road. Nothing could be more characteristic of
the respectable bond than that," went on, with a touch of grimness, the
Assistant Commissioner, whose own wife too had refused to hear of going
abroad. "Yes, a genuine wife. And the victim was a genuine
brother-in-law. From a certain point of view we are here in the presence
of a domestic drama."

The Assistant Commissioner laughed a little; but the great man's thoughts
seemed to have wandered far away, perhaps to the questions of his
country's domestic policy, the battle-ground of his crusading valour
against the paynim Cheeseman. The Assistant Commissioner withdrew
quietly, unnoticed, as if already forgotten.

He had his own crusading instincts. This affair, which, in one way or
another, disgusted Chief Inspector Heat, seemed to him a providentially
given starting-point for a crusade. He had it much at heart to begin.
He walked slowly home, meditating that enterprise on the way, and
thinking over Mr Verloc's psychology in a composite mood of repugnance
and satisfaction. He walked all the way home. Finding the drawing-room
dark, he went upstairs, and spent some time between the bedroom and the
dressing-room, changing his clothes, going to and fro with the air of a
thoughtful somnambulist. But he shook it off before going out again to
join his wife at the house of the great lady patroness of Michaelis.

He knew he would be welcomed there. On entering the smaller of the two
drawing-rooms he saw his wife in a small group near the piano. A
youngish composer in pass of becoming famous was discoursing from a music
stool to two thick men whose backs looked old, and three slender women
whose backs looked young. Behind the screen the great lady had only two
persons with her: a man and a woman, who sat side by side on arm-chairs
at the foot of her couch. She extended her hand to the Assistant
Commissioner.

"I never hoped to see you here to-night. Annie told me--"

"Yes. I had no idea myself that my work would be over so soon."

The Assistant Commissioner added in a low tone. "I am glad to tell you
that Michaelis is altogether clear of this--"

The patroness of the ex-convict received this assurance indignantly.

"Why? Were your people stupid enough to connect him with--"

"Not stupid," interrupted the Assistant Commissioner, contradicting
deferentially. "Clever enough--quite clever enough for that."

A silence fell. The man at the foot of the couch had