Could it be that the old woman had such an excellent nose?
But the unreasonableness of such a suspicion was patent, and Mr Verloc held his tongue.

Not altogether, however.

He muttered heavily: "Perhaps it's just as well." He began to undress.

Mrs Verloc kept very still, perfectly still, with her eyes fixed in a dreamy, quiet stare.

And her heart for the fraction of a second seemed to stand still too.