But you seem to be exactly in the right frame of mind.

I think you might almost join us." "Join you in what ?" asked Syme.
"I will tell you," said the policeman slowly.

"This is the situation: The head of one of our departments, one of the most celebrated detectives in Europe, has long been of opinion that a purely intellectual conspiracy would soon threaten the very existence of civilisation.

He is certain that the scientific and artistic worlds are silently bound in a crusade against the Family and the State.

He has, therefore, formed a special corps of policemen, policemen who are also philosophers.