he went on in a good-natured tone, "the
foreign governments cannot complain of the inefficiency of our police.
Look at this outrage; a case specially difficult to trace inasmuch as it
was a sham. In less than twelve hours we have established the identity
of a man literally blown to shreds, have found the organiser of the
attempt, and have had a glimpse of the inciter behind him. And we could
have gone further; only we stopped at the limits of our territory."

"So this instructive crime was planned abroad," Mr Vladimir said quickly.
"You admit it was planned abroad?"

"Theoretically. Theoretically only, on foreign territory; abroad only by
a fiction," said the Assistant Commissioner, alluding to the character of
Embassies, which are supposed to be part and parcel of the country to
which they belong. "But that's a detail. I talked to you of this
business because its your government that grumbles most at our police.
You see that we are not so bad. I wanted particularly to tell you of our
success."

"I'm sure I'm very grateful," muttered Mr Vladimir through his teeth.

"We can put our finger on every anarchist here," went on the Assistant
Commissioner, as though he were quoting Chief Inspector Heat. "All
that's wanted now is to do away with the agent provocateur to make
everything safe."

Mr Vladimir held up his hand to a passing hansom.

"You're not going in here," remarked the Assistant Commissioner, looking
at a building of noble proportions and hospitable aspect, with the light
of a great hall falling through its glass doors on a broad flight of
steps.

But Mr Vladimir, sitting, stony-eyed, inside the hansom, drove off
without a word.

The Assistant Commissioner himself did not turn into the noble building.
It was the Explorers' Club. The thought passed through his mind that Mr
Vladimir, honorary member, would not be seen very often there in the
future. He looked at his watch. It was only half-past ten. He had had
a very full evening.

CHAPTER XI

After Chief Inspector Heat had left him Mr Verloc moved about the
parlour.

From time to time he eyed his wife through the open door. "She knows all
about it now," he thought to himself with commiseration for her sorrow
and with some satisfaction as regarded himself. Mr Verloc's soul, if
lacking greatness perhaps, was capable of tender sentiments. The
prospect of having to break the news to her had put him into a fever.
Chief Inspector Hea