第13章

`Allthisisgoodtofrightenchildrenwith，’hesaid。`I’llhaveyouyet。’

Itwasverywellsaid，withoutscorn，withanalmostausterequietness。

`Doubtless，’wastheanswer;`butthere’snotimelikethepresent，believeme。Foramanofrealconvictionsthisisafineopportunityofself—sacrifice。Youmaynotfindanothersofavourable，sohumane。Thereisn’tevenacathearus，andthesecondemnedoldhouseswouldmakeagoodheapofbrickswhereyoustand。You’llnevergetmeatsolittlecosttolifeandproperty，whichyouarepaidtoprotect。’

`Youdon’tknowwhoyou’respeakingto，’saidChiefInspectorHeat，firmly。`IfIweretolaymyhandsonyounowIwouldbenobetterthanyourself。’

`Ah！Thegame！’

`Youmaybesureoursidewillwinintheend。Itmayyetbenecessarytomakepeoplebelievethatsomeofyououghttobeshotatsightlikemaddogs。Thenthatwillbethegame。ButI’llbedamnedifIknowwhatyoursis。Idon’tbelieveyouknowyourselves。You’llnevergetanythingbyit。’

`Meantime，it’syouwhogetsomethingfromit—sofar。Andyougetiteasily，too。Iwon’tspeakofyoursalary，buthaven’tyoumadeyournamesimplybynotunderstandingwhatweareafter？’

`Whatareyouafter，then？’askedChiefInspectorHeat，withscornfulhaste，likeamaninahurrywhoperceivesheiswastinghistime。

Theperfectanarchistansweredbyasmilewhichdidnotparthisthin，colourlesslips;andthecelebratedChiefInspectorfeltasenseofsuperioritywhichinducedhimtoraiseawarningfinger。

`Giveitup—whateveritis，’hesaidinanadmonishingtone，butnotsokindlyasifhewerecondescendingtogivegoodadvicetoacracksmanofrepute。`Giveitup。You’llfindwearetoomanyforyou。

ThefixedsmileontheProfessor’slipswavered，asifthemockingspiritwithinhadlostitsassurance。ChiefInspectorHeatwenton:

`Don’tyoubelieveme—eh？Well，you’veonlygottolookaboutyou。

Weare。Andanyway，you’renotdoingitwell。You’realwaysmakingamessofit。Why，ifthethievesdidn’tknowtheirworkbettertheywouldstarve。’

Thehintofaninvinciblemultitudebehindthatman’sbackrousedasombreindignationinthebreastoftheProfessor。Hesmilednolongerhisenigmaticandmockingsmile。Theresistingpowerofnumbers，theunattackablestolidityofagreatmultitude，wasthehauntingfearofhissinisterloneliness。

Hislipstrembledforsometimebeforehemanagedtosayinastrangledvoice:

`Iamdoingmyworkbetterthanyou’redoingyours。’

`That’lldonow，’interruptedChiefInspectorHeat，hurriedly;andtheProfessorlaughedrightoutthistime。Whilestilllaughinghemovedon;

buthedidnotlaughlong。Itwasasad—faced，miserablelittlemanwhoemergedfromthenarrowpassageintothebustleofthebroadthoroughfare。

Hewalkedwiththenervelessgaitofatrampgoingon，stillgoingon，indifferenttorainorsuninasinisterdetachmentfromtheaspectsofskyandearth。ChiefInspectorHeat，ontheotherhand，afterwatchinghimforawhile，steppedoutwiththepurposefulbrisknessofamandisregardingindeedtheinclemenciesoftheweather，butconsciousofhavinganauthorizedmissiononthisearthandthemoralsupportofhiskind。Alltheinhabitantsoftheimmensetown，thepopulationofthewholecountry，andeventheteemingmillionsstrugglingupontheplanet，werewithhim—downtotheverythievesandmendicants。Yes，thethievesthemselvesweresuretobewithhiminhispresentwork。Theconsciousnessofuniversalsupportinhisgeneralactivityheartenedhimtograpplewiththeparticularproblem。

TheproblemimmediatelybeforetheChiefInspectorwasthatofmanagingtheAssistantCommissionerofhisdepartment，hisimmediatesuperior。Thisistheperennialproblemoftrustyandloyalservants;anarchismgaveititsparticularcomplexion，butnothingmore。Truthtosay，ChiefInspectorHeatthoughtbutlittleofanarchism。Hedidnotattachundueimportancetoit，andcouldneverbringhimselftoconsideritseriously。Ithadmorethecharacterofdisorderlyconduct;disorderlywithoutthehumanexcuseofdrunkenness，whichatanyrateimpliesgoodfeelingandanamiableleaningtowardsfestivity。Ascriminals，anarchistsweredistinctlynoclass—

noclassatall。AndrecallingtheProfessor，ChiefInspectorHeat，withoutcheckinghisswingingpace，mutteredthroughhisteeth:

`Lunatic。’

Catchingthieveswasanothermatteraltogether。Ithadthatqualityofseriousnessbelongingtoeveryformofopensportwherethebestmanwinsunderperfectlycomprehensiblerules。Therewerenorulesfordealingwithanarchists。AndthatwasdistastefultotheChiefInspector。Itwasallfoolishness，butthatfoolishnessexcitedthepublicmind，affectedpersonsinhighplaces，andtoucheduponinternationalrelations。Ahard，mercilesscontemptsettledrigidlyontheChiefInspector’sfaceashewalkedon。Hismindranoveralltheanarchistsofhisflock。Notoneofthemhad，halfthespunkofthisorthatburglarhehadknown。Nothalf—notonetenth。

AtheadquarterstheChiefInspectorwasadmittedatoncetotheAssistantCommissioner’sprivateroom。Hefoundhimpeninhand，bentoveragreattablebestrewnwithpapers，asifworshippinganenormousdoubleinkstandofbronzeandcrystal。Speaking—tubesresemblingsnakesweretiedbyheheadstothebackoftheAssistantCommissioner’swoodenarmchair，andtheirgapingmouthsseemedreadytobitehiselbows。Andinthisattitudeheraisedonlyhiseyes，whoselidsweredarkerthanhisfaceandverymuchcreased。Thereportshadcomein:everyanarchisthadbeenexactlyaccountedfor。

Aftersayingthisheloweredhiseyes，signedrapidlytwosinglesheetsofpaper，andonlythenlaiddownhispen，andsatwellback，directinganinquiringgazeathisrenownedsubordinate。TheChiefInspectorstooditwell，deferentialbutinscrutable。

`Idaresayyouwereright，’saidtheAssistantCommissioner，`intellingmeatfirstthattheLondonanarchistshadnothingtodowiththis。Iquiteappreciatetheexcellentwatchkeptonthembyyourmen。Ontheotherhand，this，forthepublic，doesnotamounttomorethanaconfessionofignorance。’

TheAssistantCommissioner’sdeliverywasleisurely，asitwerecautious。

Histhoughtseemedtorestpoisedonawordbeforepassingtoanother，asthoughwordshadbeenthestepping—stonesforhisintellectpickingitswayacrossthewatersoferror。`UnlessyouhavebroughtsomethingusefulfromGreenwich，’headded。

TheChiefInspectorbeganatoncetheaccountofhisinvestigationinaclear，matter—of—factmanner。Hissuperior，turninghischairalittle，andcrossinghisthinlegs，leanedsidewaysonhiselbow，withonehandshadinghiseyes。Hislisteningattitudehadasortofangularandsorrowfulgrace。Gleamsasofhighlyburnishedsilverplayedonthesidesofhisebony—blackheadwhenheinclineditslowlyattheend。

ChiefInspectorHeatwaitedwiththeappearanceofturningoverinhismindallhehadjustsaid，but，asamatteroffact，consideringtheadvisabilityofsayingsomethingmore。TheAssistantCommissionercuthishesitationshort。

`Youbelievethereweretwomen？’heasked，withoutuncoveringhiseyes。

TheChiefInspectorthoughtitmorethanprobable。Inhisopinion，thetwomenhadpartedfromeachotherwithinahundredyardsfromtheObservatorywalls。Heexplainedalsohowtheothermancouldhavegotoutoftheparkspeedilywithoutbeingobserved。Thefog，thoughnotverydense，wasinhisfavour。Heseemedtohaveescortedtheothertothespot，andthentohavelefthimtheretodothejobsingle—handed。TakingthetimethosetwowereseencomingoutofMazeHillStationbytheoldwoman，andthetimewhentheexplosionwasheard，theChiefInspectorthoughtthattheothermanmighthavebeenactuallyattheGreenwichParkStation，readytocatchthenexttrainup，atthemomenthiscomradewasdestroyinghimselfsothoroughly。

`Verythoroughly—eh？’murmuredtheAssistantCommissionerfromundertheshadowofhishand。

TheChiefInspectorinafewvigorouswordsdescribedtheaspectsoftheremains。`Thecoroner’sjurywillhaveatreat，’headded，grimly。

TheAssistantCommissioneruncoveredhiseyes。

`Weshallhavenothingtotellthem，’heremarked，languidly。

Helookedup，andforatimewatchedthemarkedlynoncommittalattitudeofhisChiefInspector。Hisnaturewasonethatisnoteasilyaccessibletoillusions。Heknewthatadepartmentisatthemercyofitssubordinateofficers，whohavetheirownconceptionsofloyalty。Hiscareerhadbeguninatropicalcolony。Hehadlikedhisworkthere。Itwaspolicework。

Hehadbeenverysuccessfulintrackingandbreakingupcertainnefarioussecretsocietiesamongstthenatives。Thenhetookhislongleave，andgotmarriedratherimpulsively。Itwasagoodmatchfromaworldlypointofview，buthiswifeformedanunfavourableopinionofthecolonialclimateonhearsayevidence。Ontheotherhand，shehadinfluentialconnections。

Itwasanexcellentmatch。Buthedidnotliketheworkhehadtodonow。

Hefelthimselfdependentontoomanysubordinatesandtoomanymasters。

Thenearpresenceofthatstrangeemotionalphenomenoncalledpublicopinionweigheduponhisspirits，andalarmedhimbyitsirrationalnature。Nodoubtthatfromignoranceheexaggeratedtohimselfitspowerforgoodandevil—especiallyforevil;andtherougheastwindsoftheEnglishspring（whichagreedwithhiswife）augmentedhisgeneralmistrustofmen’smotivesandoftheefficiencyoftheirorganization。Thefutilityofofficeworkespeciallyappalledhimonthosedayssotryingtohissensitiveliver。

Hegotup，unfoldinghimselftohisfullheight，andwithaheavinessofstepremarkableinsoslenderaman，movedacrosstheroomtothewindow。

Thepanesstreamedwithrain，andtheshortstreethelookeddownintolaywetandempty，asifsweptclearsuddenlybyagreatflood。Itwasaverytryingday，chokedinrawfogtobeginwith，andnowdrownedincoldrain。Theflickering，blurredflamesofgas—lampsseemedtobedissolvinginawateryatmosphere。Andtheloftypretensionsofamankindoppressedbythemiserableindignitiesoftheweatherappearedasacolossalandhopelessvanitydeservingofscorn，wonder，andcompassion。

`Horrible，horrible！’thoughttheAssistantCommissionertohimself，withhisfacenearthewindow—pane。`Wehavebeenhavingthissortofthingnowfortendays;no，afortnight—afortnight。’Heceasedtothinkcompletelyforatime。Thatutterstillnessofhisbrainlastedaboutthreeseconds。

Thenhesaid，perfunctorily:`Youhavesetinquiriesonfootfortracingthatothermanupanddowntheline？’

Hehadnodoubtthateverythingneedfulhadbeendone。ChiefInspectorHeatknew，ofcourse，thoroughlythebusinessofmanhunting。Andtheseweretheroutinesteps，too，thatwouldbetakenasamatterofcoursebythemerestbeginner。Afewinquiriesamongsttheticketcollectorsandtheportersofthetwosmallrailwaystationswouldgiveadditionaldetailsastotheappearanceofthetwomen;theinspectionofthecollectedticketswouldshowatoncewheretheycamefromthatmorning。Itwaselementary，andcouldnothavebeenneglected。Accordingly，theChiefInspectoransweredthatallthishadbeendonedirectlytheoldwomanhadcomeforwardwithherdeposition。Andhementionedthenameofastation。`That’swheretheycamefrom，sir，’hewenton。`TheporterwhotooktheticketsatMazeHillrememberstwochapsansweringtothedescriptionpassingthebarrier。Theyseemedtohimtworespectableworking—menofasuperiorsort—signpaintersorhousedecorators。Thebigmangotoutofathird—classcompartmentbackward，withabrighttincaninhishand。Ontheplatformhegaveittocarrytothefairyoungfellowwhofollowedhim。AllthisagreesexactlywithwhattheoldwomantoldthepolicesergeantinGreenwich。’

TheAssistantCommissioner，stillwithhisfaceturnedtothewindow，expressedhisdoubtastothesetwomenhavinghadanythingtodowiththeoutrage。Allthistheoryrestedupontheutterancesofanoldcharwomanwhohadbeennearlyknockeddownbyamaninahurry。Notaverysubstantialauthorityindeed，unlessonthegroundofsuddeninspiration，whichwashardlytenable。

`Franklynow，couldshehavebeenreallyinspired？’hequeried，withgraveirony，keepinghisbacktotheroom，asifentrancedbythecontemplationofthetown’scolossalformshalflostinthenight。Hedidnotevenlookroundwhenheheardthemutteroftheword`Providential’fromtheprincipalsubordinateofhisdepartment，whosename，printedsometimesinthepapers，wasfamiliartothegreatpublicasthatofoneofitszealousandhard—workingprotectors。ChiefInspectorHeatraisedhisvoicealittle。

`Stripsandbitsofbrighttinwerequitevisibletome，’hesaid。`That’saprettygoodcorroboration。’

`Andthesemencamefromthatlittlecountrystation，’theAssistantCommissionermusedaloud，wondering。HewastoldthatsuchwasthenameontwoticketsoutofthreegivenupoutofthattrainatMazeHill。ThethirdpersonwhogotoutwasahawkerfromGravesendwellknowntotheporters。TheChiefInspectorimpartedthatinformationinatoneoffinalitywithsomeillhumour，asloyalservantswilldointheconsciousnessoftheirfidelityandwiththesenseofthevalueoftheirloyalexertions。

AndstilltheAssistantCommissionerdidnotturnawayfromthedarknessoutside，asvastasasea。

`Twoforeignanarchistscomingfromthatplace，’hesaid，apparentlytothewindow—pane。`It’sratherunaccountable。’

`Yes，sir。ButitwouldbestillmoreunaccountableifthatMichaelisweren’tstayinginacottageintheneighbourhood。’

Atthesoundofthatname，fallingunexpectedlyintothisannoyingaffair，theAssistantCommissionerdismissedbrusquelythevagueremembranceofhisdailywhistpartyathisclub。Itwasthemostcomfortinghabitofhislife，inamainlysuccessfuldisplayofhisskillwithouttheassistanceofanysubordinate。Heenteredhisclubtoplayfromfivetoseven，beforegoinghometodinner，forgettingforthosetwohourswhateverwasdistastefulinhislife，asthoughthegamewereabeneficentdrugforallayingthepangsofmoraldiscontent。Hispartnerswerethegloomilyhumorouseditorofacelebratedmagazine;asilent，elderlybarristerwithmaliciouslittleeyes;andahighlymartial，simple—mindedoldColonelwithnervousbrownhands。Theywerehisclubacquaintancesmerely。Henevermetthemelsewhereexceptatthecard—table。Buttheyallseemedtoapproachthegameinthespiritofco—sufferers，asifitwereindeedadrugagainstthesecretillsofexistence;andeverydayasthesundeclinedoverthecountlessroofsofthetown，amellow，pleasurableimpatience，resemblingtheimpulseofasureandprofoundfriendship，lightenedhisprofessionallabours。

Andnowthispleasurablesensationwentoutofhimwithsomethingresemblingaphysicalshockandwasreplacedbyaspecialkindofinterestinhisworkofsocialprotection—animpropersortofinterest，whichmaybedefinedbestasasuddenandalertmistrustoftheweaponinhishand。

CONRAD:TheSecretAgent，Chapter6CHAPTER6

TheladypatronessofMichaelis，theticket—of—leaveapostleofhumanitarianhopes，wasoneofthemostinfluentialanddistinguishedconnectionsoftheAssistantCommissioner’swife，whomshecalledAnnie，andtreatedstillratherasanotverywiseandutterlyinexperiencedyounggirl。Butshehadconsentedtoaccepthimonafriendlyfooting，whichwasbynomeansthecasewithallofhiswife’sinfluentialconnections。Marriedyoungandsplendidlyatsomeremoteepochofthepast，shehadhadforatimeacloseviewofgreataffairs，andevenofsomegreatmen。Sheherselfwasagreatlady。Oldnowinthenumberofheryears，shehadthatsortofexceptionaltemperamentwhichdefiestimewithscornfuldisregard，asifitwerearathervulgarconventionsubmittedtobythemassofinferiormankind。Manyotherconventionseasiertosetaside，alas！failedtoobtainherrecognition，alsoontemperamentalgrounds—eitherbecausetheyboredher，orelsebecausetheystoodinthewayofherscornsandsympathies。

Admirationwasasentimentunknowntoher（itwasoneofthesecretgriefsofhermostnoblehusbandagainsther）—first，asalwaysmoreorlesstaintedwithmediocrity，andnextasbeinginawayanadmissionofinferiority。

Andbothwerefranklyinconceivabletohernature。Tobefearlesslyoutspokeninheropinionscameeasilytoher，sinceshejudgedsolelyfromthestandpointofhersocialposition。Shewasequallyuntrammelledinheractions;andashertactfulnessproceededfromgenuinehumanity，herbodilyvigourremainedremarkableandhersuperioritywassereneandcordial，threegenerationshadadmiredherinfinitely，andthelastshewaslikelytoseehadpronouncedherawonderfulwoman。Meantime，intelligent，withasortofloftysimplicity，andcuriousatheart，butnotlikemanywomenmerelyofsocialgossip，sheamusedheragebyattractingwithinherkenthroughthepowerofhergreat，almosthistorical，socialprestigeeverythingthatroseabovethedeadlevelofmankind，lawfullyorunlawfully，byposition，wit，audacity，fortuneormisfortune。RoyalHighnesses，artists，menofscience，youngstatesmen，andcharlatansofallagesandconditions，who，unsubstantialandlight，bobbinguplikecorks，showbestthedirectionofthesurfacecurrents，hadbeenwelcomedinthathouse，listenedto，penetrated，understood，appraised，forherownedification。Inherownwords，shelikedtowatchwhattheworldwascomingto。Andasshehadapracticalmindherjudgementofmenandthings，thoughbasedonspecialprejudices，wasseldomtotallywrong，andalmostneverwrong—headed。Herdrawing—roomwasprobablytheonlyplaceinthewideworldwhereanAssistantCommissionerofPolicecouldmeetaconvictliberatedonaticket—of—leaveonotherthanprofessionalandofficialground。WhohadbroughtMichaelisthereoneafternoontheAssistantCommissionerdidnotrememberverywell。HehadanotionitmusthavebeenacertainMemberofParliamentofillustriousparentageandunconventionalsympathies，whichwerethestandingjokeofthecomicpapers。Thenotabilitiesandeventhesimplenotorietiesofthedaybroughteachotherfreelytothattempleofanoldwoman’snotignoblecuriosity。Younevercouldguesswhomyouwerelikelytocomeuponbeingreceivedinsemi—privacywithinthefadedbluesilkandgiltframescreen，makingacosynookforacouchandafewarmchairsinthegreatdrawing—room，withitshumofvoicesandthegroupsofpeopleseatedorstandinginthelightofsixtallwindows。

Michaelishadbeentheobjectofarevulsionofpopularsentiment，thesamesentimentwhichyearsagohadapplaudedtheferocityofthelifesentencepasseduponhimforcomplicityinarathermadattempttorescuesomeprisonersfromapolicevan。Theplanoftheconspiratorshadbeentoshootdownthehorsesandoverpowertheescort。Unfortunately，oneofthepoliceconstablesgotshot，too。Heleftawifeandthreesmallchildren，andthedeathofthatmanarousedthroughthelengthandbreadthofarealmforwhosedefence，welfare，andglorymendieeverydayasmatterofduty，anoutburstoffuriousindignation，ofaraging，implacablepityforthevictim。Threeringleadersgothanged。Michaelis，youngandslim，locksmithbytrade，andgreatfrequenterofeveningschools，didnotevenknowthatanybodyhadbeenkilled，hispartwithafewothersbeingtoforceopenthedooratthebackofthespecialconveyance。Whenarrestedhehadabunchofskeletonkeysinonepocket，aheavychiselinanother，andashortcrowbarinhishand;neithermorenorlessthanaburglar。Butnoburglarwouldhavereceivedsuchaheavysentence。

Thedeathoftheconstablehadmadehimmiserableatheart，butthefailureoftheplotalso。Hedidnotconcealeitherofthesesentimentsfromhisempanelledcountrymen，andthatsortofcompunctionappearedshockinglyimperfecttothecrammedcourt。Thejudgeonpassingsentencecommentedfeelinglyuponthedepravityandcallousnessoftheyoungprisoner。

Thatmadethegroundlessfameofhiscondemnation;thefameofhisreleasewasmadeforhimonnobettergroundsbypeoplewhowishedtoexploitthesentimentalaspectofhisimprisonmenteitherforpurposesoftheirownorfornointelligiblepurpose。Heletthemdosointheinnocenceofhisheartandthesimplicityofhismind。Nothingthathappenedtohimindividuallyhadanyimportance。Hewaslikethosesaintlymenwhosepersonalityislostinthecontemplationoftheirfaith。Hisideaswerenotinthenatureofconvictions。Theywereinaccessibletoreasoning。Theyformedinalltheircontradictionsandobscuritiesaninvincibleandhumanitariancreed，whichheconfessedratherthanpreached，withanobstinategentleness，asmileofpacificassuranceonhislips，andhiscandidblueeyescastdownbecausethesightoffacestroubledhisinspirationdevelopedinsolitude。

Inthatcharacteristicattitude，patheticinhisgrotesqueandincurableobesitywhichhehadtodraglikeagalleyslave’sbullettotheendofhisdays，theAssistantCommissionerofPolicebeheldtheticket—of—leaveapostlefillingaprivilegedarmchairwithinthescreen。Hesattherebytheheadoftheoldlady’scouch，mild’voicedandquiet，withnomoreself—consciousnessthanaverysmallchild，andwithsomethingofachild’scharm—theappealingcharmoftrustfulness。Confidentofthefuture，whosesecretwayshadbeenrevealedtohimwithinthefourwallsofawell—knownpenitentiary，hehadnoreasontolookwithsuspicionuponanybody。Ifhecouldnotgivethegreatandcuriousladyaverydefiniteideaastowhattheworldwascomingto，hehadmanagedwithoutefforttoimpressherbyhisunembitteredfaith，bythesterlingqualityofhisoptimism。

Acertainsimplicityofthoughtiscommontoserenesoulsatbothendsofthesocialscale。Thegreatladywassimpleinherownway。Hisviewsandbeliefshadnothinginthemtoshockorstartleher，sinceshejudgedthemfromthestandpointofherloftyposition。Indeed，hersympathieswereeasilyaccessibletoamanofthatsort。Shewasnotanexploitingcapitalistherself;shewas，asitwere，abovetheplayofeconomicconditions。

Andshehadagreatcapacityofpityforthemoreobviousformsofcommonhumanmiseries，preciselybecauseshewassuchacompletestrangertothemthatshehadtotranslateherconceptionintotermsofmentalsufferingbeforeshecouldgraspthenotionoftheircruelty。TheAssistantCommissionerrememberedverywelltheconversationbetweenthesetwo。Hehadlistenedinsilence。Itwassomethingasexcitinginaway，andeventouchinginitsforedoomedfutility，astheeffortsatmoralintercoursebetweentheinhabitantsofremoteplanets。Butthisgrotesqueincarnationofhumanitarianpassionappealed，somehow，toone’simagination。AtlastMichaelisrose，andtakingthegreatlady’sextendedhand，shookit，retaineditforamomentinhisgreatcushionedpalmwithunembarrassedfriendliness，andturneduponthesemi—privatenookofthedrawing—roomhisback，vastandsquare，andasifdistendedundertheshorttweedjacket。Glancingaboutinserenebenevolence，hewaddledalongtothedistantdoorbetweentheknotsofothervisitors。Themurmurofconversationspausedonhispassage。

Hesmiledinnocentlyatatall，brilliantgirl，whoseeyesmethisaccidentally，andwentoutunconsciousoftheglancesfollowinghimacrosstheroom。

Michaelis’sfirstappearanceintheworldwasasuccess—asuccessofesteemunmarredbyasinglemurmurofderision。Theinterruptedconversationswereresumedintheirpropertone，graveorlight。Onlyawell—set—up，long—limbed，active—lookingmanoffortytalkingwithtwoladiesnearawindowremarkedaloud，withanunexpecteddepthoffeeling:`Eighteenstone，Ishouldsay，andnotfivefootsix。Poorfellow！It’sterrible—terrible。’

TheladyofthehousegazingabsentlyattheAssistantCommissioner，leftalonewithherontheprivatesideofthescreen，seemedtoberearranginghermentalimpressionsbehindherthoughtfulimmobilityofahandsomeoldface。Menwithgreymoustachesandfull，healthy，vaguelysmilingcountenancesapproached，circlingroundthescreen;twomaturewomenwithamatronlyairofgraciousresolution;aclean—shavedindividualwithsunkencheeks，anddanglingagold—mountedeyeglassonabroadblackribbonwithanoldworld，dandifiedeffect。Asilencedeferential，butfullofreserves，reignedforamoment，andthenthegreatladyexclaimed，notwithresentment，butwithasortofprotestingindignation:

`Andthatofficiallyissupposedtobearevolutionist！Whatnonsense。’

ShelookedhardattheAssistantCommissioner，whomurmured，apologetically:

`Notadangerousoneperhaps。’

`Notdangerous—Ishouldthinknotindeed。Heisamerebeliever。It’sthetemperamentofasaint，’declaredthegreatladyinafirmtone。`Andtheykepthimshutupfortwentyyears。Oneshuddersatthestupidityofit。Andnowtheyhavelethimouteverybodybelongingtohimisgoneawaysomewhereordead。Hisparentsaredead;thegirlhewastomarryhasdiedwhilehewasinprison;hehaslosttheskillnecessaryforhismanualoccupation。Hetoldmeallthishimselfwiththesweetestpatience;butthen，hesaid，hehadhadplentyoftimetothinkoutthingsforhimself。

Aprettycompensation！Ifthat’sthestuffrevolutionistsaremadeofsomeofusmaywellgoontheirkneestothem，’shecontinuedinaslightlybanteringvoice，whilethebanalsocietysmileshardenedontheworldlyfacesturnedtowardsherwithconventionaldeference。`Thepoorcreatureisobviouslynolongerinapositiontotakecareofhimself。Somebodywillhavetolookafterhimalittle。’

`Heshouldberecommendedtofollowatreatmentofsomesort，thesoldierlyvoiceoftheactive—lookingmanwasheardadvisingearnestlyfromadistance。

Hewasinthepinkofconditionforhisage，andeventhetextureofhislongfrock—coathadacharacterofelasticsoundness，asifitwerealivingtissue。`Themanisvirtuallyacripple，’headdedwithunmistakablefeeling。

Othervoices，asifgladoftheopening，murmuredhastycompassion。

`Quitestartling，’`Monstrous，’`Mostpainfultosee。’Thelankman，withtheeyeglassonabroadribbon，pronouncedmincinglytheword`Grotesque，’

whosejustnesswasappreciatedbythosestandingnearhim。Theysmiledateachother。

TheAssistantCommissionerhadexpressednoopinioneitherthenorlater，hispositionmakingitimpossibleforhimtoventilateanyindependentviewofaticket—of—leaveconvict。But，intruth，hesharedtheviewofhiswife’sfriendandpatronthatMichaeliswasahumanitariansentimentalist，alittlemad，butuponthewholeincapableofhurtingaflyintentionally。

Sowhenthatnamecroppedupsuddenlyinthisvexingbombaffairherealizedallthedangerofitfortheticket—of—leaveapostle，andhismindrevertedatoncetotheoldlady’swell—establishedinfatuation。HerarbitrarykindnesswouldnotbrookpatientlyanyinterferencewithMichaelis’sfreedom。Itwasadeep，calm，convincedinfatuation。Shehadnotonlyfelthimtobeinoffensive，butshehadsaidso，whichlastbyaconfusionofherabsolutistmindbecameasortofincontrovertibledemonstration。Itwasasifthemonstrosityoftheman，withhiscandidinfant’seyesandafatangelicsmile，hadfascinatedher。Shehadcometobelievealmosthistheoryofthefuture，sinceitwasnotrepugnanttoherprejudices。Shedislikedthenewelementofplutocracyinthesocialcompound，andindustrialismasamethodofhumandevelopmentappearedtohersingularlyrepulsiveinitsmechanicalandunfeelingcharacter。ThehumanitarianhopesofthemildMichaelistendednottowardsutterdestruction，butmerelytowardsthecompleteeconomicruinofthesystem。Andshedidnotreallyseewherewasthemoralharmofit。Itwoulddoawaywithallthemultitudeoftheparvenus，whomshedislikedandmistrusted，notbecausetheyhadarrivedanywhere（shedeniedthat），butbecauseoftheirprofoundunintelligenceoftheworld，whichwastheprimarycauseofthecrudityoftheirperceptionsandthearidityoftheirhearts。Withtheannihilationofallcapitaltheywouldvanish，too;butuniversalruin（providingitwasuniversal，asitwasrevealedtoMichaelis）wouldleavethesocialvaluesuntouched。Thedisappearanceofthelastpieceofmoneycouldnotaffectpeopleofposition。

Shecouldnotconceivehowitcouldaffectherposition，forinstance。

ShehaddevelopedthesediscoveriestotheAssistantCommissionerwithalltheserenefearlessnessofanoldwomanwhohadescapedtheblightofindifference。Hehadmadeforhimselftheruletoreceiveeverythingofthatsortinasilencewhichhetookcarefrompolicyandinclinationnottomakeoffensive。HehadanaffectionfortheageddiscipleofMichaelis，acomplexsentimentdependingalittleonherprestige，onherpersonality，butmostofallontheinstinctofflatteredgratitude。Hefelthimselfreallylikedinherhouse。Shewaskindnesspersonified。Andshewaspracticallywise，too，afterthemannerofexperiencedwomen。ShemadehismarriedlifemucheasierthanitwouldhavebeenwithouthergenerouslyfullrecognitionofhisrightsasAnnie’shusband。Herinfluenceuponhiswife，awomandevouredbyallsortsofsmallselfishnesses，smallenvies，smalljealousies，wasexcellent。Unfortunately，bothherkindnessandherwisdomwereofunreasonablecomplexion，distinctlyfeminine，anddifficulttodealwith。

Sheremainedaperfectwomanallalongherfulltaleofyears，andnotassomeofthemdobecome—asortofslippery，pestilentialoldmaninpetticoats。Anditwasasofawomanthathethoughtofher—thespeciallychoiceincarnationofthefeminine，whereinisrecruitedthetender，ingenuous，andfiercebodyguardforallsortsofmenwhotalkundertheinfluenceofanemotion，trueorfraudulent;forpreachers，seers，prophets，orreformers。