It almost brought tears into his eyes as he stood in the parlour reflecting on the loneliness hanging over her head.

In this mood Mr Verloc missed Stevie very much out of a difficult world.

He thought mournfully of his end.

If only that lad had not stupidly destroyed himself! The sensation of unappeasable hunger, not unknown after the strain of a hazardous enterprise to adventurers of tougher fibre than Mr Verloc, overcame him again.

The piece of roast beef, laid out in the likeness of funereal baked meats for Stevie's obsequies, offered itself largely to his notice.