as far as his
loyalty dared to go for the good of the service. If the Assistant Commissioner
wanted to mismanage this affair nothing, of course, could prevent him. But, on
his own part, he now saw no reason for a display of alacrity. So he answered
concisely:
    »It's a shop, sir.«
    The Assistant Commissioner, with his eyes lowered on the rag of blue cloth,
waited for more information. As that did not come he proceeded to obtain it by a
series of questions propounded with gentle patience. Thus he acquired an idea of
the nature of Mr. Verloc's commerce, of his personal appearance, and heard at
last his name. In a pause the Assistant Commissioner raised his eyes, and
discovered some animation on the Chief Inspector's face. They looked at each
other in silence.
    »Of course,« said the latter, »the department has no record of that man.«
    »Did any of my predecessors have any knowledge of what you have told me
now?« asked the Assistant Commissioner, putting his elbows on the table and
raising his joined hands before his face, as if about to offer prayer, only that
his eyes had not a pious expression.
    »No, sir; certainly not. What would have been the object? That sort of man
could never be produced publicly to any good purpose. It was sufficient for me
to know who he was, and to make use of him in a way that could be used
publicly.«
    »And do you think that sort of private knowledge consistent with the
official position you occupy?«
    »Perfectly, sir. I think it's quite proper. I will take the liberty to tell
you, sir, that it makes me what I am - and I am looked upon as a man who knows
his work. It's a private affair of my own. A personal friend of mine in the
French police gave me the hint that the fellow was an Embassy spy. Private
friendship, private information, private use of it - that's how I look upon it.«
    The Assistant Commissioner, after remarking to himself that the mental state
of the renowned Chief Inspector seemed to affect the outline of his lower jaw,
as if the lively sense of his high professional distinction had been located in
that part of his anatomy, dismissed the point for the moment with a calm I see.
Then leaning his cheek on his joined hands:
    »Well, then - speaking privately if you like - how long have you been in
private touch with this