第15章

IfoundtheBaronwalkingupanddownhisbedroominapitiablestateofdistress，squeezinghishandstogether。Heassuredmehehadthefullestconfidenceinourpoliceandinmyabilities，buthehadthereamanjustcomeoverfromPariswhoseinformationcouldbetrustedimplicitly。Hewantedmetohearwhatthatmanhadtosay。Hetookmeatonceintoadressing—roomnextdoor，whereIsawabigfellowinaheavyovercoatsittingallaloneonachair，andholdinghishatandstickinonehand。TheBaronsaidtohiminFrench"Speak，myfriend。"Thelightinthatroomwasnotverygood。

Italkedwithhimforsomefiveminutesperhaps。Hecertainlygavemeapieceofverystartlingnews。ThentheBarontookmeasidenervouslytopraisehimuptome，andwhenIturnedroundagainIdiscoveredthatthefellowhadvanishedlikeaghost。Gotupandsneakedoutdownsomebackstairs，Isuppose。Therewasnotimetorunafterhim，asIhadtohurryoffaftertheAmbassadordownthegreatstaircase，andseethepartystartedsafefortheopera。However，Iactedupontheinformationthatverynight。

Whetheritwasperfectlycorrectornot，itdidlookseriousenough。VerylikelyitsavedusfromanuglytroubleonthedayoftheImperialvisittotheCity。

`Sometimelater，amonthorsoaftermypromotiontoChiefInspector，myattentionwasattractedtoabigburlyman，IthoughtIhadseensomewherebefore，comingoutinahurryfromajeweller’sshopintheStrand。Iwentafterhim，asitwasonmywaytowardsCharingCross，andthereseeingoneofourdetectivesacrosstheroad，Ibeckonedhimover，andpointedoutthefellowtohim，withinstructionstowatchhismovementsforacoupleofdaysandthenreporttome。Nolaterthannextafternoonmymanturneduptotellmethathefellowhadmarriedhislandlady’sdaughterataregistrar’sofficethatverydayat11。30a。m。，andhadgoneoffwithhertoMargateorweek。Ourmanhadseentheluggagebeingputonthecab。ThereweresomeoldParislabelsononeofthebags。SomehowIcouldn’tgetthefellowoutofmyhead，andtheverynexttimeIhadtogotoParisonserviceIspokeabouthimtothatfriendofmineintheParispolice。Myfriendsaid:"FromwhatyoutellmeIthinkyoumustmeanaratherwell—knownhanger—onandemissaryoftheRevolutionaryRedCommittee。HesaysheisanEnglishmanbybirth。WehaveanideathathehasbeenforagoodfewyearsnowasecretagentofoneoftheforeignEmbassiesinLondon。"Thiswokeupmymemorycompletely。HewasthevanishingfellowIsawsittingonachairinBaronStott—Wartenheim’sbathroom。Itoldmyfriendthathewasquiteright。Thefellowwasasecretagenttomycertainknowledge。

Afterwardsmyfriendtookthetroubletoferretoutthecompleterecordofthatmanforme。IthoughtIhadbetterknowalltherewastoknow;

butIdon’tsupposeyouwanttohearhishistorynow，sir？’

TheAssistantCommissionershookhissupportedhead。`Thehistoryofyourrelationswiththatusefulpersonageistheonlythingthatmattersjustnow，’hesaid，closingslowlyhisweary，deep—seteyes，andthenopeningthemswiftlywithagreatlyrefreshedglance。

`There’snothingofficialaboutthem，’saidtheChiefInspector，bitterly。

`Iwentintohisshoponeevening，toldhimwhoIwas，andremindedhimofourfirstmeeting。Hedidn’tasmuchastwitchaneyebrow。Hesaidthathewasmarriedandsettlednow，andthatallhewantedwasnottobeinterferedwithinhislittlebusiness。Itookituponmyselftopromisehimthat，aslongashedidn’tgoinforanythingobviouslyoutrageous，hewouldbeleftalonebythepolice。Thatwasworthsomethingtohim，becauseawordfromustotheCustom—HousepeoplewouldhavebeenenoughtogetsomeofthesepackageshegetsfromParisandBrusselsopenedinDover，withconfiscationtofollowforcertain，andperhapsaprosecutionaswellattheendofit。’

`That’saveryprecarioustrade，’murmuredtheAssistantCommissioner。

`Whydidhegoinforthat？’

TheChiefInspectorraisedscornfuleyebrowsdispassionately。

`Mostlikelygotaconnection—friendsontheContinent—amongstpeoplewhodealinsuchwares。Theywouldbejustthesorthewouldconsortwith。

He’salazydog，too—liketherestofthem。’

`Whatdoyougetfromhiminexchangeforyourprotection？’

TheChiefInspectorwasnotinclinedtoenlargeonthevalueofMrVerloc’sservices。

`Hewouldnotbemuchgoodtoanybodybutmyself。Onehasgottoknowagooddealbeforehandtomakeuseofamanlikethat。Icanunderstandthesortofhinthecangive。AndwhenIwantahinthecangenerallyfurnishittome。’

TheChiefInspectorlosthimselfsuddenlyinadiscreetreflectivemood;

andtheAssistantCommissionerrepressedasmileatthefleetingthoughtthatthereputationofChiefInspectorHeatmightpossiblyhavebeenmadeinagreatpartbytheSecretAgentVerloc。

`Inamoregeneralwayofbeingofuse，allourmenoftheSpecialCrimessectionondutyatCharingCrossandVictoriahaveorderstotakecarefulnoticeofanybodytheymayseewithhim。Hemeetsthenewarrivalsfrequently，andafterwardskeepstrackofthem。Heseemstohavebeentoldoffforthatsortofduty。WhenIwantanaddressinahurry，Icanalwaysgetitfromhim。Ofcourse，Iknowhowtomanageourrelations。Ihaven’tseenhimtospeaktothreetimesinthelasttwoyears。Idrophimaline，unsigned，andheanswersmeinthesamewayatmyprivateaddress。’

FromtimetotimetheAssistantCommissionergaveanalmostimperceptiblenod。TheChiefInspectoraddedthathedidnotsupposeMrVerloctobedeepintheconfidenceoftheprominentmembersoftheRevolutionaryInternationalCouncil，butthathewasgenerallytrustedofthattherecouldnonodoubt。

`WheneverI’vehadreasontothinktherewassomethinginthewind，’heconcluded，`I’vealwaysfoundhecouldtellmesomethingworthknowing。’

TheAssistantCommissionermadeasignificantremark。

`Hefailedyouthistime。’

`NeitherhadIwindofanythinginanyotherway，’reportedChiefInspectorHeat。`Iaskedhimnothingsohecouldtellmenothing。Heisn’toneofourmen。Itisn’tasifhewereinourpay。’

`No，’mutteredtheAssistantCommissioner。`He’saspyinthepayofaforeigngovernment。Wecouldneverconfesstohim。’

`Imustdomyworkinmyownway，’declaredtheChiefInspector。`WhenitcomestothatIwoulddealwiththedevilhimself，andtaketheconsequences。

Therearethingsnotfitforeverybodytoknow。’

`Yourideaofsecrecyseemstoconsistinkeepingthechiefofyourdepartmentinthedark。That’sstretchingitperhapsalittletoofar，isn’tit？Helivesoverhisshop？’

`Who—Verloc？Oh，yes。HelivesoverhisshopThewife’smother，I

fancy，liveswiththem。’

`Isthehousewatched？’

`Oh，dear，no。Itwouldn’tdo。Certainpeoplewhocometherearewatched。

Myopinionisthatheknowsnothingofthisaffair。’

`Howdoyouaccountforthis？’TheAssistantCommissionernoddedattheclothraglyingbeforehimonthetable。

`Idon’taccountforitatall，sir。It’ssimplyunaccountable。Itcan’tbeexplainedbywhatIknow。’TheChiefInspectormadethoseadmissionswiththefranknessofamanwhosereputationisestablishedasifonarock。`Atanyratenotatthispresentmoment。IthinkthatthemanwhohadmosttodowithitwillturnouttobeMichaelis。’

`Youdo？’`Yes，sir;becauseIcananswerforalltheothers。’

`Whataboutthatothermansupposedtohaveescapedfromthepark？’

`Ishouldthinkhe’sfarawaybythistime，’opinedtheChiefInspector。

TheAssistantCommissionerlookedhardathim，androsesuddenly，asthoughhavingmadeuphismindtosomecourseofaction。Asamatteroffact，hehadthatverymomentsuccumbedtoafascinatingtemptation。TheChiefInspectorheardhimselfdismissedwithinstructionstomeethissuperiorearlynextmorningforfurtherconsultationuponthecase。Helistenedwithanimpenetrableface，andwalkedoutoftheroomwithmeasuredsteps。

WhatevermighthavebeentheplansoftheAssistantCommissionertheyhadnothingtodowiththatdeskwork，whichwasthebaneofhisexistencebecauseofitsconfinednatureandapparentlackofreality。Itcouldnothavehad，orelsethegeneralairofalacritythatcameupontheAssistantCommissionerwouldhavebeeninexplicable。Assoonashewasleftalonehelookedforhishatimpulsively，andputitonhishead。Havingdonethat，hesatdownagaintoreconsiderthewholematter。Butashismindwasalreadymadeup，thisdidnottakelong。AndbeforeChiefInspectorHeathadgoneveryfaronthewayhome，healsoleftthebuilding。

CONRAD:TheSecretAgent，Chapter7CHAPTER7

TheAssistantCommissionerwalkedalongashortandnarrowstreetlikeawet，muddytrench，thencrossingaverybroadthoroughfareenteredapublicedifice，andsoughtspeechwithayoungprivatesecretary（unpaid）

ofagreatpersonage。

Thisfair，smooth—facedyoungman，whosesymmetricallyarrangedhairgavehimtheairofalargeandneatschoolboy，mettheAssistantCommissioner’srequestwithadoubtfullook，andspokewithbatedbreath。

`Wouldheseeyou？Idon’tknowaboutthat。HehaswalkedoverfromtheHouseanhouragototalkwiththePermanentUnder—Secretary，andnowhe’sreadytowalkbackagain。Hemighthavesentforhim;buthedoesitforthesakeofalittleexercise，Isuppose。It’salltheexercisehecanfindtimeforwhilethissessionlasts。Idon’tcomplain;Iratherenjoytheselittlestrolls。Heleansonmyarm，anddoesn’topenhislips。

But，Isay，he’sverytired，and—well—notinthesweetestoftempersjustnow。’

`It’sinconnectionwiththatGreenwichaffair。’

`Oh！Isay！He’sverybitteragainstyoupeople。ButIwillgoandsee，ifyouinsist。’

`Do。That’sagoodfellow，’saidtheAssistantCommissioner。

Theunpaidsecretaryadmiredthispluck。Composingforhimselfaninnocentface，heopenedadoor，andwentinwiththeassuranceofaniceandprivilegedchild。Andpresentlyhereappeared，withanodtotheAssistantCommissioner，whopassingthroughthesamedoorleftopenforhim，foundhimselfwiththegreatpersonageinalargeroom。

Vastinbulkandstature，withalongwhiteface，which，broadenedatthebasebyabigdoublechin，appearedegg—shapedinthefringeofgreyishwhisker，thegreatpersonageseemedanexpandingman。Unfortunatefromatailoringpointofview，thecrossfoldsinthemiddleofabuttonedblackcoataddedtotheimpression，asifthefasteningsofthegarmentweretriedtotheutmost。Fromthehead，setupwardonathickneck，theeyes，withpuffylowerlids，staredwithahaughtydrooponeachsideofahooked，aggressivenose，noblysalientinthevastpalecircumferenceoftheface。

Ashinysilkhatandapairofworngloveslyingreadyattheendofalongtablelookedexpanded，too，enormous。

Hestoodonthehearthruginbig，roomyboots，andutterednowordofgreeting。

`Iwouldliketoknowifthisisthebeginningofanotherdynamitecampaign;’

heaskedatonceinadeep，verysmoothvoice。`Don’tgointodetails。

Ihavenotimeforthat。’

TheAssistantCommissioner’sfigurebeforethisbigandrusticPresencehadthefrailslendernessofareedaddressinganoak。Andindeedtheunbrokenrecordofthatman’sdescentsurpassedinthenumberofcenturiestheageoftheoldestoakinthecountry。

`No。AsfarasonecanbepositiveaboutanythingIcanassureyouthatitisnot。’

`Yes。Butyourideaofassurancesoverthere，’saidthegreatman，withacontemptuouswaveofhishandtowardsawindowgivingonthebroadthoroughfare，`seemtoconsistmainlyinmakingtheSecretaryofStatelookafool。I

havebeentoldpositivelyinthisveryroomlessthanamonthagothatnothingofthesortwasevenpossible。’

TheAssistantCommissionerglancedinthedirectionofthewindowcalmly。

`Youwillallowmetoremark，SirEthelred，thatsofarIhavehadnoopportunitytogiveyouassurancesofanykind。’

ThehaughtydroopoftheeyeswasfocusednowupontheAssistantCommissioner。

`True，’confessedthedeep，smoothvoice。`IsentforHeat。Youarestillratheranoviceinyournewberth。Andhowareyougettingonoverthere？’

`IbelieveIamlearningsomethingeveryday。’

`Ofcourse，ofcourse。Ihopeyouwillgeton。’

`Thankyou，SirEthelred。I’velearnedsomethingtoday，andevenwithinthelasthourorso。Thereismuchinthisaffairofakindthatdoesnotmeettheeyeinausualanarchistoutrage，evenifonelookedintoitasdeepascanbe。That’swhyIamhere。’

Thegreatmanputhisarmsakimbo，thebacksofhisbighandsrestingonhiships。

`Verywell。Goon。Onlynodetails，pray。Sparemethedetails。’

`Youshallnotbetroubledwiththem，SirEthelred，’theAssistantCommissionerbegan，withacalmanduntroubledassurance。Whilehewasspeakingthehandsonthefaceoftheclockbehindthegreatman5back—aheavy，glisteningaffairofmassivescrollsinthesamedarkmarbleasthemantelpiece，andwithaghostly，evanescenttick—hadmovedthroughthespaceofsevenminutes。Hespokewithastudiousfidelitytoaparentheticalmanner，intowhicheverylittlefact—thatis，everydetail—fittedwithdelightfulease。Notamurmurnorevenamovementhintedatinterruption。

ThegreatPersonagemighthavebeenthestatueofoneofhisownprincelyancestorsstrippedofaCrusader’swarharness，andputintoanill—fittingfrockcoat。TheAssistantCommissionerfeltasthoughhewereatlibertytotalkforanhour。Buthekepthishead，andattheendofthetimementionedabovehebrokeoffwithasuddenconclusion，which，reproducingtheopeningstatement，pleasantlysurprisedSirEthelredbyitsapparentswiftnessandforce。

`Thekindofthingwhichmeetsusunderthesurfaceofthisaffair，otherwisewithoutgravity，isunusual—inthispreciseformatleast—

andrequiresspecialtreatment。’

ThetoneofSirEthelredwasdeepened，fullofconviction。`Ishouldthinkso—involvingtheAmbassadorofaforeignpower！’`Oh！TheAmbassador！’

protestedtheother，erectandslender，allowinghimselfamerehalfsmile，`Itwouldbestupidofmetoadvanceanythingofthekind。Anditisabsolutelyunnecessary，becauseifIamrightinmysurmises，whetherambassadororhallporterit’sameredetail。’

SirEthelredopenedawidemouth，likeacavern，intowhichthehookednoseseemedanxioustopeer;therecamefromitasubduedrollingsound，asfromadistantorganwiththescornfulindignationstop。

`No！Thesepeoplearetooimpossible。WhatdotheymeanbyimportingtheirmethodsofCrim—Tartaryhere？ATurkwouldhavemoredecency。’

`Youforget，SirEthelred，thatstrictlyspeakingweknownothingpositively—asyet。’

`No！Buthowwouldyoudefineit？Shortly？’

`Barefacedaudacityamountingtochildishnessofapeculiarsort。’

`Wecan’tputupwiththeinnocenceofnastylittlechildren，’saidthegreatandexpandedpersonage，expandingalittlemoreasitwere。Thehaughty，droopingglancestruckcrushinglythecarpetattheAssistantCommissioner’sfeet。`They’llhavetogetahardrapontheknucklesoverthisaffair。Wemustbeinapositionto—Whatisyourgeneralidea，statedshortly？Noneedtogointodetails。’

`No，SirEthelred。Inprinciple，Ishouldlayitdownthattheexistenceofsecretagentsshouldnotbetolerated，astendingtoaugmentthepositivedangersoftheevilagainstwhichtheyareused。Thatthespywillfabricatehisinformationisamerecommonplace。Butinthesphereofpoliticalandrevolutionaryaction，relyingpartlyonviolence，theprofessionalspyhaseveryfacilitytofabricatetheveryfactsthemselves，andwillspreadthedoubleevilofemulationinonedirection，andofpanic，hastylegislation，unreflectinghate，intheother。However，thisisanimperfectworld——’

Thedeep—voicedPresenceonthehearthrug，motionless，withbigelbowsstuckout，saidhastily:

`Belucid，please。’

`Yes，SirEthelred—Animperfectworld。Thereforedirectlythecharacterofthisaffairsuggesteditselftome，Ithoughtitshouldbedealtwithwithspecialsecrecy，andventuredtocomeoverhere。’

`That’sright，’approvedthegreatPersonage，glancingdowncomplacentlyoverhisdoublechin。`Iamgladthere’ssomebodyoveratyourshopwhothinksthattheSecretaryofStatemaybetrustednowandthen。’

TheAssistantCommissionerhadanamusedsmile。`IwasreallythinkingthatitmightbebetteratthisstageforHeattobereplacedby——’

`What！Heat？Anass—eh？’exclaimedthegreatmanwithdistinctanimosity。

`Notatall。Pray，SirEthelred，don’tputthatunjustinterpretationonmyremarks。’

`Thenwhat？Toocleverbyhalf？’

`Neither—atleastnotasarule。AllthegroundsofmysurmisesI

havefromhim。TheonlythingI’vediscoveredbymyselfisthathehasbeenmakinguseofthatmanprivately。Whocouldblamehim？He’sanoldpolicehand。Hetoldmevirtuallythathemusthavetoolstoworkwith。

ItoccurredtomethatthistoolshouldbesurrenderedtotheSpecialCrimesdivisionasawhole，insteadofremainingtheprivatepropertyofChiefInspectorHeat。Iextendedmyconceptionofourdepartmentaldutiestothesuppressionofthesecretagent。ButChiefInspectorHeatisanolddepartmentalhand。Hewouldaccusemeofpervertingitsmoralityandattackingitsefficiency。Hewoulddefineitbitterlyasprotectionextendedtothecriminalclassofrevolutionists。Itwouldmeanjustthattohim。’

`Yes。Butwhatdoyoumean？’

`Imeantosay，first，thatthere’sbutpoorcomfortinbeingabletodeclarethatanygivenactofviolence—damagingpropertyordestroyinglife—isnottheworkofanarchismatall，butofsomethingelsealtogether—somespeciesofauthorizedscoundrelism。This，Ifancy，ismuchmorefrequentthanwesuppose。Next，it’sobviousthattheexistenceofthesepeopleinthepayofforeigngovernmentsdestroysinameasuretheefficiencyofoursupervision。Aspyofthatsortcanaffordtobemorerecklessthanthemostrecklessofconspirators。Hisoccupationisfreefromallrestraint。

He’swithoutasmuchfaithasisnecessaryforcompletenegation，andwithoutthatmuchlawasisimpliedinlawlessness。Thirdly，theexistenceofthesespiesamongsttherevolutionarygroups，whichwearereproachedforharbouringhere，doesawaywithallcertitude。YouhavereceivedareassuringstatementfromChiefInspectorHeatsometimeago。Itwasbynomeansgroundless—andyetthisepisodehappens。Icallitanepisode，becausethisaffair，Imakeboldtosay，isepisodic;itisnopartofanygeneralscheme，howeverwild。TheverypeculiaritieswhichsurpriseandperplexChiefInspectorHeatestablishitscharacterinmyeyes。Iamkeepingclearofdetails，SirEthelred。’

ThePersonageonthehearthrughadbeenlisteningwithprofoundattention。

`Justso。Beasconciseasyoucan。’

TheAssistantCommissionerintimatedbyanearnest，deferentialgesturethathewasanxioustobeconcise。

`Thereisapeculiarstupidityandfeeblenessintheconductofthisaffairwhichgivesmeexcellenthopesofgettingbehinditandfindingtheresomethingelsethananindividualfreakoffanaticism。Foritisaplannedthing，undoubtedly。Theactualperpetratorseemstohavebeenledbythehandtothespot，andthenabandonedhurriedlytohisowndevices。

Theinferenceisthathewasimportedfromabroadforthepurposeofcommittingthisoutrage。AtthesametimeoneisforcedtotheconclusionthathedidnotknowenoughEnglishtoaskhisway，unlessoneweretoacceptthefantastictheorythathewasadeafmute。Iwondernow—Butthisisidle。

Hehasdestroyedhimselfbyanaccident，obviously。Notanextraordinaryaccident。Butanextraordinarylittlefactremains:theaddressonhisclothingdiscoveredbythemerestaccident，too。Itisanincrediblelittlefact，soincrediblethattheexplanationwhichwillaccountforitisboundtotouchthebottomofthisaffair。InsteadofinstructingHeattogoonwiththiscase，myintentionistoseekthisexplanationpersonally—bymyself，Imean—whereitmaybepickedup。ThatisinacertainshopinBrettStreet，andonthelipsofacertainsecretagentonceuponatimetheconfidentialandtrustedspyofthelateBaronStott—Wartenheim，AmbassadorofaGreatPowertotheCourtofStJames’s。’

TheAssistantCommissionerpaused，thenadded:`Thosefellowsareaperfectpest。’Inordertoraisehisdroopingglancetothespeaker’sface，thePersonageonthehearthrughadgraduallytiltedhisheadfartherback，whichgavehimanaspectofextraordinaryhaughtiness。

`WhynotleaveittoHeat？’

`Becauseheisanolddepartmentalhand。Theyhavetheirownmorality。

Mylineofinquirywouldappeartohimanawfulperversionofduty。Forhimtheplaindutyistofastentheguiltuponasmanyprominentanarchistsashecanonsomeslightindicationshehadpickedupinthecourseofhisinvestigationonthespot;whereasI，hewouldsay，ambentuponvindicatingtheirinnocence。IamtryingtobeaslucidasIcaninpresentingthisobscuremattertoyouwithoutdetails。’

`Hewould，wouldhe？’mutteredtheproudheadofSirEthelredfromitsloftyelevation。

`Iamafraidso—withanindignationanddisgustofwhichyouorI

canhavenoidea。He’sanexcellentservant。Wemustnotputanunduestrainonhisloyalty。That’salwaysamistake。Besides，Iwantafreehand—

afreerhandthanitwouldbeperhapsadvisabletogiveChiefInspectorHeat。Ihaven’ttheslightestwishtosparethismanVerloc。Hewill，I

imagine，beextremelystartledtofindhisconnectionwiththisaffair，whateveritmaybe，broughthometohimsoquickly。Frighteninghimwillnotbeverydifficult。Butourtrueobjectiveliesbehindhimsomewhere。

IwantyourauthoritytogivehimsuchassurancesofpersonalsafetyasImaythinkproper。’

`Certainly，’saidthePersonageonthehearthrug。`Findoutasmuchasyoucan;finditoutinyourownway。

`Imustsetaboutitwithoutlossoftime，thisveryevening，’saidtheAssistantCommissioner。

SirEthelredshiftedonehandunderhiscoattails，andtiltingbackhisheadlookedathimsteadily。

`We’llhavealatesittingtonight，’hesaid。`CometotheHousewithyourdiscoveriesifwearenotgonehome。I’llwarnToodlestolookoutforyou。He’lltakeyouintomyroom。’

ThenumerousfamilyandthewideconnectionsoftheyouthfullookingPrivateSecretarycherishedforhimthehopeofanaustereandexalteddestiny。Meantime，thesocialsphereheadornedinhishoursofidlenesschosetopethimundertheabovenickname。AndSirEthelred，hearingitonthelipsofhiswifeandgirlseveryday（mostlyatbreakfast—time），hadconferreduponitthedignityofunsmilingadoption。

TheAssistantCommissionerwassurprisedandgratifiedextremely。

`IshallcertainlybringmydiscoveriestotheHouseonthechanceofyouhavingthetimeto——’

`Iwon’thavethetime，’interruptedthegreatPersonage。`ButIwillseeyou。Ihaven’tthetimenow—Andyouaregoingyourself？’

`Yes，SirEthelred。Ithinkitthebestway。’

ThePersonagehadtiltedhisheadsofarbackthat，inordertokeeptheAssistantCommissionerunderhisobservation，hehadtonearlyclosehiseyes。

`H’m。Ha！Andhowdoyoupropose—Willyouassumeadisguise？’

`Hardlyadisguise！I’llchangemyclothes，ofcourse。’

`Ofcourse，’repeatedthegreatman，withasortofabsent—mindedloftiness。

Heturnedhisbigheadslowly，andoverhisshouldergaveahaughty，obliquestaretotheponderousmarbletimepiecewiththesly，feebletick。Thegilthandshadtakentheopportunitytostealthroughnolessthanfiveandtwentyminutesbehindhisback。

TheAssistantCommissioner，whocouldnotseethem，grewalittlenervousintheinterval。Butthegreatmanpresentedtohimacalmandundismayedface。

`Verywell，’hesaid，andpaused，asifindeliberatecontemptoftheofficialclock。`Butwhatfirstputyouinmotioninthisdirection？’

`Ihavebeenalwaysofopinion，’begantheAssistantCommissioner。

`Ah。Yes！Opinion。That’sofcourse。Buttheimmediatemotive？’

`WhatshallIsay，SirEthelred？Anewman’santagonismtooldmethods。

Adesiretoknowsomethingatfirsthand。Someimpatience。It’smyoldwork，buttheharnessisdifferent。Ithasbeenchafingmealittleinoneortwotenderplaces。’

`Ihopeyou’llgetonoverthere，’saidthegreatman，kindly，extendinghishand，softtothetouch，butbroadandpowerfullikethehandofaglorifiedfarmer。TheAssistantCommissionershookit，andwithdrew。

IntheouterroomToodles，whohadbeenwaitingperchedontheedgeofatable，advancedtomeethim，subduinghisnaturalbuoyancy。

`Well？Satisfactory？’heasked，withairyimportance。

`Perfectly。You’veearnedmyundyinggratitude，’answeredtheAssistantCommissioner，whoselongfacelookedwoodenincontrastwiththepeculiarcharacteroftheother’sgravity，whichseemedperpetuallyreadytobreakintoripplesandchuckles。

`That’sallright。But，seriously，youcan’timaginehowirritatedheisbytheattacksonhisBillfortheNationalizationofFisheries。Theycallitthebeginningofsocialrevolution。Ofcourse，itisarevolutionarymeasure。Butthesefellowshavenodecency。Thepersonalattacks——’

`Ireadthepapers，’remarkedtheAssistantCommissioner。

`Odious？Eh？Andyouhavenonotionwhatamassofworkhehasgottogetthrougheveryday。Hedoesitallhimself。SeemsunabletotrustanyonewiththeseFisheries。’

`Andyethe’sgivenawholehalfhourtotheconsiderationofmyverysmallsprat，’interjectedtheAssistantCommissioner。