to the suppression of the secret agent. But Chief
Inspector Heat is an old departmental hand. He would accuse me of perverting its
morality and attacking its efficiency. He would define it bitterly as protection
extended to the criminal class of revolutionists. It would mean just that to
him.«
    »Yes. But what do you mean?«
    »I mean to say, first, that there's but poor comfort in being able to
declare that any given act of violence - damaging property or destroying life -
is not the work of anarchism at all, but of something else altogether - some
species of authorized scoundrelism. This, I fancy, is much more frequent than we
suppose. Next, it's obvious that the existence of these people in the pay of
foreign governments destroys in a measure the efficiency of our supervision. A
spy of that sort can afford to be more reckless than the most reckless of
conspirators. His occupation is free from all restraint. He's without as much
faith as is necessary for complete negation, and without that much law as is
implied in lawlessness. Thirdly, the existence of these spies amongst the
revolutionary groups, which we are reproached for harbouring here, does away
with all certitude. You have received a reassuring statement from Chief
Inspector Heat some time ago. It was by no means groundless - and yet this
episode happens. I call it an episode, because this affair, I make bold to say,
is episodic; it is no part of any general scheme, however wild. The very
peculiarities which surprise and perplex Chief Inspector Heat establish its
character in my eyes. I am keeping clear of details, Sir Ethelred.«
    The Personage on the hearthrug had been listening with profound attention.
    »Just so. Be as concise as you can.«
    The Assistant Commissioner intimated by an earnest, deferential gesture that
he was anxious to be concise.
    »There is a peculiar stupidity and feebleness in the conduct of this affair
which gives me excellent hopes of getting behind it and finding there something
else than an individual freak of fanaticism. For it is a planned thing,
undoubtedly. The actual perpetrator seems to have been led by the hand to the
spot, and then abandoned hurriedly to his own devices. The inference is that he
was imported from abroad for the purpose of committing this outrage. At the same
time one is forced to the conclusion that he did not know enough English to ask
his way, unless one were to accept the fantastic theory that he was a deaf mute.
I wonder now -- But this is idle. He has destroyed