'A kind of fin-de-siècle apostle, in fact,' said Brace, dryly. 'But isn't the term "missionary" rather a misnomer?'
'No!' replied Baltic, earnestly. 'I do my work in a different way, that is all. I baffle the wicked, and by showing them the futility of sin, induce them to lead a new life. I make them fall, only to aid them to rise; for when all is lost, their hearts soften.'
'You give them a kind of Hobson's choice, I see,' commented Sir Harry, who was puzzled by the man's conception of his work, but saw that he spoke in all seriousness. 'Well, Baltic, it is a queer way of calling sinners to repentance, and I can't understand it myself.'
'My method of conversion is certainly open to misconstruction, sir. That is why I term myself rather a missionary than a private inquiry agent.'
'I see; you don't wish to scare your promising flock of criminals. Does anyone here know that you are a private inquiry agent?'
'Mr Cargrim does,' said the ex-sailor, calmly, 'and one other.'
Harry leaned forward with an incredulous look. 'Cargrim knows,' he said in utter amazement. 'I should think he would be the last man to approve of your ideas, with his narrow views and clerical red-tapism.' 'Perhaps, so, sir; but in this case my views happen to fall in with his own. I came to see you, Sir Harry, in order to ease my mind on that point.'
'In order to ease your mind!' repeated Brace, with a keen look. 'Go on.'
'Sir Harry, I speak to you in confidence about Mr Cargrim. I do not like that man, sir.'
'You belong to the majority, then, Baltic. Few people like Cargrim, or trust him. But what is he to you?'