Perhaps he was even fond of the lad--who knows?
He might have hoped that the fellow would get clear away; in which case it would have been almost impossible to bring this thing home to anyone.

At any rate he risked consciously nothing more but arrest for him." The Assistant Commissioner paused in his speculations to reflect for a moment.
"Though how, in that last case, he could hope to have his own share in the business concealed is more than I can tell," he continued, in his ignorance of poor Stevie's devotion to Mr Verloc (who was _good_), and of his truly peculiar dumbness, which in the old affair of fireworks on the stairs had for many years resisted entreaties, coaxing, anger, and other means of investigation used by his beloved sister.

For Stevie was loyal.
.

.

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