"That's up to you," Zellermann said.
"A moment, old boy. Suppose we consider Chang."
The doctor's eyebrows said: "Chang?"
"As a guinea pig," the Saint explained. "Chang, once upon a time, chanced to smoke a pipe of opium. It was free, and anything for a laugh, that's our Chang. Then he had another pipe, later. And another. Not free, now. Oh, no. There are dealers who have to make a living; and behind the dealers there are interested governments. So Chang becomes an addict. He lets his family, his home, everything, go hang. Where is the free will, Doctor, when he's driven by that really insatiable desire?"
"It was his decision to smoke the first pipe."
"Not entirely," the Saint pointed out. "Someone was interested in making it available. You can't tell me that it wouldn't be possible to restrict the production of opium to established medical requirements if the principal world governments were really interested. Yet India alone produces more opium than the whole world could use legitimately. Very profitable. So profitable that governments have come out fighting to keep the market open. Do you happen to remember the so-called Boxer Rebellion?"
"Vaguely," Zellermann said in bored tones.
"All the wretched Chinese wanted was their own country back," said the Saint. "But the — ah, Powers, made a great pitch about rescuing their missionaries, and so put down the rebellion and so saved the market."
"Isn't this rather non sequitur?" asked the doctor.
"Is it?" Simon asked. "If you're tired of Chang, throw him, away — in his millions. He means no more personally than a treeful of yaks, because we have no contact with his daily so-called living. But take Joe Doakes in Brooklyn."