him inexpedient, besides being a more complicated matter, on
account of the rules of the game. The rules of the game did not
protect so much Michaelis, who was an ex-convict. It would be
stupid not to take advantage of legal facilities, and the
journalists who had written him up with emotional gush would be
ready to write him down with emotional indignation.
This prospect, viewed with confidence, had the attraction of a
personal triumph for Chief Inspector Heat. And deep down in his
blameless bosom of an average married citizen, almost unconscious
but potent nevertheless, the dislike of being compelled by events
to meddle with the desperate ferocity of the Professor had its say.
This dislike had been strengthened by the chance meeting in the
lane. The encounter did not leave behind with Chief Inspector Heat
that satisfactory sense of superiority the members of the police
force get from the unofficial but intimate side of their
intercourse with the criminal classes, by which the vanity of power
is soothed, and the vulgar love of domination over our fellow-
creatures is flattered as worthily as it deserves.
The perfect anarchist was not recognised as a fellow-creature by
Chief Inspector Heat. He was impossible – a mad dog to be left
alone. Not that the Chief Inspector was afraid of him; on the
contrary, he meant to have him some day. But not yet; he meant to
get hold of him in his own time, properly and effectively according
to the rules of the game. The present was not the right time for
attempting that feat, not the right time for many reasons, personal
and of public service. This being the strong feeling of Inspector
Heat, it appeared to him just and proper that this affair should be
shunted off its obscure and inconvenient track, leading goodness
knows where, into a quiet (and lawful) siding called Michaelis.
And he repeated, as if reconsidering the suggestion
conscientiously:
“The bomb. No, I would not say that exactly. We may never find
that out. But it’s clear that he is connected with this in some
way, which we can find out without much trouble.”
His countenance had that look of grave, overbearing indifference
once well known and much dreaded by the better sort of thieves.
Chief Inspector Heat, though what is called a man, was not a
smiling animal. But his inward state was that of satisfaction at
the passively receptive attitude of the Assistant Commissioner, who
murmured gently:
“And you really think that the investigation should be made in that
direction?”
“I do, sir.”
“Quite convinced?
“I am, sir. That’s the true line for us to take.”
The Assistant Commissioner withdrew the support of his hand from
his reclining head with a suddenness that, considering his languid
attitude, seemed to menace his whole person with collapse. But, on
the contrary, he sat up, extremely alert, behind the great writing-
table on which his hand had fallen with the sound of a sharp blow.
“What I want to know is what put it out of your head till now.”
“Put it out of my head,” repeated the Chief Inspector very slowly.
“Yes. Till you were called into this room – you know.”
The Chief Inspector felt as if the air between his clothing and his
skin had become unpleasantly hot. It was the sensation of an
unprecedented and incredible experience.
“Of course,” he said, exaggerating the deliberation of his
utterance to the utmost limits of possibility, “if there is a
reason, of which I know nothing, for not interfering with the
convict Michaelis, perhaps it’s just as well I didn’t start the
county police after him.”
This took such a long time to say that the unflagging attention of
the Assistant Commissioner seemed a wonderful feat of endurance.
His retort came without delay.
“No reason whatever that I know of. Come, Chief Inspector, this
finessing with me is highly improper on your part – highly
improper. And it’s also unfair, you know. You shouldn’t leave me
to puzzle things out for myself like this. Really, I am
surprised.”
He paused, then added smoothly: “I need scarcely tell you that this
conversation is altogether unofficial.”
These words were far from pacifying the Chief Inspector. The