He dreaded the demon of sleeplessness, which he felt had marked him for its own.

He raised his arm, and turned off the flaring gas-jet above his head.
A bright band of light fell through the parlour door into the part of the shop behind the counter.

It enabled Mr Verloc to ascertain at a glance the number of silver coins in the till.

These were but few; and for the first time since he opened his shop he took a commercial survey of its value.

This survey was unfavourable.