“Dr. Vince is at lunch,” said the maid who answered the bell.
“Please tell him I must see him at once,” said Samuel. “It's something very important.”
He went in and sat down in the library, and the doctor came, looking anxious. “What is it now?” he asked.
And Samuel turned to him a face of anguish. “Doctor,” he said, “I've just had a terrible experience.”
“What is it, Samuel?”
“I hardly know how to tell you,” said the boy. “I know a man—a very wicked man; and I went to him to try to convert him, and to bring him into the church. And he laughed at me, and at the church, too. He said there are wicked men in it—in St. Matthew's, Dr. Vince! He told me who they are, and what they are doing! And, doctor—I can't believe that you know about it—that you would let such things go on!”
The other was staring at him in alarm. “My dear boy,” he said, “there are many wicked men in the world, and I cannot know everything.”
“Ah, but this is terrible, doctor! You will have to find out about it—you cannot let such men stay in the church.”
The other rose and closed the door of his study. Then he drew his chair close to Samuel. “Now,” he said, “what is it?”
“It's Mr. Wygant,” said Samuel.