"The whole thing is," his guest continued, yet more frankly, "that I happen to hold my own views on crime and its punishment If I might be permitted to explain them, however briefly, they would at least afford the only excuse I have to offer for my conduct. If you consider it no excuse, and if I have put myself within reach of the law, there, sir, is my card; and here am I, prepared to take the consequences of my act." The Home Secretary leaned forward and took the card from a sensitive hand, vibrant as the voice to which he had just been listening, but no more tremulous. Again he looked up, into a pale face grown paler still, and dark eyes smoldering with suppressed enthusiasm. It was by no means his baptism of that sort of fire; but it seemed to Mr. Vinson that here was a new type of eccentric zealot; and it was only by an effort that he resumed his House of Commons attitude and his smile. "I see, Doctor Dollar, that you are a near neighbor of mine--only just round the corner in Welbeck Street. May I take it that your experience as a consultant is the basis of the views you mention?" "My experience as an alienist," said Doctor Dollar, "so far as I can lay claims to that euphemism." "And how far is that, doctor?" "In the sense that all crime is a form of madness." "Then you would call yourself----" The broken sentence ended on a note as tactfully remote from the direct interrogative as practised speech could make it. "In default of a recognized term," said Doctor Dollar, "which time will confer as part of a wider recognition, I can only call myself a crime doctor." "A branch not yet acknowledged by your profession?" "Neither by my profession nor by the law, Mr. Vinson; but both have got to come to it, just as surely as we all accept the other scientific developments of the day." "But have you reduced your practise to a science, doctor?" "I am doing so," said Doctor Dollar, with the restrained confidence which could not but impress one who knew the value of that quality in himself and in others. "I have made a start; if it were not so late I would tell you all about it. You are the Home Secretary of England, the man of all others whom I could wish to convert to my views. But already I have kept you up too long. If you would grant me an appointment----" "Not at all," interrupted Mr. Vinson, as he settled himself even more comfortably in his chair. "The night is still young--so is my cigar. Pray say all you care to say, and say it as confidentially as you please. You interest me, Doctor Dollar; nor can I forget that I am much indebted to you."