"That must be the thief.
Stevie's slight and fair." "Good," said the Chief Inspector in an approving tone.

And while Mrs Verloc, wavering between alarm and wonder, stared at him, he sought for information.

Why have the address sewn like this inside the coat?
And he heard that the mangled remains he had inspected that morning with extreme repugnance were those of a youth, nervous, absent-minded, peculiar, and also that the woman who was speaking to him had had the charge of that boy since he was a baby.
"Easily excitable ?" he suggested.
"Oh yes.

He is.

But how did he come to lose his coat--" Chief Inspector Heat suddenly pulled out a pink newspaper he had bought less than half-an-hour ago.