expression. The official blinked doubtfully, as if affected by the dim
light of the room. He repeated vaguely.

"The vigilance of the police--and the severity of the magistrates. The
general leniency of the judicial procedure here, and the utter absence of
all repressive measures, are a scandal to Europe. What is wished for
just now is the accentuation of the unrest--of the fermentation which
undoubtedly exists--"

"Undoubtedly, undoubtedly," broke in Mr Verloc in a deep deferential bass
of an oratorical quality, so utterly different from the tone in which he
had spoken before that his interlocutor remained profoundly surprised.
"It exists to a dangerous degree. My reports for the last twelve months
make it sufficiently clear."

"Your reports for the last twelve months," State Councillor Wurmt began
in his gentle and dispassionate tone, "have been read by me. I failed to
discover why you wrote them at all."

A sad silence reigned for a time. Mr Verloc seemed to have swallowed his
tongue, and the other gazed at the papers on the table fixedly. At last
he gave them a slight push.

"The state of affairs you expose there is assumed to exist as the first
condition of your employment. What is required at present is not
writing, but the bringing to light of a distinct, significant fact--I
would almost say of an alarming fact."

"I need not say that all my endeavours shall be directed to that end," Mr
Verloc said, with convinced modulations in his conversational husky tone.