Buthewascurioustoknowhowshehadbeeninformed。Thepaperscouldtellhernothingbeyondthemerefact:themanblowntopiecesinGreenwichParknothavingbeenidentified。ItwasinconceivableonanytheorythatVerlocshouldhavegivenheraninklingofhisintention—whateveritwas。ThisprobleminterestedComradeOssiponimmensely。Hestoppedshort。
TheyhadgonethenalongthethreesidesofBrettPlace，andwereneartheendofBrettStreetagain。
`Howdidyoufirstcometohearofit？’heaskedinatonehetriedtorenderappropriatetothecharacteroftherevelationswhichhadbeenmadetohimbythewomanathisside。
Sheshookviolentlyforawhilebeforesheansweredinalistlessvoice。
`Fromthepolice。Achiefinspectorcame。ChiefInspectorHeathesaidhewas。Heshowedme——’
MrsVerlocchoked。`Oh，Tom，theyhadtogatherhimupwithashovel。’
Herbreastheavedwithdrysobs。InamomentOssiponfoundhistongue。
`Thepolice！Doyoumeantosaythepolicecamealready？ThatChiefInspectorHeathimselfactuallycametotellyou。
`Yes，’sheconfirmedinthesamelistlesstone。`Hecame。Justlikethis。Hecame。Ididn’tknow。Heshowedmeapieceofovercoat，and—Justlikethat。Doyouknowthis？hesays。
`Heat！Heat！Andwhatdidhedo？’
MrsVerloc’sheaddropped。`Nothing。Hedidnothing。Hewentaway。Thepolicewereonthatman’sside，’shemurmuredtragically。`Anotheronecame，too，`Another—anotherinspector，doyoumean？’askedOssipon，ingreatexcitement，andverymuchinthetoneofthescaredchild。
`Idon’tknow。Hecame。Helookedlikeaforeigner。HemayhavebeenoneofthemEmbassypeople。’
ComradeOssiponnearlycollapsedunderthisnewshock。
`Embassy！Areyouawarewhatyouaresaying？WhatEmbassy？WhatonearthdoyoumeanbyEmbassy？’
`It’sthatplaceinCheshamSquare。Thepeoplehecursedso。Idon’tknow。Whatdoesitmatter！’
`Andthatfellow，whatdidhedoorsaytoyou？’
`Idon’tremember……Nothing……Idon’tcare。Don’taskme，’shepleadedinawearyvoice。
`Allright。Iwon’t，’assentedOssipon，tenderly。Andhemeantit，too，notbecausehewastouchedbythepathosofthepleadingvoice，butbecausehefelthimselflosinghisfootinginthedepthsofthistenebrousaffair。
Police！Embassy！Phew！Forfearofadventuringhisintelligenceintowayswhereitsnaturallightsmightfailtoguideitsafelyhedismissedresolutelyallsuppositions，surmises，andtheoriesoutofhismind。Hehadthewomanthere，absolutelyflingingherselfathim，andthatwastheprincipalconsideration。
Butafterwhathehadheardnothingcouldastonishhimanymore。AndwhenMrsVerloc，asifstartledsuddenlyoutofadreamofsafety，begantourgeuponhimwildlythenecessityofanimmediateflightontheContinent，hedidnotexclaimintheleast。Hesimplysaidwithunaffectedregretthattherewasnotraintillthemorning，andstoodlookingthoughtfullyatherface，veiledinblacknet，inthelightofagas—lampveiledinagauzeofmist。
Nearhim，herblackformmergedinthenight，likeafigurehalfchiselledoutofablockofblackstone。Itwasimpossibletosaywhatsheknew，howdeepshewasinvolvedwithpolicemenandEmbassies。Butifshewantedtogetaway，itwasnotforhimtoobject。Hewasanxioustobeoffhimself。
Hefeltthatthebusiness，theshopsostrangelyfamiliartochiefinspectorsandmembersofforeignEmbassies，wasnottheplaceforhim。Thatmustbedropped。Buttherewastherest。Thesesavings。Themoney！
`Youmusthidemetillthemorningsomewhere，’shesaidinadismayedvoice。
`Factis，mydear，Ican’ttakeyouwhereIlive。Isharetheroomwithafriend。’
Hewassomewhatdismayedhimself。Inthemorningtheblessedtecswillbeoutinallthestations，nodoubt。Andiftheyoncegotholdofher，foronereasonoranothershewouldbelosttohimindeed。
`Butyoumust。Don’tyoucareformeatall—atall？Whatareyouthinkingof？’
Shesaidthisviolently，butsheletherclaspedhandsfallindiscouragement。
Therewasasilence，whilethemistfell，anddarknessreignedundisturbedoverBrettPlace。Notasoul，noteventhevagabond，lawless，andamoroussoulofacat，camenearthemanandthewomanfacingeachother。
`Itwouldbepossibleperhapstofindasafelodgingsomewhere，’Ossiponspokeatlast。`Butthetruthis，mydear，Ihavenotenoughmoneytogoandtrywith—onlyafewpence。Werevolutionistsarenotrich。’
Hehadfifteenshillingsinhispocket。Headded:
`Andthere’sthejourneybeforeus，too—firstthinginthemorningatthat。’
Shedidnotmove，madenosound，andComradeOssipon’sheartsankalittle。Apparentlyshehadnosuggestiontooffer。Suddenlysheclutchedatherbreast，asifshehadfeltasharppainthere。
`ButIhave，’shegasped。`Ihavethemoney。Ihaveenoughmoney。Tom！
Letusgofromhere。’
`Howmuchhaveyougot？’heinquired，withoutstirringtohertug;forhewasacautiousman。
`Ihavethemoney，Itellyou。Allthemoney。
`Whatdoyoumeanbyit？Allthemoneytherewasinthebank，orwhat？’
heasked，incredulously，butreadynottobesurprisedatanythinginthewayofluck。
`Yes，yes！’shesaidnervously。`Alltherewas。I’veitall。’
`Howonearthdidyoumanagetogetholdofitalready？’hemarvelled。
`Hegaveittome，’shemurmured，suddenlysubduedandtrembling。ComradeOssiponputdownhisrisingsurprisewithafirmhand。
`Why，then—wearesaved，’heutteredslowly。
Sheleanedforward，andsankagainsthisbreast。Hewelcomedherthere。
Shehadallthemoney。Herhatwasinthewayofverymarkedeffusion;
herveil，too。Hewasadequateinhismanifestations，butnomore。Shereceivedthemwithoutresistanceandwithoutabandonment，passively，asifonlyhalf—sensible。Shefreedherselffromhislaxembracewithoutdifficulty。
`Youwillsaveme，Tom，’shebrokeout，recoiling，butstillkeepingherholdonhimbythetwolapelsofhisdampcoat。`Saveme。Hideme。
Don’tletthemhaveme。Youmustkillmefirst。Icouldn’tdoitmyself—Icouldn’t，Icouldn’t—notevenforwhatIamafraidof。’
Shewasconfoundedlybizarre，hethought。Shewasbeginningtoinspirehimwithanindefiniteuneasiness。Hesaidsurlily，forhewasbusywithimportantthoughts:
`Whatthedevilareyouafraidof？’
`Haven’tyouguessedwhatIwasdriventodo！’criedthewoman。Distractedbythevividnessofherdreadfulapprehensions，herheadringingwithforcefulwords，thatkeptthehorrorofherpositionbeforehermind，shehadimaginedherincoherencetobeclearnessitself。Shehadnoconscienceofhowlittleshehadaudiblysaidinthedisjointedphrasescompletedonlyinherthought。
Shehadfeltthereliefofafullconfession，andshegaveaspecialmeaningtoeverysentencespokenbyComradeOssipon，whoseknowledgedidnotintheleastresembleherown。`Haven’tyouguessedwhatIwasdriventodo！’
Hervoicefell。`Youneedn’tbelonginguessingthenwhatIamafraidof，’shecontinuedinabitterandsombremurmur。`Iwon’thaveit。Iwon’t。
Iwon’t。Iwon’t。Youmustpromisetokillmefirst！’Sheshookthelapelsofhiscoat。`Itmustneverbe！’
Heassuredhercurtlythatnopromisesonhispartwerenecessary，buthetookgoodcarenottocontradictherinsetterms，becausehehadhadmuchtodowithexcitedwomen，andhewasinclinedingeneraltolethisexperienceguidehisconductinpreferencetoapplyinghissagacitytoeachspecialcase。Hissagacityinthiscasewasbusyinotherdirections。
Women’swordsfellintowater，buttheshortcomingsoftime—tablesremained。
TheinsularnatureofGreatBritainobtrudeditselfuponhisnoticeinanodiousform。`Mightjustaswellbeputunderlockandkeyeverynight，’
hethoughtirritably，asnonplussedasthoughhehadawalltoscalewiththewomanonhisback。Suddenlyheslappedhisforehead。HehadbydintofcudgellinghisbrainsjustthoughtoftheSouthampton—StMaloservice。
Theboatleftaboutmidnight。Therewasatrainat10。30。Hebecamecheeryandreadytoact。
`FromWaterloo。Plentyoftime。Weareallrightafterall……What’sthematternow？Thisisn’ttheway，’heprotested。
MrsVerloc，havinghookedherarmintohis，wastryingtodraghimintoBrettStreetagain。
`I’veforgottentoshuttheshopdoorasIwentout，’shewhispered，terriblyagitated。
TheshopandallthatwasinithadceasedtointerestComradeOssipon。
Heknewhowtolimithisdesires。Hewasonthepointofsaying`Whatofthat？Letitbe，’butherefrained。Hedislikedargumentabouttrifles。
Heevenmendedhispaceconsiderablyonthethoughtthatshemighthaveleftthemoneyinthedrawer。Buthiswillingnesslaggedbehindherfeverishimpatience。
Theshopseemedtobequitedarkatfirst。Thedoorstoodajar。MrsVerloc，leaningagainstthefront，graspedout:
`Nobodyhasbeenin。Look！Thelight—thelightintheparlour。’
Ossipon，stretchinghisheadforward，sawafaintgleaminthedarknessoftheshop。
`Thereis，’hesaid。
`Iforgotit。’MrsVerloc’svoicecamefrombehindherveilfaintly。
Andashestoodwaitingforhertoenterfirst，shesaidlouder:`Goinandputitout—orI’llgomad。’
Hemadenoimmediateobjectiontothisproposal，sostrangelymotived。
`Where’sallthatmoney？’heasked。
`Onme！Go，Tom。Quick！Putitout……Goin！’shecried，seizinghimbybothshouldersfrombehind。
Notpreparedforadisplayofphysicalforce，ComradeOssiponstumbledfarintotheshopbeforeherpush。Hewasastonishedatthestrengthofthewomanandscandalizedbyherproceedings。Buthedidnotretracehisstepsinordertoremonstratewithherseverelyinthestreet。Hewasbeginningtobedisagreeablyimpressedbyherfantasticbehaviour。Moreover，thisorneverwasthetimetohumourthewoman。ComradeOssiponavoidedeasilytheendofthecounter，andapproachedcalmlytheglazeddooroftheparlour。
Thecurtainoverthepanesbeingdrawnbackalittlehe，byaverynaturalimpulse，lookedin，justashemadereadytoturnthehandle。Helookedinwithoutathought，withoutintention，withoutcuriosityofanysort。
Helookedinbecausehecouldnothelplookingin。Helookedin，anddiscoveredMrVerlocreposingquietlyonthesofa。
Ayellcomingfromtheinnermostdepthsofhischestdiedoutunheardandtransformedintoasortofgreasy，sicklytasteonhislips。AtthesametimethementalpersonalityofComradeOssiponexecutedafranticleapbackwards。Buthisbody，leftthuswithoutintellectualguidance，heldontothedoorhandlewiththeunthinkingforceofaninstinct。Therobustanarchistdidnoteventotter。Andhestared，hisfaceclosetotheglass，hiseyesprotrudingoutofhishead。Hewouldhavegivenanythingtogetaway，buthisreturningreasoninformedhimthatitwouldnotdotoletgothedoorhandle。Whatwasit—madness，anightmare，oratrapintowhichhehadbeendecoyedwithfiendishartfulness？Why—whatfor？
Hedidnotknow。Withoutanysenseofguiltinhisbreast，inthefullpeaceofhisconscienceasfarasthesepeoplewereconcerned，theideathathewouldbemurderedformysteriousreasonsbythecoupleVerlocpassednotsomuchacrosshismindasacrossthepitofhisstomach，andwentout，leavingbehindatrailofsicklyfaintness—anindisposition。ComradeOssipondidnetfeelverywellinaveryspecialwayforamoment—alongmoment。Andhestared。MrVerloclayverystillmeanwhile，simulatingsleepforreasonsofhisown，whilethatsavagewomanofhiswasguardingthedoor—invisibleandsilentinthedarkanddesertedstreet。Wasallthissomesortofterrifyingarrangementinventedbythepoliceforhisespecialbenefit？Hismodestyshrankfromthatexplanation。
ButthetruesenseofthescenehewasbeholdingcametoOssiponthroughthecontemplationofthehat。Itseemedanextraordinarything，anominousobject，asign。Black，andrimupward，itlayonthefloorbeforethecouchasifpreparedtoreceivethecontributionsofpencefrompeoplewhowouldcomepresentlytobeholdMrVerlocinthefullnessofhisdomesticeasereposingonasofa。Fromthehattheeyesoftherobustanarchistwanderedtothedisplacedtable，gazedatthebrokendishforatime，receivedakindofopticalshockfromobservingawhitegleamundertheimperfectlyclosedeyelidsofthemanonthecouch。MrVerlocdidnotseemsomuchasleepnowaslyingdownwithabentheadandlookinginsistentlyathisleftbreast。AndwhenComradeOssiponhadmadeoutthehandleoftheknifeheturnedawayfromtheglazeddoor，andretchedviolently。
Thecrashofthestreetdoorflungtomadehisverysoulleapinapanic。
Thishousewithitsharmlesstenantcouldstillbemadeatrapof—atrapofaterriblekind。ComradeOssiponhadnosettledconceptionnowofwhatwashappeningtohim。Catchinghisthighagainsttheendofthecounter，hespunround，staggeredwithacryofpain，feltinthedistractingclatterofthebellhisarmspinnedtohissidebyaconvulsivehug，whilethecoldlipsofawomanmovedcreepilyonhisveryeartoformthewords:
`Policeman！Hehasseenme！’
Heceasedtostruggle;sheneverlethimgo。Herhandshadlockedthemselveswithaninseparabletwistoffingersonhisrobustback。Whilethefootstepsapproached，theybreathedquickly，breasttobreast，withhard，labouredbreaths，asiftheirshadbeentheattitudeofadeadlystruggle，while，infact，itwastheattitudeofdeadlyfear。Andthetimewaslong。
TheconstableonthebeathadintruthseensomethingofMrsVerloc;
onlycomingfromthelightedthoroughfareattheotherendofBrettStreet，shehadbeennomoretohimthanaflutterinthedarkness。Andhewasnotevenquitesurethattherehadbeenaflutter。Hehadnoreasontohurryup。Oncomingabreastoftheshopheobservedthatithadbeenclosedearly。Therewasnothingveryunusualinthat。Themanondutyhadspecialinstructionsaboutthatshop;whatwentonabouttherewasnottobemeddledwithunlessabsolutelydisorderly，butanyobservationsmadeweretobereported。Therewerenoobservationstomake;butfromasenseofdutyandforthepeaceofhisconscience，owingalsotothatdoubtfulflutterofthedarkness，theconstablecrossedtheroad，andtriedthedoor。Thespringlatch，whosekeywasreposingforeveroffdutyinthelateMrVerloc’swaistcoatpocket，heldaswellasusual。Whiletheconscientiousofficerwasshakingthehandle，Ossiponfeltthecoldlipsofthewomanstirringagaincreepilyagainsthisveryear:
`Ifhecomesinkillme—killme，Tom。’
Theconstablemovedaway，flashingashepassedthelightofhisdarklantern，merelyforform’ssake，attheshopwindow。Foramomentlongerthemanandthewomaninsidestoodmotionless，panting，breasttobreast;
thenherfingerscameunlocked，herarmsfellbyhersideslowly。Ossiponleanedagainstthecounter。Therobustanarchistwantedsupportbadly。
Thiswasawful。Hewasalmosttoodisgustedforspeech。Yethemanagedtoutteraplaintivethought，showingatleastthatherealizedhisposition。
`Onlyacoupleofminuteslaterandyou’dhavemademeblunderagainstthefellowpokingabout’herewithhisdamneddarklantern。
ThewidowofMrVerloc，motionlessinthemiddleoftheshop，saidinsistently:
`Goinandputthatlightout，Tom。Itwilldrivemecrazy。’
Shesawvaguelyhisvehementgestureofrefusal。NothingintheworldwouldhaveinducedOssipontogointotheparlour。Hewasnotsuperstitious，buttherewastoomuchbloodonthefloor;abeastlypoolofitallroundthehat。Hejudgedhehadbeenalreadytoonearthatcorpseforhispeaceofmind—forthesafetyofhisneck，perhaps！
`Atthemeterthen！There。Look。Inthatcorner。’
TherobustformofComradeOssipon，stridingbrusqueandshadowyacrosstheshop，squattedinacornerobediently;butthisobediencewaswithoutgrace。Hefumblednervously—andsuddenlyinthesoundofamutteredcursethelightbehindtheglazeddoorflickedouttoagasping，hystericalsighofawoman。Night，theinevitablerewardofmen’sfaithfullaboursonthisearth，nighthadfallenonMrVerloc，thetriedrevolutionist—`oneoftheoldlot’—thehumbleguardianofsociety;theinvaluablesecretagentAofBaronStott—Wartenheim’sdispatches;aservantoflawandorder，faithful，trusted，accurate，admirable，withperhapsonesingleamiableweakness:
theidealisticbeliefinbeinglovedforhimself。
Ossipongropedhiswaybackthroughthestuffyatmosphere，asblackasinknow，tothecounter。ThevoiceofMrsVerloc，standinginthemiddleoftheshop，vibratedafterhiminthatblacknesswithadesperateprotest。
`Iwillnotbehanged，Tom。Iwillnot——’
Shebrokeoff。Ossiponfromthecounterissuedawarning:`Don’tshoutlikethis，’thenseemedtoreflectprofoundly。`Youdidthisthingquitebyyourself？’heinquiredinahollowvoice，butwithanappearanceofmasterfulcalmnesswhichfilledMrsVerloc’sheartwithgratefulconfidenceinhisprotectingstrength。
`Yes，’shewhispered，invisible。
`Iwouldn’thavebelieveditpossible，’hemuttered。`Nobodywould。’
Sheheardhimmoveaboutandthesnappingofalockintheparlourdoor。
ComradeOssiponhadturnedthekeyonMrVerloc’srepose;andthishedidnotfromreverenceforitseternalnatureoranyotherobscurelysentimentalconsideration，butfortheprecisereasonthathewasnotatallsurethattherewasnotsomeoneelsehidingsomewhereinthehouse。Hedidnotbelievethewoman，orratherhewasincapablebynowofjudgingwhatcouldbetrue，possible，orevenprobableinthisastoundinguniverse。Hewasterrifiedoutofallcapacityforbeliefordisbeliefinregardtothisextraordinaryaffair，whichbeganwithpoliceinspectorsandEmbassiesandwouldendgoodnessknowswhere—onthescaffoldforsomeone。Hewasterrifiedatthethoughtthathecouldnotprovetheusehemadeofhistimeeversinceseveno’clock，forhehadbeenskulkingaboutBrettStreet。Hewasterrifiedatthissavagewomanwhohadbroughthiminthere，andwouldprobablysaddlehimwithcomplicity，atleastifhewerenotcareful。Hewasterrifiedattherapiditywithwhichhehadbeeninvolvedinsuchdanger—decoyedintoit。Itwassometwentyminutessincehehadmether—notmore。
ThevoiceofMrsVerlocrosesubdued，pleadingpiteously:`Don’tletthemhangme，Tom！Takemeoutofthecountry。I’llworkforyou。I’llslaveforyou。I’llloveyou。I’venooneintheworld……Whowouldlookatmeifyoudon’t！’Sheceasedforamoment;theninthedepthsofthelonelinessmaderoundherbyaninsignificantthreadofbloodtricklingoffthehandleofaknife，shefoundadreadfulinspirationtoher—whohadbeentherespectablegirloftheBelgravianmansion，theloyal，respectablewifeofMrVerloc。`Iwon’taskyoutomarryme，’shebreathedoutinshamefacedaccents。
Shemovedastepforwardinthedarkness。Hewasterrifiedather。Hewouldnothavebeensurprisedifshehadsuddenlyproducedanotherknifedestinedforhisbreast。Hecertainlywouldhavemadenoresistance。Hehadreallynotenoughfortitudeinhimjustthentotellhertokeepback。
Butheinquiredinacavernous，strangetone:`Washeasleep？’
`No，’shecried，andwentonrapidly:`Hewasn’t。Nothe。Hehadbeentellingmethatnothingcouldtouchhim。Aftertakingtheboyawayfromundermyveryeyestokillhim—theloving，innocent，harmlesslad。Myown，Itellyou。Hewaslyingonthecouchquiteeasy—afterkillingtheboy—myboy。Iwouldhavegoneonthestreetstogetoutofhissight。
Andhesaystomelikethis:`Comehere，’aftertellingmeIhadhelpedtokilltheboy。Youhear，Tom？Hesayslikethis:`Comehere，’aftertakingmyveryheartoutofmealongwiththeboytosmashinthedirt。’
Sheceased，thendreamilyrepeatedtwice:`Bloodanddirt。Bloodanddirt。’AgreatlightbrokeuponComradeOssipon。Itwasthathalf—wittedladthenwhohadperishedinthepark。Andthefoolingofeverybodyallroundappearedmorecompletethanever—colossal。Heexclaimedscientifically，intheextremityofhisastonishment:`Thedegenerate—byheavens！’
`Comehere。’ThevoiceofMrsVerlocroseagain。`WhatdidhethinkIwasmadeof？Tellme，Tom。Comehere！Me！Likethis！Ihadbeenlookingattheknife，andIthoughtIwouldcomethenifhewantedmesomuch。
Oh，yes！Icame—forthelasttime……Withtheknife。’
Hewasexcessivelyterrifiedather—thesisterofthedegenerate—
adegenerateherselfofamurderingtype……orelseofthelyingtype。
ComradeOssiponmighthavebeensaidtobeterrifiedscientificallyinadditiontoallotherkindsoffear。Itwasanimmeasurableandcompositefunk，whichfromitsveryexcessgavehiminthedarkafalseappearanceofcalmandthoughtfuldeliberation。Forhemovedandspokewithdifficulty，beingasifhalffrozeninhiswillandmind—andnoonecouldseehisghastlyface。Hefelthalfdead。
Heleapedafoothigh。UnexpectedlyMrsVerlochaddesecratedtheunbroken，reserveddecencyofherhomebyashrillandterribleshriek。
`Help，Tom！Saveme。Iwon’tbehanged！’
Herushedforward，gropingforhermouthwithasilencinghand，andtheshriekdiedout。Butinhisrushhehadknockedherover。Hefelthernowclingingroundhislegs，andhisterrorreacheditsculminatingpoint，becameasortofintoxication，entertaineddelusions，acquiredthecharacteristicsofdeliriumtremens。Hepositivelysawsnakesnow。Hesawthewomantwinedroundhimlikeasnake，nottobeshakenoff。Shewasnotdeadly。Shewasdeathitself—thecompanionoflife。
MrsVerloc，asifrelievedbytheoutburst，wasveryfarfrombehavingnoisilynow。Shewaspitiful。
`Tom，youcan’tthrowmeoffnow，’shemurmuredfromthefloor。`Notunlessyoucrushmyheadunderyourheel。Iwon’tleaveyou。’
`Getup，’saidOssipon。
Hisfacewassopaleastobequitevisibleintheprofoundblackdarknessoftheshop;whileMrsVerloc，veiled，hadnoface，almostnodiscernibleform。Thetremblingofsomethingsmallandwhite，aflowerinherhat，markedherplace，hermovements。
Itroseintheblackness。Shehadgotupfromthefloor，andOssiponregrettednothavingrunoutatonceintothestreet。Butheperceivedeasilythatitwouldnotdo。Itwouldnotdo。Shewouldrunafterhim。
Shewouldpursuehimshriekingtillshesenteverypolicemanwithinhearinginchase。Andthengoodnessonlyknewwhatshewouldsayofhim。Hewassofrightenedthatforamomenttheinsanenotionofstranglingherinthedarkpassedthroughhismind。Andhebecamemorefrightenedthanever！
Shehadhim。HesawhimselflivinginabjectterrorinsomeobscurehamletinSpainorItaly;tillsomefinemorningtheyfoundhimdead，too，withaknifeinhisbreast—likeMrVerloc。Hesigheddeeply。Hedarednotmove。AndMrsVerlocwaitedinsilencethegoodpleasureofhersaviour，derivingcomfortfromhisreflectivesilence。
Suddenlyhespokeupinanalmostnaturalvoice。Hisreflectionshadcometoanend。
`Let’sgetout，orwewilllosethetrain。’
`Wherearewegoingto，Tom？’sheasked，timidly。MrsVerlocwasnolongerafreewoman。
`Let’sgettoParisfirst，thebestwaywecan……Gooutfirst，andseeiftheway’sclear。’
Sheobeyed。Hervoicecamesubduedthroughthecautiouslyopeneddoor。
`It’sallright。’
Ossiponcameout。Notwithstandinghisendeavourstobegentle，thecrackedbellclatteredbehindthecloseddoorintheemptyshop，asiftryinginvaintowarnthereposingMrVerlocofthefinaldepartureofhiswife—accompaniedbyhisfriend。
Inthehansomtheypresentlypickedup，therobustanarchistbecameexplanatory。Hewasstillawfullypale，witheyesthatseemedtohavesunkawholehalf—inchintohistenseface。Butheseemedtohavethoughtofeverythingwithextraordinarymethod。
`Whenwearrive，’hediscoursedinaqueer，monotonoustone，`youmustgointothestationaheadofme，asifwedidnotknoweachother。Iwilltakethetickets，andslipyoursintoyourhandasIpassyou。Thenyouwillgointothefirst—classladies’waiting—room，andsittheretilltenminutesbeforethetrainstarts。Thenyoucomeout。Iwillbeoutside。
Yougoinfirstontheplatform，asifyoudidnotknowme。Theremaybeeyeswatchingtherethatknowwhat’swhat。Aloneyouareonlyawomangoingoffbytrain。Iamknown。Withme，youmaybeguessedatasMrsVerlocrunningaway。Doyouunderstand，mydear？’headdedwithaneffort。
`Yes，’saidMrsVerloc，sittingthereagainsthiminthehansomallrigidwiththedreadofthegallowsandthefearofdeath。`Yes，Tom。Andsheaddedtoherself，likeanawfulrefrain:`Thedropgivenwasfourteenfeet。’
Ossipon，notlookingather，andwithafacelikeafreshplastercastofhimselfafterawastingillness，said:`By—the—by，Ioughttohavethemoneyfortheticketsnow。’
MrsVerloc，undoingsomehooksofherbodice，whileshewentonstaringaheadbeyondthesplashboard，handedovertohimthenewpigskinpocket—book。
Hereceiveditwithoutaword，andseemedtoplungeitdeepsomewhereintohisverybreast。Thenheslappedhiscoatontheoutside。
Allthiswasdonewithouttheexchangeofasingleglance;theywereliketwopeoplelookingoutforthefirstsightofadesiredgoal。ItwasnottillthehansomswungroundacornerandtowardsthebridgethatOssiponopenedhislipsagain。