetimeafameforanowlish，pessimisticgullibility。HisExcellencyhadthesocialrevolutiononthebrain。Heimaginedhimselftobeadiplomatistsetapartbyaspecialdispensationtowatchtheendofdiplomacy，andprettynearlytheendoftheworld，inahorrid，democraticupheaval。HispropheticanddolefuldispatcheshadbeenforyearsthejokeofForeignOffices。Hewassaidtohaveexclaimedonhisdeath—bed（visitedbyhisImperialfriendandmaster）:`UnhappyEurope！Thoushaltperishbythemoralinsanityofthychildren！’Hewasfatedtobethevictimofthefirsthumbuggingrascalthatcamealong，thoughtMrVladimir，smilingvaguelyatMrVerloc。

`YououghttoveneratethememoryofBaronStott—Wartenheim，’heexclaimed，suddenly。

TheloweredphysiognomyofMrVerlocexpressedasombreandwearyannoyance。

`Permitmetoobservetoyou，’hesaid，`thatIcameherebecauseI

wassummonedbyaperemptoryletter。Ihavebeenhereonlytwicebeforeinthelastelevenyears，andcertainlyneverateleveninthemorning。

Itisn’tverywisetocallmeuplikethis。Thereisjustachanceofbeingseen。Andthatwouldbenojokeforme。’

MrVladimirshruggedhisshoulders。

`Itwoulddestroymyusefulness，’continuedtheotherhotly。

`That’syouraffair，’murmuredMrVladimir，withsoftbrutality。`Whenyouceasetobeusefulyoushallceasetobeemployed。Yes。Rightoff。

Cutshort。Youshall——’MrVladimir，frowning，paused，atalossforasufficientlyidiomaticexpression，andinstantlybrightenedup，withagrinofbeautifullywhiteteeth。`Youshallbechucked，’hebroughtout，ferociously。

OncemoreMrVerlochadtoreactwithalltheforceofhiswillagainstthatsensationoffaintnessrunningdownone’slegswhichonceuponatimehadinspiredsomepoordevilwiththefelicitousexpression:`Myheartwentdownintomyboots。’MrVerloc，awareofthesensation，raisedhisheadbravely。

MrVladimirborethelookofheavyinquirywithperfectserenity。

`WhatwewantistoadministeratonictotheConferenceinMilan，hesaid，airily。`Itsdeliberationsuponinternationalactionforthesuppressionofpoliticalcrimedon’tseemtogetanywhere。Englandlags。Thiscountryisabsurdwithitssentimentalregardforindividualliberty。It’sintolerabletothinkthatallyourfriendshavegotonlytocomeoverto——’

`InthatwayIhavethemallundermyeye，’MrVerlocinterrupted，huskily。

`Itwouldbemuchmoretothepointtohavethemallunderlockandkey。Englandmustbebroughtintoline。Theimbecilebourgeoisieofthiscountrymakethemselvestheaccomplicesoftheverypeoplewhoseaimistodrivethemoutoftheirhousestostarveinditches。Andtheyhavethepoliticalpowerstill，iftheyonlyhadthesensetouseitfortheirpreservation。

Isupposeyouagreethatthemiddleclassesarestupid？’

MrVerlocagreedhoarsely。`Theyare。’

`Theyhavenoimagination。Theyareblindedbyanidioticvanity。Whattheywantjustnowisajollygoodscare。Thisisthepsychologicalmomenttosetyourfriendstowork。Ihavehadyoucalledheretodeveloptoyoumyidea。’

AndMrVladimirdevelopedhisideafromonhigh，withscornandcondescension，displayingatthesametimeanamountofignoranceastotherealaims，thoughts，andmethodsoftherevolutionaryworldwhichfilledthesilentMrVerlocwithinwardconsternation。Heconfoundedcauseswitheffectsmorethanwasexcusable;themostdistinguishedpropagandistswithimpulsivebombthrowers;assumedorganizationwhereinthenatureofthingsitcouldnotexist;spokeofthesocialrevolutionarypartyonemomentasofaperfectlydisciplinedarmy，wherethewordofchiefswassupreme，andatanotherasifithadbeentheloosestassociationofdesperatebrigandsthatevercampedinamountaingorge。OnceMrVerlochadopenedhismouthforaprotest，buttheraisingofashapely，largewhitehandarrestedhim。Verysoonhebecametooappalledtoeventrytoprotest。Helistenedinastillnessofdreadwhichresembledtheimmobilityofprofoundattention。

`Aseriesofoutrages，’MrVladimircontinued，calmly，`executedhereinthiscountry;notonlyplannedhere—thatwouldnotdo—theywouldnotmind。YourfriendscouldsethalftheContinentonfirewithoutinfluencingthepublicopinionhereinfavourofauniversalrepressivelegislation。Theywillnotlookoutsidetheirbackyardhere。’

MrVerlocclearedhisthroat，buthisheartfailedhim，andhesaidnothing。

`Theseoutragesneednotbeespeciallysanguinary，’MrVladimirwenton，asifdeliveringascientificlecture，`buttheymustsufficientlystartling—effective。Letthembedirectedagainstbuildings，forinstance。

Whatisthefetishofthehourthatallthebourgeoisierecognize—eh，MrVerloc？’

MrVerlocopenedhishandsandshruggedhisshouldersslightly。

`Youaretoolazytothink，’wasMrVladimir’scommentuponthatgesture。

`PayattentiontowhatIsay。Thefetishoftodayisneitherroyaltynorreligion。Thereforethepalaceandthechurchshouldbeleftalone。YouunderstandwhatImean，MrVerloc？’

ThedismayandthescornofMrVerlocfoundventinanattemptatlevity。

`Perfectly。ButwhatoftheEmbassies？AseriesofattacksonthevariousEmbassies，’hebegan;buthecouldnotwithstandthecold，watchfulstareoftheFirstSecretary。

`Youcanbefacetious，Isee，’thelatterobserved，carelessly。`That’sallright。Itmayenlivenyouroratoryatsocialisticcongresses。Butthisroomisnoplaceforit。ItwouldbeinfinitelysaferforyoutofollowcarefullywhatIamsaying。Asyouarebeingcalledupontofurnishfactsinsteadofcock—and—bullstories，youhadbettertrytomakeyourprofitoffwhatIamtakingthetroubletoexplaintoyou。Thesacrosanctfetishoftodayisscience。Whydon’tyougetsomeofyourfriendstogoforthatwooden—facedpanjandrum—eh？IsitnotpartoftheseinstitutionswhichmustbesweptawaybeforetheF。P。comesalong？’

MrVerlocsaidnothing。Hewasafraidtoopenhislipslestagroanshouldescapehim。

`Thisiswhatyoushouldtryfor。Anattemptuponacrownedheadoronapresidentissensationalenoughinaway，butnotsomuchasitusedtobe。Ithasenteredintothegeneralconceptionoftheexistenceofallchiefsofstate。It’salmostconventional—especiallysincesomanypresidentshavebeenassassinated。Nowletustakeanoutrageupon—say，achurch。

Horribleenoughatfirstsight，nodoubt，andyetnotsoeffectiveasapersonofanordinarymindmightthink。Nomatterhowrevolutionaryandanarchistininception，therewouldbefoolsenoughtogivesuchanoutragethecharacterofareligiousmanifestation。Andthatwoulddetractfromtheespecialalarmingsignificancewewishtogivetotheact。Amurderousattemptonarestaurantoratheatrewouldsufferinthesamewayfromthesuggestionofnon—politicalpassion;theexasperationofahungryman，anactofsocialrevenge。Allthisisusedup;itisnolongerinstructiveasanobjectlessoninrevolutionaryanarchism。Everynewspaperhasready—madephrasestoexplainsuchmanifestationsaway。Iamabouttogiveyouthephilosophyofbombthrowingfrommypointofview;fromthepointofviewyoupretendtohavebeenservingforthelastelevenyears。Iwilltrynottotalkaboveyourhead。Thesensibilitiesoftheclassyouareattackingaresoonblunted。Propertyseemstothemanindestructiblething。Youcan’tcountupontheiremotionseitherofpityorfearforverylong。Abomboutragetohaveanyinfluenceonpublicopinionnowmustgobeyondtheintentionofvengeanceorterrorism。Itmustbepurelydestructive。Itmustbethat，andonlythat，beyondthefaintestsuspicionofanyotherobject。Youanarchistsshouldmakeitclearthatyouareperfectlydeterminedtomakeacleansweepofthewholesocialcreation。Buthowtogetthatappallinglyabsurdnotionintotheheadsofthemiddleclassessothatthereshouldbenomistake？That’sthequestion。Bydirectingyourblowsatsomethingoutsidetheordinarypassionsofhumanityistheanswer。Ofcourse，thereisart。AbombintheNationalGallerywouldmakesomenoise。

Butitwouldnotbeseriousenough。Arthasneverbeentheirfetish。It’slikebreakingafewbackwindowsinaman’shouse;whereas，ifyouwanttomakehimreallysitup，youmusttryatleasttoraisetheroof。Therewouldbesomescreamingofcourse，butfromwhom？Artists—artcriticsandsuchlike—peopleofnoaccount。Nobodymindswhattheysay。Butthereislearning—science。Anyimbecilethathasgotanincomebelievesinthat。Hedoesnotknowwhy，buthebelievesitmatterssomehow。Itisthesacrosanctfetish。Allthedamnedprofessorsareradicalsatheart。Letthemknowthattheirgreatpanjandrumhasgottogo，too，tomakeroomfortheFutureoftheProletariat。AhowlfromalltheseintellectualidiotsisboundtohelpforwardthelaboursoftheMilanConference。Theywillbewritingtothepapers。Theirindignationwouldbeabovesuspicion，nomaterialinterestsbeingopenlyatstake，anditwillalarmeveryselfishnessoftheclasswhichshouldbeimpressed。Theybelievethatinsomemysteriouswayscienceisatthesourceoftheirmaterialprosperity。Theydo。Andtheabsurdferocityofsuchademonstrationwillaffectthemmoreprofoundlythanthemanglingofawholestreet—ortheatre—fulloftheirownkind。

Tothatlasttheycanalwayssay:"Oh！it’smereclasshate。"Butwhatisonetosaytoanactofdestructiveferocitysoabsurdastobeincomprehensible，inexplicable，almostunthinkable;infact，mad？Madnessaloneistrulyterrifying，inasmuchasyoucannotplacateiteitherbythreats，persuasion，orbribes。Moreover，Iamacivilizedman。Iwouldneverdreamofdirectingyoutoorganizeamerebutchery，evenifIexpectedthebestresultsfromit。ButIwouldn’texpectfromabutcherytheresultIwant。Murderisalwayswithus。Itisalmostaninstitution。Thedemonstrationmustbeagainstlearning—science。Butnoteverysciencewilldo。Theattackmusthavealltheshockingsenselessnessofgratuitousblasphemy。Sincebombsareyourmeansofexpression，itwouldbereallytellingifonecouldthrowabombintopuremathematics。Butthatisimpossible。Ihavebeentryingtoeducateyou;Ihaveexpoundedtoyouthehigherphilosophyofyourusefulness，andsuggestedtoyousomeserviceablearguments。Thepracticalapplicationofmyteachinginterestsyoumostly。ButfromthemomentIhaveundertakentointerviewyouIhavealsogivensomeattentiontothepracticalaspectofthequestion。Whatdoyouthinkofhavingagoatastronomy？’

ForsometimealreadyMrVerloc’simmobilitybythesideofthearmchairresembledastateofcollapsedcoma—asortofpassiveinsensibilityinterruptedbyslightconvulsivestarts，suchasmaybeobservedinthedomesticdoghavinganightmareonthehearthrug。Anditwasinanuneasy，doglikegrowlthatherepeatedtheword:

`Astronomy。’

HehadnotrecoveredthoroughlyasyetfromthestateofbewildermentbroughtaboutbytheefforttofollowMrVladimir’srapid，incisiveutterance。

Ithadovercomehispowerofassimilation。Ithadmadehimangry。Thisangerwascomplicatedbyincredulity。Andsuddenlyitdawneduponhimthatallthiswasanelaboratejoke。MrVladimirexhibitedhiswhiteteethinasmile，withdimplesonhisround，fullfaceposedwithacomplacentinclinationabovethebristlingbowofhisnecktie。Thefavouriteofintelligentsocietywomenhadassumedhisdrawing—roomattitudeaccompanyingthedeliveryofdelicatewitticisms。Sittingwellforward，hiswhitehandupraised，heseemedtoholddelicatelybetweenhisthumbandforefingerthesubtletyofhissuggestion。

`Therecouldbenothingbetter。Suchanoutragecombinesthegreatestpossibleregardforhumanitywiththemostalarmingdisplayofferociousimbecility。Idefytheingenuityofjournaliststopersuadetheirpublicthatanygivenmemberoftheproletariatcanhaveapersonalgrievanceagainstastronomy。Starvationitselfcouldhardlybedraggedinthere—

eh？Andthereareotheradvantages。ThewholecivilizedworldhasheardofGreenwich。TheverybootblacksinthebasementofCharingCrossStationknowsomethingofit。See？’

ThefeaturesofMrVladimir，sowellknowninthebestsocietybytheirhumorousurbanity，beamedwithcynicalself—satisfaction，whichwouldhaveastonishedtheintelligentwomenhiswitentertainedsoexquisitely。`Yes，’

hecontinued，withacontemptuoussmile，`theblowingupofthefirstmeridianisboundtoraiseahowlofexecration。’

`Adifficultbusiness，’MrVerlocmumbled，feelingthatthiswastheonlysafethingtosay。

`Whatisthematter？Haven’tyouthewholegangunderyourhand？Theverypickofthebasket？ThatoldterroristYundtishere。IseehimwalkingaboutPiccadillyinhisgreenhavelockalmosteveryday。AndMichaelis，theticket—of—leaveapostle—youdon’tmeantosayyoudon’tknowwhereheis？Becauseifyoudon’t，Icantellyou，’MrVladimirwentonmenacingly。

`Ifyouimaginethatyouaretheonlyoneinthesecretfundlist，youaremistaken。’

ThisperfectlygratuitoussuggestioncausedMrVerloctoshufflehisfeetslightly。

`AndthewholeLausannelot—eh？Haven’ttheybeenflockingoverhereatthefirsthintoftheMilanConference？Thisisanabsurdcountry。’

`Itwillcostmoney，’MrVerlocsaid，byasortofinstinct。

`Thatcockwon’tfight，’MrVladimirretorted，withanamazinglygenuineEnglishaccent。`You’llgetyourscreweverymonth，andnomoretillsomethinghappens。Andifnothinghappensverysoonyouwon’tgeteventhat。What’syourostensibleoccupation？Whatareyousupposedtoliveby？’

`Ikeepashop，’answeredMrVerloc。`Ashop！Whatsortofshop？’`Stationery，newspapers。Mywife——’

`Yourwhat？’interruptedMrVladimirinhisgutturalCentralAsiantones。

`Mywife。’MrVerlocraisedhishuskyvoiceslightly。`Iammarried。’

`Thatbedamnedforayarn，’exclaimedtheotherinunfeignedastonishment。

`Married！Andyouaprofessedanarchist，too！Whatisthisconfoundednonsense？

ButIsupposeit’smerelyamannerofspeaking。Anarchistsdon’tmarry。

It’swellknown。Theycan’t。Itwouldbeapostasy。

`Mywifeisn’tone，’MrVerlocmumbled，sulkily。`Moreover，it’snoconcernofyours。’

`Oh，yes，itis，’snappedMrVladimir。`Iambeginningtobeconvincedthatyouarenotatallthemanfortheworkyou’vebeenemployedon。Why，youmusthavediscreditedyourselfcompletelyinyourownworldbyyourmarriage。Couldn’tyouhavemanagedwithout？Thisisyourvirtuousattachment—eh？Whatwithonesortofattachmentandanotheryouaredoingawaywithyourusefulness。’

MrVerloc，puffingouthischeeks，lettheairescapeviolently，andthatwasall。Hehadarmedhimselfwithpatience。Itwasnottobetriedmuchlonger。TheFirstSecretarybecamesuddenlyverycurt，detached，final。

`Youmaygonow，’hesaid。`Adynamiteoutragemustbeprovoked。Igiveyouamonth。ThesittingsoftheConferencearesuspended。Beforeitreassemblesagainsomethingmusthavehappenedhere，oryourconnectionwithusceases。’

Hechangedthenoteoncemorewithanunprincipledversatility。

`Thinkovermyphilosophy，Mr—Mr—Verloc，’hesaid，withasortofchaffingcondescension，wavinghishandtowardsthedoor。`Goforthefirstmeridian。Youdon’tknowthemiddleclassesaswellasIdo。Theirsensibilitiesarejaded。Thefirstmeridian。Nothingbetter，andnothingeasier，Ishouldthink。’

Hehadgotup，andwithhisthinsensitivelipstwitchinghumorously，watchedintheglassoverthemantelpieceMrVerlocbackingoutoftheroomheavily，hatandstickinhand。Thedoorclosed。

Thefootmanintrousers，appearingsuddenlyinthecorridor，ledMrVerlocanotherwayoutandthroughasmalldoorinthecornerofthecourtyard。

Theporterstandingatthegateignoredhisexitcompletely;andMrVerlocretracedthepathofhismorning’spilgrimageasifinadream—anangrydream。Thisdetachmentfromthematerialworldwassocompletethat，thoughthemortalenvelopeofMrVerlochadnothastenedundulyalongthestreets，thatpartofhimtowhichitwouldbeunwarrantablyrudetorefuseimmortality，founditselfattheshopdoorallatonce，asbornefromwesttoeastonthewingsofagreatwind。Hewalkedstraightbehindthecounter，andsatdownonawoodenchairthatstoodthere。Nooneappearedtodisturbhissolitude。Stevie，putintoagreenbaizeapron，wasnowsweepinganddustingupstairs，intentandconscientious，asthoughhewereplayingatit;andMrsVerloc，warnedinthekitchenbytheclatterofthecrackedbell，hadmerelycometotheglazeddooroftheparlour，andputtingthecurtainasidealittle，hadpeeredintothedimshop。Seeingherhusbandsittingthereshadowyandbulky，withhishattiltedfarbackonhishead，shehadatoncereturnedtoherstove。

AnhourormorelatershetookthegreenbaizeapronoffherbrotherStevie，andinstructedhimtowashhishandsandfaceintheperemptorytoneshehadusedinthatconnectionforfifteenyearsorso—eversinceshehad，infact，ceasedtoattendtotheboy’shandsandfaceherself。

Shesparedpresentlyaglanceawayfromherdishing—upfortheinspectionofthatfaceandthosehandswhichStevie，approachingthekitchentable，offeredforherapprovalwithanairofself—assurancehidingaperpetualresidueofanxiety。Formerlytheangerofthefatherwasthesupremelyeffectivesanctionoftheserites，butMrVerloc’splacidityindomesticlifewouldhavemadeallmentionofangerincredible—eventopoorStevie’snervousness。ThetheorywasthatMrVerlocwouldhavebeeninexpressiblypainedandshockedbyanydeficiencyofcleanlinessatmealtimes。WinnieafterthedeathofherfatherfoundconsiderableconsolationinthefeelingthatsheneednolongertrembleforpoorStevie。Shecouldnotbeartoseetheboyhurt。Itmaddenedher。Asalittlegirlshehadoftenfacedwithblazingeyestheirasciblelicensedvictuallerindefenceofherbrother。

NothingnowinMrsVerloc’sappearancecouldleadonetosupposethatshewascapableofapassionatedemonstration。

Shefinishedherdishing—up。Thetablewaslaidintheparlour。Goingtothefootofthestairsshescreamedout`Mother！’Thenopeningtheglazeddoorleadingtotheshop，`Adolf！’MrVerlochadnotchangedhisposition;

hehadnotapparentlystirredalimbforanhourandahalf。Hegotupheavily，andcametohisdinnerinhisovercoatandwithhishaton，withoututteringaword。Hissilenceinitselfhadnothingstartlinglyunusualinthishousehold，hiddenintheshadesofthesordidstreetseldomtouchedbythesun，behindthedimshopwithitswaresofdisreputablerubbish。

OnlythatdayMrVerloc’staciturnitywassoobviouslythoughtfulthatthetwowomenwereimpressedbyit。Theysatsilentthemselves，keepingawatchfuleyeonpoorStevie，lestheshouldbreakoutintooneofhisfitsofloquacity。HefacedMrVerlocacrossthetable，andremainedverygoodandquiet，staringvacantly。Theendeavourtokeephimfrommakinghimselfobjectionableinanywaytothemasterofthehouseputnoinconsiderableanxietyintothesetwowomen’slives。`Theboy，’astheyalludedtohimsoftlybetweenthemselves，hadbeenasourceofthatsortofanxietyalmostfromtheverydayofhisbirth。Thelatelicensedvictualler’shumiliationathavingsuchaverypeculiarboyforasonmanifesteditselfbyapropensitytobrutaltreatment;forhewasapersonoffinesensibilities，andhissufferingsasamanandafatherwereperfectlygenuine。AfterwardsSteviehadtobekeptfrommakinghimselfanuisancetothesinglegentlemenlodgers，whoarethemselvesaqueerlot，andareeasilyaggrieved。Andtherewasalwaystheanxietyofhismereexistencetoface。Visionsofaworkhouseinfirmaryforherchildhadhauntedtheoldwomaninthebasementbreakfast—roomofthedecayedBelgravianhouse。`Ifyouhadnetfoundsuchagoodhusband，mydear，’sheusedtosaytoherdaughter，`Idon’tknowwhatwouldhavebecomeofthatpoorboy。

MrVerlocextendedasmuchrecognitiontoStevieasamannotparticularlyfondofanimalsmaygivetohiswife’sbelovedcat;andthisrecognition，benevolentandperfunctory，wasessentiallyofthesamequality。Bothwomenadmittedtothemselvesthatnotmuchmorecouldbereasonablyexpected。

ItwasenoughtoearnforMrVerloctheoldwoman’sreverentialgratitude。

Intheearlydays，madescepticalbythetrialsoffriendlesslife，sheusedsometimestoaskanxiously:`Youdon’tthink，mydear，thatMrVerlocisgettingtiredofseeingStevieabout？’TothisWinnierepliedhabituallybyaslighttossofherhead。Once，however，sheretorted，witharathergrimpertness:`He’llhavetogettiredofmefirst。’Alongsilenceensued。

Themother，withherfeetproppeduponastool，seemedtobetryingtogettothebottomofthatanswer，whosefeminineprofundityhadstruckherallofaheap。ShehadneverreallyunderstoodwhyWinniehadmarriedMrVerloc。Itwasverysensibleofher，andevidentlyhadturnedoutforthebest，butthegirlmighthavenaturallyhopedtofindsomebodyofamoresuitableage。Therehadbeenasteadyyoungfellow，onlysonofabutcherinthenextstreet，helpinghisfatherinbusiness，withwhomWinniehadbeenwalkingoutwithobviousgusto。Hewasdependentonhisfather，itistrue;butthebusinesswasgood，andhisprospectsexcellent。Hetookhergirltothetheatreonseveralevenings。Thenjustasshebegantodreadtohearoftheirengagement（forwhatcouldshehavedonewiththatbighousealone，withStevieonherhands），thatromancecametoanabruptend，andWinniewentaboutlookingverydull。ButMrVerloc，turningupprovidentiallytooccupythefirst—floorfrontbedroom，therehadbeennomorequestionoftheyoungbutcher。Itwasclearlyprovidential。

CONRAD:TheSecretAgent，Chapter3CHAPTER3

`……Allidealizationmakeslifepoorer。Tobeautifyitistotakeawayitscharacterofcomplexity—itistodestroyit。Leavethattothemoralists，myboy。Historyismadebymen，buttheydonotmakeitintheirheads。Theideasthatarebornintheirconsciousnessplayaninsignificantpartinthemarchofevents。Historyisdominatedanddeterminedbythetoolandtheproduction—bytheforceofeconomicconditions。Capitalismhasmadesocialism，andthelawsmadebythecapitalistfortheprotectionofpropertyareresponsibleforanarchism。Noonecantellwhatformthesocialorganizationmaytakeinthefuture。Thenwhyindulgeinpropheticphantasies？Atbesttheycanonlyinterpretthemindoftheprophet，andcanhavenoobjectivevalue。Leavethatpastimetothemoralists，myboy。’

Michaelis，theticket—of—leaveapostle，wasspeakinginanevenvoice，avoicethatwheezedasifdeadenedandoppressedbythelayeroffatonhischest。Hehadcomeoutofahighlyhygienicprisonroundlikeatub，withanenormousstomachanddistendedcheeksofapale，semi—transparentcomplexion，asthoughforfifteenyearstheservantsofanoutragedsocietyhadmadeapointofstuffinghimwithfatteningfoodsinadampandlightlesscellar。Andeversincehehadnevermanagedtogethisweightdownasmuchasanounce。

ItwassaidthatforthreeseasonsrunningaverywealthyoldladyhadsenthimforacuretoMarienbad—wherehewasabouttosharethepubliccuriosityoncewithacrownedhead—butthepoliceonthatoccasionorderedhimtoleavewithintwelvehours。Hismartyrdomwascontinuedbyforbiddinghimallaccesstothehealingwaters。Buthewasresignednowasmuchasanounce。

ItwassaidthatforthreeseasonsrunningaverywealthyoldladyhadsenthimforacuretoMarienbad—wherehewasabouttosharethepubliccuriosityoncewithacrownedhead—butthepoliceonthatoccasionorderedhimtoleavewithintwelvemonths。Hismartyrdomwascontinuedbyforbiddinghimallaccesstothehealingwaters。Buthewasresignednow。

Withhiselbowpresentingnoappearanceofajoint，butmorelikeabendinadummy’slimb，thrownoverthebackofachair，heleanedforwardslightlyoverhisshortandenormousthighstospitintothegrate。

`Yes！Ihadthetimetothinkthingsoutalittle，’headdedwithoutemphasis。`Societyhasgivenmeplentyoftimeformeditation。’

Ontheothersideofthefireplace，inthehorse—hairarmchairwhereMrsVerloc’smotherwasgenerallyprivilegedtosit，KarlYundtgiggledgrimly，withafaintblackgrimaceofatoothlessmouth。Theterrorist，ashecalledhimself，wasoldandbald，withanarrow，snow—whitewispofagoateehanginglimplyfromhischin。Anextraordinaryexpressionofunderhandmalevolencesurvivedinhisextinguishedeyes。Whenherosepainfullythethrustingforwardofaskinnygropinghanddeformedbygoutyswellingssuggestedtheeffortofamoribundmurderersummoningallhisremainingstrengthforalaststab。Heleanedonathickstick，whichtrembledunderhisotherhand。`Ihavealwaysdreamed，’hemouthed，fiercely，`ofabandofmenabsoluteintheirresolvetodiscardallscruplesinthechoiceofmeans，strongenoughtogivethemselvesfranklythenameofdestroyers，andfreefromthetaintofthatresignedpessimismwhichrotstheworld。

Nopityforanythingonearth，includingthemselves，anddeathenlistedforgoodandallintheserviceofhumanity—that’swhatIwouldhavelikedtosee。

Hislittlebaldheadquivered，impartingacomicalvibrationtothewispofwhitegoatee。Hisenunciationwouldhavebeenalmosttotallyunintelligibletoastranger。Hisworn—outpassion，resemblinginitsimpotentfiercenesstheexcitementofasenilesensualist，wasbadlyservedbyadriedthroatandtoothlessgumswhichseemedtocatchthetipofhistongue。MrVerloc，establishedinthecornerofthesofaattheotherendoftheroom，emittedtwoheartygruntsofassent。

Theoldterroristturnedslowlyhisheadonhisskinnyneckfromsidetoside。

`AndIcouldnevergetasmanyasthreesuchmentogether。Somuchforyourrottenpessimism，’hesnarledatMichaelis，whouncrossedhisthicklegssimilartobolsters，andslidhisfeetabruptlyunderhischairinsignofexasperation。

Heapessimist！Preposterous！Hecriedoutthatthechargewasoutrageous。

Hewassofarfrompessimismthathesawalreadytheendofallprivatepropertycomingalonglogically，unavoidably，bythemeredevelopmentofitsinherentviciousness。Thepossessorsofpropertyhadnotonlytofacetheawakenedproletariat，buttheyhadalsotofightamongstthemselves。

Yes。Struggle，warfare，wastheconditionofprivateownership。Itwasfatal。Ah！hedidnotdependuponemotionalexcitementtokeepuphisbelief，nodeclamations，noanger，novisionsofblood—redflagswaving，ormetaphoricalluridsunsofvengeancerisingabovethehorizonofadoomedsociety。Nothe！Coldreason，heboasted，wasthebasisofhisoptimism。Yesoptimism——

Hislaboriouswheezingstopped，then，afteragasportwo，headded:

`Don’tyouthinkthat，ifIhadnotbeentheoptimistIam，Icouldnothavefoundinfifteenyearssomemeanstocutmythroat？And，inthelastinstance，therewerealwaysthewallsofmycelltodashmyheadagainst。’

Theshortnessofbreathtookallfire，allanimationoutofhisvoice;