第14章

Appreciatingthedistinguishedandgoodfriendofhiswife，andhimself，inthatway，theAssistantCommissionerbecamealarmedattheconvictMichaelis’spossiblefate。Oncearrestedonsuspicionofbeinginsomeway，howeverremote，apartytothisoutrage，themancouldhardlyescapebeingsentbacktofinishhissentenceatleast。Andthatwouldkillhim;hewouldnevercomeoutalive。TheAssistantCommissionermadeareflectionextremelyunbecominghisofficialpositionwithoutbeingreallycreditabletohishumanity。

`Ifthefellowislaidholdofagain，’hethought，`shewillneverforgiveme。’

Thefranknessofsuchasecretlyoutspokenthoughtcouldnotgowithoutsomederisiveself—criticism。Nomanengagedinaworkhedoesnotlikecanpreservemanysavingillusionsabouthimself。Thedistaste，theabsenceofglamour，extendfromtheoccupationtothepersonality。Itisonlywhenourappointedactivitiesseembyaluckyaccidenttoobeytheparticularearnestnessofourtemperamentthatwecantastethecomfortofcompleteself—deception。TheAssistantCommissionerdidnotlikehisworkathome。

Thepoliceworkhehadbeenengagedoninadistantpartoftheglobehadthesavingcharacterofanirregularsortofwarfareoratleasttheriskandexcitementofopen—airsport。Hisrealabilities，whichweremainlyofanadministrativeorder，werecombinedwithanadventurousdisposition。

Chainedtoadeskinthethickoffourmillionsofmen，heconsideredhimselfthevictimofanironicfate—thesame，nodoubt，whichhadbroughtabouthismarriagewithawomanexceptionallysensitiveinthematterofcolonialclimate，besidesotherlimitationstestifyingtothedelicacyofhernature—andhertastes。Thoughhejudgedhisalarmsardonicallyhedidnotdismisstheimproperthoughtfromhismind。

Theinstinctofself—preservationwasstrongwithinhim。Onthecontrary，herepeateditmentallywithprofaneemphasisandafullerprecision:`Damnit！IfthatinfernalHeathashiswaythefellow’lldieinprisonsmotheredinhisfat，andshe’llneverforgiveme。

Hisblack，narrowfigure，withthewhitebandofthecollarunderthesilverygleamsontheclose—croppedhairatthebackofthehead，remainedmotionless。ThesilencehadlastedsuchalongtimethatChiefInspectorHeatventuredtoclearhisthroat。Thisnoiseproduceditseffect。Thezealousandintelligentofficerwasaskedbyhissuperior，whosebackremainedturnedtohimimmovably:

`YouconnectMichaeliswiththisaffair？’ChiefInspectorHeatwasverypositive，butcautious。

`Wellsir，’hesaid，`wehaveenoughtogoupon。Amanlikethathasnobusinesstobeatlarge，anyhow。’

`Youwillwantsomeconclusiveevidence，’cametheobservationinamurmur。

ChiefInspectorHeatraisedhiseyebrowsattheblack，narrowback，whichremainedobstinatelypresentedtohisintelligenceandhiszeal。

`Therewillbenodifficultyingettingupsufficientevidenceagainsthim，’hesaid，withvirtuouscomplacency。`Youmaytrustmeforthat，sir，’headded，quiteunnecessarily，outofthefullnessofhisheart;

foritseemedtohimanexcellentthingtohavethatmaninhandtobethrowndowntothepublicshoulditthinkfittoroarwithanyspecialindignationinthiscase。Itwasimpossibletosayyetwhetheritwouldroarornot。Thatinthelastinstancedepended，ofcourse，onthenewspaperpress。Butinanycase，ChiefInspectorHeat，purveyorofprisonsbytrade，andamanoflegalinstincts，didlogicallybelievethatincarcerationwastheproperfateforeverydeclaredenemyofthelaw。Inthestrengthofthatconvictionhecommittedafaultoftact。Heallowedhimselfalittleconceitedlaugh，andrepeated:

`Trustmeforthat，sir。’

ThiswastoomuchfortheforcedcalmnessunderwhichtheAssistantCommissionerhadforupwardsofeighteenmonthsconcealedhisirritationwiththesystemandthesubordinatesofhisoffice。Asquarepegforcedintoaroundhole，hehadfeltlikeadailyoutragethatlong—establishedsmoothroundnessintowhichamanoflesssharplyangularshapewouldhavefittedhimself，withvoluptuousacquiescence，afterashrugortwo。Whatheresentedmostwasjustthenecessityoftakingsomuchontrust。AtthelittlelaughofChiefInspector—Heat’shespunswiftlyonhisheels，asifwhirledawayfromthewindow—panebyanelectricshock。Hecaughtonthelatter’sfacenotonlythecomplacencypropertotheoccasionlurkingunderthemoustache，butthevestigesofexperimentalwatchfulnessintheroundeyes，whichhadbeen，nodoubt，fastenedonhisback，andnowmethisglanceforasecondbeforetheintentcharacteroftheirstarehadthetimetochangetoamerelystartledappearance。

TheAssistantCommissionerofPolicehadreallysomequalificationsforhispost。Suddenlyhissuspicionwasawakened。Itisbutfairtosaythathissuspicionsofthepolicemethods（unlessthepolicehappenedtobeasemi—militarybodyorganizedbyhimself）wasnotdifficulttoarouse。

Ifiteverslumberedfromsheerweariness，itwasbutlightly:andhisappreciationofChiefInspectorHeat’szealandability，moderateinitself，excludedallnotionofmoralconfidence。`He’suptosomething，’heexclaimed，mentally，andatoncebecameangry。Crossingovertohisdeskwithheadlongstrides，hesatdownviolently。`HereIamstuckinalitterofpaper，’

hereflected，withunreasonableresentment，`supposedtoholdallthethreadsinmyhandsandyetIcanbutholdwhatisputinmyhand，andnothingelse。Andtheycanfastentheotherendsofthethreadswheretheyplease。

Heraisedhishead，andturnedtowardshissubordinatealong，meagrefacewiththeaccentuatedfeaturesofanenergeticDonQuixote。

`Nowwhatisityou’vegotupyoursleeve？’

Theotherstared。Hestaredwithoutwinkinginaperfectimmobilityofhisroundeyes，ashewasusedtostareatthevariousmembersofthecriminalclasswhen，afterbeingdulycautioned，theymadetheirstatementsinthetonesofinjuredinnocence，orfalsesimplicity，orsullenresignation。

Butbehindthatprofessionalandstonyfixitytherewassomesurprise，too，forinsuchatone，combiningnicelythenoteofcontemptandimpatience，ChiefInspectorHeat，theright—handmanofthedepartment，wasnotusedtobeaddressed。Hebeganinaprocrastinatingmanner，likeamantakenunawaresbyanewandunexpectedexperience。

`WhatI’vegotagainstthatmanMichaelisyoumean，sir？’

TheAssistantCommissionerwatchedthebullethead;thepointsofthatNorserover’smoustache，fallingbelowthelineoftheheavyjaw;thewholefullandpalephysiognomy，whosedeterminedcharacterwasmarredbytoomuchflesh;atthecunningwrinklesradiatingfromtheoutercornersoftheeyes—andinthatpurposefulcontemplationofthevaluableandtrustedofficerhedrewaconvictionsosuddenthatitmovedhimlikeaninspiration。

`Ihavereasontothinkthatwhenyoucameintothisroom，’hesaidinmeasuredtones，`itwasnotMichaeliswhowasinyourmind;notprincipally—perhapsnotatall。’

`Youhavereasontothink，sir？’mutteredChiefInspectorHeatwitheveryappearanceofastonishment，whichuptoacertainpointwasgenuineenough。Hehaddiscoveredinthisaffairadelicateandperplexingside，forcinguponthediscovereracertainamountofinsincerity—thatsortofinsinceritywhich，underthenamesofskill，prudence，discretion，turnsupatonepointoranotherinmosthumanaffairs。Hefeltatthemomentlikeatight—ropeartistmightfeelifsuddenly，inthemiddleoftheperformance，themanageroftheMusicHallweretorushoutofthepropermanagerialseclusionandbegintoshaketherope。Indignation，thesenseofmoralinsecurityengenderedbysuchatreacherousproceedingjoinedtotheimmediateapprehensionofabrokenneck，would，inthecolloquialphrase，puthiminastate。Andtherewouldbealsosomescandalizedconcernforhisart，too，sinceamanmustidentifyhimselfwithsomethingmoretangiblethanhisownpersonality，andestablishhispridesomewhere，eitherinhissocialposition，orinthequalityoftheworkheisobligedtodo，orsimplyinthesuperiorityoftheidlenesshemaybefortunateenoughtoenjoy。

`Yes，’saidtheAssistantCommissioner;`Ihave。IdonotmeantosaythatyouhavenotthoughtofMichaelisatall。Butyouaregivingthefactyou’vementionedaprominencewhichstrikesmeasnotquitecandid，InspectorHeat。Ifthatisreallythetrackofdiscovery，whyhaven’tyoufolloweditupatonce，eitherpersonallyorbysendingoneofyourmentothatvillage？’

`Doyouthink，sir，Ihavefailedinmydutythere？’theChiefInspectorasked，inatonewhichhesoughttomakesimplyreflective。Forcedunexpectedlytoconcentratehisfacultiesuponthetaskofpreservinghisbalance，hehadseizeduponthatpoint，andexposedhimselftoarebuke;fortheAssistantCommissioner，frowningslightly，observedthatthiswasaveryimproperremarktomake。

`Butsinceyou’vemadeit，’hecontinued，coldly，`I’lltellyouthatthisisnotmymeaning。’

Hepaused，withastraightglanceofhissunkeneyeswhichwasafullequivalentoftheunspokentermination`andyouknowit’。Theheadoftheso—calledSpecialCrimesDepartment，debarredbyhispositionfromgoingoutofdoorspersonallyinquestofsecretslockedupinguiltybreasts，hadapropensitytoexercisehisconsiderablegiftsforthedetectionofincriminatingtruthuponhisownsubordinates。Thatpeculiarinstinctcouldhardlybecalledaweakness。Itwasnatural。Hewasaborndetective。Ithadunconsciouslygovernedhischoiceofacareer，andifiteverfailedhiminlifeitwasperhapsintheoneexceptionalcircumstanceofhismarriage—whichwasalsonatural。Itfed，sinceitcouldnotroamabroad，uponthehumanmaterialwhichwasbroughttoitinitsofficialseclusion。Wecanneverceasetobeourselves。

Hiselbowonthedesk，histhinlegscrossedandnursinghischeekinthepalmofhismeagrehand，theAssistantCommissionerinchargeoftheSpecialCrimesbranchwasgettingholdofthecasewithgrowinginterest。

HisChiefInspector，ifnotanabsolutelyworthyfoemanofhispenetration，wasatanyratethemostworthyofallwithinhisreach。AmistrustofestablishedreputationswasstrictlyincharacterwiththeAssistantCommissioner’sabilityasdetector。Hismemoryevokedacertainold，fatandwealthynativechiefinthedistantcolonywhomitwasatraditionforthesuccessiveColonialGovernorstotrustandmakemuchofasafirmfriendandsupporteroftheorderandlegalityestablishedbywhitemen;whereas，whenexaminedsceptically，hewasfoundouttobeprincipallyhisowngoodfriend，andnobodyelse’s。Notpreciselyatraitor，butstillamanofmanydangerousreservationsinhisfidelity，causedbyadueregardforhisownadvantage，comfort，andsafety。Afellowofsomeinnocenceinhisnaiveduplicity，butnonethelessdangerous。Hetooksomefindingout。Hewasphysicallyabigman，too，and（allowingforthedifferenceofcolour，ofcourse）

ChiefInspectorHeat’sappearancerecalledhimtothememoryofhissuperior。

Itwasnottheeyesnoryetthelipsexactly。Itwasbizarre。ButdoesnotAlfredWallacerelateinhisfamousbookontheMalayArchipelagohow，amongsttheAruIslanders，hediscoveredinanoldandnakedsavagewithasootyskinapeculiarresemblancetoadearfriendathome？

ForthefirsttimesincehetookuphisappointmenttheAssistantCommissionerfeltasifheweregoingtodosomerealworkforhissalary。Andthatwasapleasurablesensation。`I’llturnhiminsideoutlikeanoldglove，’

thoughttheAssistantCommissioner，withhiseyesrestingpensivelyuponChiefInspectorHeat。

`No，thatwasnotmythought，’hebeganagain。`Thereisnodoubtaboutyouknowingyourbusiness—nodoubtatall;andthat’spreciselywhyI——’

Hestoppedshort，andchanginghistone:`WhatcouldyoubringupagainstMichaelisofadefinitenature？Imeanapartfromthefactthatthetwomenundersuspicion—you’recertainthereweretwoofthem—camelastfromarailwaystationwithinthreemilesofthevillagewhereMichaelisislivingnow。’

`Thisbyitselfisenoughforustogoupon，sir，withthatsortofman，’saidtheChiefInspector，withreturningcomposure。Theslight，approvingmovementoftheAssistantCommissioner’sheadwentfartopacifytheresentfulastonishmentoftherenownedofficer。ForChiefInspectorHeatwasakindman，anexcellenthusband，adevotedfather;andthepublicanddepartmentalconfidenceheenjoyed，actingfavourablyuponanamiablenature，disposedhimtofeelfriendlytowardsthesuccessiveAssistantCommissionershehadseenpassthroughthatveryroom。Therehadbeenthreeinhistime。

Thefirstone，asoldierly，abrupt，red—facedperson，withwhiteeyebrowsandanexplosivetemper，couldbemanagedwithasilkenthread。Heleftonreachingtheagelimit。Thesecond，aperfectgentleman，knowinghisownandeverybodyelse’splacetoanicety，onresigningtotakeupahigherappointmentoutofEnglandgotdecoratedfor（really）InspectorHeat’sservices。Toworkwithhimhadbeenaprideandapleasure。Thethird，abitofadarkhorsefromthefirst，wasattheendofeighteenmonthssomethingofadarkhorsestilltothedepartment。UponthewholeChiefInspectorHeatbelievedhimtobeinthemainharmless—odd—looking，butharmless。Hewasspeakingnow，andtheChiefInspectorlistenedwithoutwarddeference（whichmeansnothing，beingamatterofduty）andinwardlywithbenevolenttoleration。

`MichaelisreportedhimselfbeforeleavingLondonforthecountry？’

`Yes，sir。Hedid。’

`Andwhatmayhebedoingthere？’continuedtheAssistantCommissioner，whowasperfectlyinformedonthatpoint。Fittedwithpainfultightnessintoanoldwoodenarmchair，beforeaworm—eatenoaktableinanupstairsroomofafour—roomedcottagewitharoofofmoss—growntiles，Michaeliswaswritingnightanddayinashaky，slantinghandthatAutobiographyofaPrisonerwhichwastobelikeabookofRevelationinthehistoryofmankind。Theconditionsofconfinedspace，seclusion，andsolitudeinasmallfour—roomedcottagewerefavourabletohisinspiration。Itwaslikebeinginprison，exceptthatonewasneverdisturbedfortheodiouspurposeoftakingexerciseaccordingtothetyrannicalregulationsofhisoldhomeinthepenitentiary。Hecouldnottellwhetherthesunstillshoneontheearthornot。Theperspirationoftheliterarylabourdroppedfromhisbrow。Adelightfulenthusiasmurgedhimon。Itwastheliberationofhisinnerlife，thelettingoutofhissoulintothewideworld。Andthezealofhisguilelessvanity（firstawakenedbytheofferoffivehundredpoundsfromapublisher）seemedsomethingpredestinedandholy。

`Itwouldbe，ofcourse，mostdesirabletobeinformedexactly，’insistedtheAssistantCommissioner，uncandidly。

ChiefInspectorHeat，consciousofrenewedirritationatthisdisplayofscrupulousness，saidthatthecountypolicehadbeennotifiedfromthefirstofMichaelis’sarrival，andthatafullreportcouldbeobtainedinafewhours。Awiretothesuperintendent——

Thushespoke，ratherslowly，whilehismindseemedalreadytobeweighingtheconsequences。Aslightknittingofthebrowwastheoutwardsignofthis。Buthewasinterruptedbyaquestion。

`You’vesentthatwirealready？’

`Nosir，’heanswered，asifsurprised。

TheAssistantCommissioneruncrossedhislegssuddenly。Thebrisknessofthatmovementcontrastedwiththecasualwayinwhichhethrewoutasuggestion。

`WouldyouthinkthatMichaelishadanythingtodowiththepreparationofthatbomb，forinstance？’

TheChiefInspectorassumedareflectivemanner。

`Iwouldn’tsayso。There’snonecessitytosayanythingatpresent。

Heassociateswithmenwhoareclassedasdangerous。HewasmadeadelegateoftheRedCommitteelessthanayearafterhisreleaseonlicence。Asortofcompliment，Isuppose。’

AndtheChiefInspectorlaughedalittleangrily，alittlescornfully。

Withamanofthatsortscrupulousnesswasamisplacedandevenanillegalsentiment。ThecelebritybestoweduponMichaelisonhisreleasetwoyearsagobysomeemotionaljournalistsinwantofspecialcopyhadrankledeversinceinhisbreast。Itwasperfectlylegaltoarrestthatmanonthebarestsuspicion。Itwaslegalandexpedientonthefaceofit。Histwoformerchiefswouldhaveseenthepoint，atonce;whereasthisone，withoutsayingeitheryesorno，satthere，asiflostinadream。Moreover，besidesbeinglegalandexpedient，thearrestofMichaelissolvedalittlepersonaldifficultywhichworriedChiefInspectorHeatsomewhat。Thisdifficultyhaditsbearinguponhisreputation，uponhiscomfort，andevenupontheefficientperformanceofhisduties。For，ifMichaelisnodoubtknewsomethingaboutthisoutrage，theChiefInspectorwasfairlycertainthathedidnotknowtoomuch。Thiswasjustaswell。Heknewmuchless—theChiefInspectorwaspositive—thancertainotherindividualshehadinhismind，butwhosearrestseemedtohiminexpedient，besidesbeingamorecomplicatedmatter，onaccountoftherulesofthegame。TherulesofthegamedidnotprotectsomuchMichaelis，whowasanex—convict。Itwouldbestupidnottotakeadvantageoflegalfacilities，andthejournalistswhohadwrittenhimupwithemotionalgushwouldbereadytowritehimdownwithemotionalindignation。

Thisprospect，viewedwithconfidence，hadtheattractionofapersonaltriumphforChiefInspectorHeat。Anddeepdowninhisblamelessbosomofanaveragemarriedcitizen，almostunconsciousbutpotentnevertheless，thedislikeofbeingcompelledbyeventstomeddlewiththedesperateferocityoftheProfessorhaditssay。Thisdislikehadbeenstrengthenedbythechancemeetinginthelane。TheencounterdidnotleavebehindwithChiefInspectorHeatthatsatisfactorysenseofsuperioritythemembersofthepoliceforcegetfromtheunofficialbutintimatesideoftheirintercoursewiththecriminalclasses，bywhichthevanityofpowerissoothed，andthevulgarloveofdominationoverourfellowcreaturesisflatteredasworthilyasitdeserves。

TheperfectanarchistwasnotrecognizedasafellowcreaturebyChiefInspectorHeat。Hewasimpossible—amaddogtobeleftalone。NotthattheChiefInspectorwasafraidofhim;onthecontrary，hemeanttohavehimsomeday。Butnotyet:hemeanttogetholdofhiminhisowntime，properlyandeffectively，accordingtotherulesofthegame。Thepresentwasnottherighttimeforattemptingthatfeat，nottherighttimeformanyreasons，personalandofpublicservice。ThisbeingthestrongfeelingofInspectorHeat，itappearedtohimjustandproperthatthisaffairshouldbeshuntedoffitsobscureandinconvenienttrack，leadinggoodnessknowswhere，intoaquiet（andlawful）sidingcalledMichaelis。Andherepeated，asifreconsideringthesuggestionconscientiously:

`Thebomb。No，Iwouldnotsaythatexactly。Wemayneverfindthatout。Butit’sclearthatheisconnectedwiththisinsomeway，whichwecanfindoutwithoutmuchtrouble。’

Hiscountenancehadthatlookofgrave，overbearingindifferenceoncewellknownandmuchdreadedbythebettersortofthieves。ChiefInspectorHeat，thoughwhatiscalledaman，wasnotasmilinganimal。ButhisinwardstatewasthatofsatisfactionatthepassivelyreceptiveattitudeoftheAssistantCommissioner，whomurmuredgently:

`Andyoureallythinkthattheinvestigationshouldbemadeinthatdirection？’

`Ido，sir。’

`Quiteconvinced？’

`Iam，sir。That’sthetruelineforustotake。’

TheAssistantCommissionerwithdrewthesupportofhishandfromhisrecliningheadwithasuddennessthat，consideringhislanguidattitude，seemedtomenacehiswholepersonwithcollapse。But，onthecontrary，hesatup，extremelyalert，behindthegreatwriting—tableonwhichhishandhadfallenwiththesoundofasharpblow。

`WhatIwanttoknowiswhatputitoutofyourheadtillnow。’

`Putitoutofmyhead，’repeatedtheChiefInspectorveryslowly。’

`Yes。Tillyouwerecalledintothisroom—youknow。’

TheChiefInspectorfeltasiftheairbetweenhisclothingandhisskinbadbecomeunpleasantlyhot。Itwasthesensationofanunprecedentedandincredibleexperience。

`Ofcourse，’hesaid，exaggeratingthedeliberationofhisutterancetotheutmostlimitsofpossibility，`ifthereisareason，ofwhichI

knownothing，fornotinterferingwiththeconvictMichaelis，perhapsit’sjustaswellIdidn’tstartthecountypoliceafterhim。’

ThistooksuchalongtimetosaythattheunflaggingattentionoftheAssistantCommissionerseemedawonderfulfeatofendurance。Hisretortcamewithoutdelay。

`NoreasonwhateverthatIknowof。Come，ChiefInspector，thisfinessingwithmeishighlyimproperonyourpart—highlyimproper。Andit’salsounfair，youknow。Youshouldn’tleavemetopuzzlethingsoutformyselflikethis。Really，Iamsurprised。’

Hepaused，thenaddedsmoothly:`Ineedscarcelytellyouthatthisconversationisaltogetherunofficial。’

ThesewordswerefarfrompacifyingtheChiefInspector。Theindignationofabetrayedtight—ropeperformerwasstrongwithinhim。Inhisprideofatrustedservanthewasaffectedbytheassurancethattheropewasnotshakenforthepurposeofbreakinghisneck，asbyanexhibitionofimpudence。Asifanybodywereafraid！AssistantCommissionerscomeandgo，butavaluableChiefInspectorisnotanephemeralofficephenomenon。

Hewasnotafraidofgettingabrokenneck。Tohavehisperformancespoiledwasmorethanenoughtoaccountfortheglowofhonestindignation。Andasthoughtisnorespecterofpersons，thethoughtofChiefInspectorHeattookathreateningandpropheticshape。`You，myboy，’hesaidtohimself，keepinghisroundandhabituallyrovingeyesfastenedupontheAssistantCommissioner’sface—`you，myboy，youdon’tknowyourplace，andyourplacewon’tknowyouverylongeither，Ibet。’

Asifinprovokinganswertothatthought，somethingliketheghostofanamiablesmilepassedonthelipsoftheAssistantCommissioner。Hismannerwaseasyandbusinesslikewhilehepersistedinadministeringanothershaketothetight—rope。

`Letuscomenowtowhatyouhavediscoveredonthespot，ChiefInspector，’

hesaid。

`Afoolandhisjobaresoonparted，’wentonthetrainofpropheticthoughtinChiefInspectorHeat’shead。Butitwasimmediatelyfollowedbythereflectionthatahigherofficial，evenwhen`firedout’（thiswasthepreciseimage），hasstillthetimeashefliesthroughthedoortolaunchanastykickattheshin—bonesofasubordinate。Withoutsofteningverymuchthebasilisknatureofhisstare，hesaid，impassively:

`Wearecomingtothatpartofmyinvestigation，sir。’

`That’sright。Well，whathaveyoubroughtawayfromit？’

TheChiefInspector，whohadmadeuphismindtojumpofftherope，cametothegroundwithgloomyfrankness。

`I’vebroughtawayanaddress，’hesaid，pullingoutofhisspocketwithouthasteasingedragofdarkbluecloth。`Thisbelongstotheovercoatthefellowwhogothimselfblowntopieceswaswearing。Ofcourse，theovercoatmaynothavebeenhis，andmayevenhavebeenstolen。Butthat’snotatallprobableifyoulookatthis。’

TheChiefInspector，steppinguptothetable，smoothedoutcarefullytheragofbluecloth。Hehadpickeditupfromtherepulsiveheapinthemortuary，becauseatailor’snameisfoundsometimesunderthecollar。

Itisnotoftenofmuchuse，butstill—HeonlyhalfexpectedCofindanythinguseful，butcertainlyhedidnotexpecttofind—notunderthecollaratall，butstitchedcarefullyontheunder—sideofthelapel—

asquarepieceofcalicowithanaddresswrittenonitinmarkingink。

TheChiefInspectorremovedhissmoothinghand。

`Icarrieditoffwithmewithoutanybodytakingnotice，’hesaid。`I

thoughtitbest。Itcanalwaysbeproducedifrequired。’

TheAssistantCommissioner，risingalittleinhischair，pulledtheclothovertohissideofthetable。Hesatlookingatitinsilence。Onlythenumber32andthenameofBrettStreetwerewritteninmarkinginkonapieceofcalicoslightlylargerthananordinarycigarettepaper。

Hewasgenuinelysurprised。

`Can’tunderstandwhyheshouldhavegoneaboutlabelledlikethis，’

hesaid，lookingupatChiefInspectorHeat。`It’samostextraordinarything。’

`Imetonceinthesmoking—roomofahotelanoldgentlemanwhowentaboutwithhisnameandaddresssewnoninallhiscoatsincaseofanaccidentorsuddenillness，’saidtheChiefInspector。`Heprofessedtobeeighty—fouryearsold，buthedidn’tlookhisage。Hetoldmehewasalsoafraidoflosinghismemorysuddenly，likethosepeoplehehadbeenreadingofinthepapers。

AquestionfromtheAssistantCommissioner，whowantedtoknowwhatwasNo。32BrettStreet，interruptedthatreminiscenceabruptly。TheChiefInspector，drivendowntothegroundbyunfairartifices，hadelectedtowalkthepathofunreservedopenness。Ifhebelievedfirmlythattoknowtoomuchwasnotgoodforthedepartment，thejudiciousholdingbackofknowledgewasasfarashisloyaltydaredtogoforthegoodoftheservice。

IftheAssistantCommissionerwantedtomismanagethisaffairnothing，ofcourse，couldpreventhim。But，onhisownpart，henowsawnoreasonforadisplayofalacrity。Soheansweredconcisely:

`It’sashop，sir。’

TheAssistantCommissioner，withhiseyesloweredontheragofbluecloth，waitedformoreinformation。Asthatdidnotcomeheproceededtoobtainitbyaseriesofquestionspropoundedwithgentlepatience。ThusheacquiredanideaofthenatureofMrVerloc’scommerce，ofhispersonalappearance，andheardatlasthisname。InapausetheAssistantCommissionerraisedhiseyes，anddiscoveredsomeanimationontheChiefInspector’sface。Theylookedateachotherinsilence。

`Ofcourse，’saidthelatter，`thedepartmenthasnorecordofthatman。’

`Didanyofmypredecessorshaveanyknowledgeofwhatyouhavetoldmenow？’askedtheAssistantCommissioner，puttinghiselbowsonthetableandraisinghisjoinedhandsbeforehisface，asifabouttoofferprayer，onlythathiseyeshadnotapiousexpression。

`No，sir;certainlynot。Whatwouldhavebeentheobject？Thatsortofmancouldneverbeproducedpubliclytoanygoodpurpose。Itwassufficientformetoknowwhohewas，andtomakeuseofhiminawaythatcouldbeusedpublicly。’

`Anddoyouthinkthatsortofprivateknowledgeconsistentwiththeofficialpositionyouoccupy？’

`Perfectly，sir。Ithinkit’squiteproper。Iwilltakethelibertytotellyou，sir，thatitmakesmewhatIam—andIamlookeduponasamanwhoknowshiswork。It’saprivateaffairofmyown。ApersonalfriendofmineintheFrenchpolicegavemethehintthatthefellowwasanEmbassyspy。Privatefriendship，privateinformation，privateuseofit—that’showIlookuponit。’

TheAssistantCommissioner，afterremarkingtohimselfthatthementalstateoftherenownedChiefInspectorseemedtoaffecttheoutlineofhislowerjaw，asifthelivelysenseofhishighprofessionaldistinctionhadbeenlocatedinthatpartofhisanatomy，dismissedthepointforthemomentwithacalm`Isee。’Thenleaninghischeekonhisjoinedhands:

`Well，then—speakingprivatelyifyoulike—howlonghaveyoubeeninprivatetouchwiththisEmbassyspy？’

TothisinquirytheprivateansweroftheChiefInspector，soprivatethatitwasnevershapedintoaudiblewords，was:

`Longbeforeyouwereeventhoughtofforyourplacehere。’Theso—to—speakpublicutterancewasmuchmoreprecise。`Isawhimforthefirsttimeinmylifealittlemorethansevenyearsago，whentwoImperialHighnessesandtheImperialChancellorwereonavisithere。Iwasputinchargeofallthearrangementsforlookingafterthem。BaronStott—WartenheimwasAmbassadorthen。Hewasaverynervousoldgentleman。Oneevening，threedaysbeforetheGuildhallBanquet，hesentwordthathewantedtoseemeforamoment。Iwasdownstairs，andthecarriageswereatthedoortotaketheImperialHighnessesandtheChancellortotheopera。Iwentupatonce。