"Good-evening, Mr. Brooks. I am representing the Evening Courier. We should be glad to know what your ideas are as to the future of this new departure of yours, and any other information you might cane to give us. There are some others here, I see, on the same errand. Any exclusive information you cared to place at my disposal would be much valued, and we should take especial pains to put your case fairly before the public."
Brooks smiled.
"Really," he said, "it seems as though I were on my defence."
The reporter took out his pencil.
"Well, you know," he said, "some of the established charitable institutions are rather conservative, and they look upon you as an interloper, and your methods as a little too broad."
"Well," Brooks said, "if it is to be war between us and the other charitable institutions you name, I am ready for it, but I cannot talk to you now. As you see, I have an evening's work before me."
"When can you spare me half-an-hour, sir?"
"At midnight—my rooms, in, Jermyn Street."
The reporter closed his book.
"I don't wish to waste your time, sir," he answered. "If you are not going to say anything to the others before then I will go away."