"It would depend, of course, upon the case. They don't all know that they're being treated for incipient criminality. The majority think they are in an ordinary nursing home." "A home!" cried the Secretary of State. The word had brought him to his feet at last, in a frame of mind no longer to be concealed by nods and smiles. "You don't mean to tell me, Doctor Dollar, that you actually run a nursing home for unconvicted criminals?" "Potential criminals, Mr. Vinson. I have at present no patient who is actually wanted by the police." "And where is this extraordinary establishment?" "Under my own roof here in Welbeck Street." "A few hundred yards from where we stand, yet this is the first I hear of it!" "I can see that. It's not my fault, sir. I have done my best to bring it before your notice." "How?" "By writing many times to tell you all about myself and the home, Mr. Vinson." "Then I never saw the letters. A Home Secretary stands to be shot at by every crank who can hold a pen. I employ more than one young gentleman expressly to divert that sort of fire. You should have got an introduction to me, Doctor Dollar." The doctor had smiled at an expression that he could not but take to himself. His smile sweetened under the kindlier tone which succeeded that one unmeasured word. "I am not sorry I waited for the introduction which time has given me, Mr. Vinson." "You wanted me to assist the good work, I take it?" "By your countenance and influence--if you could." "I must see something of it first. I must inspect this home of yours, Doctor Dollar." The steel eyes of the Vinsons could seldom have cut deeper at a glance, or been met by a pair more candid and unafraid. And yet there was just that cruel suspicion of a cast, to prejudice both the candor and the courage of the finer face. "It is open to your inspection day or night," said Doctor Dollar. "Even at this hour? Even to-night?" The Home Secretary sounded as keen as he looked; but on the other side there was now just enough hesitation to correspond with that one slight flaw in the finer eyes. "This minute, by all means," said the doctor, with resolute cordiality. "There's always somebody up, and the patients can be seen without being disturbed." "Then," said the Home Secretary, "it's a chance at a time when every moment of the day is full. Let us strike, doctor, while the iron is as hot as I can assure you that you have made it." II