ive
ferocity so absurd as to be incomprehensible, inexplicable, almost
unthinkable; in fact, mad? Madness alone is truly terrifying, inasmuch
as you cannot placate it either by threats, persuasion, or bribes.
Moreover, I am a civilised man. I would never dream of directing you to
organise a mere butchery, even if I expected the best results from it.
But I wouldn't expect from a butchery the result I want. Murder is
always with us. It is almost an institution. The demonstration must be
against learning--science. But not every science will do. The attack
must have all the shocking senselessness of gratuitous blasphemy. Since
bombs are your means of expression, it would be really telling if one
could throw a bomb into pure mathematics. But that is impossible. I
have been trying to educate you; I have expounded to you the higher
philosophy of your usefulness, and suggested to you some serviceable
arguments. The practical application of my teaching interests _you_
mostly. But from the moment I have undertaken to interview you I have
also given some attention to the practical aspect of the question. What
do you think of having a go at astronomy?"

For sometime already Mr Verloc's immobility by the side of the arm-chair
resembled a state of collapsed coma--a sort of passive insensibility
interrupted by slight convulsive starts, such as may be observed in the
domestic dog having a nightmare on the hearthrug. And it was in an
uneasy doglike growl that he repeated the word:

"Astronomy."

He had not recovered thoroughly as yet from that state of bewilderment
brought about by the effort to follow Mr Vladimir's rapid incisive
utterance. It had overcome his power of assimilation. It had made him
angry. This anger was complicated by incredulity. And suddenly it
dawned upon him that all this was an elaborate joke. Mr Vladimir
exhibited his white teeth in a smile, with dimples on his round, full
face posed with a complacent inclination above the bristling bow of his
neck-tie. The favourite of intelligent society women had assumed his
drawing-room attitude accompanying the delivery of delicate witticisms.
Sitting well forward, his white hand upraised, he seemed to hold
delicately between his thumb and forefinger the subtlety of his
suggestion.

"There could be nothing better. Such an outrage combines the greatest
possible regard for humanity with the most alarming display of ferocious
imbecility. I defy the in