Mr. Verloc is in the parlor behind his shop with three of his International Red Committee friends. Michaelis, a ticket of leave apostle (a paroled felon), is talking about the effects of Capitalism on social reform. However, Michaelis was in jail for so long that he is not accustomed to expressing his thoughts to other people any longer. Therefore, his logic tends to be scattered and difficult to follow. Finally, Karl Yundt breaks into Michaelis tirade and tells him how scattered he sounds. Michaelis is annoyed by this, because he feels it is not his fault that his thoughts are so difficult to organize.
Ossipon, another of the group, breaks into the conversation with a comment about Stevie, Mr. Verloc's brother-in-law, who is just then sitting at the kitchen table drawing circles over and.....
