Mr Verloc, going out in the morning, left his shop nominally in charge of his brother-in-law.

It could be done, because there was very little business at any time, and practically none at all before the evening.

Mr Verloc cared but little about his ostensible business.

And, moreover, his wife was in charge of his brother-in-law.
The shop was small, and so was the house.

It was one of those grimy brick houses which existed in large quantities before the era of reconstruction dawned upon London.