"And, anyhow, it served you right for letting yourself get caught.

What made you go in for that sort of thing--eh ?" Mr Verloc's husky conversational voice was heard speaking of youth, of a fatal infatuation for an unworthy-- "Aha! Cherchez la femme," Mr Vladimir deigned to interrupt, unbending, but without affability; there was, on the contrary, a touch of grimness in his condescension.

"How long have you been employed by the Embassy here ?" he asked.
"Ever since the time of the late Baron Stott-Wartenheim," Mr Verloc answered in subdued tones, and protruding his lips sadly, in sign of sorrow for the deceased diplomat.

The First Secretary observed this play of physiognomy steadily.
"Ah! ever since.

Well! What have you got to say for yourself ?" he asked sharply.
Mr Verloc answered with some surprise that he was not aware of having anything special to say.