“Lucy, it would have been romantic if I could have cleaned out Minetta Lane and other New York rookeries.  But it would have been about like satisfying one’s self with washing a boy’s face when his body was a mass of running sores.  We’ve got to cure the sores and in order to do that we’ve got to find the cause.  No one thing is going to prove a panacea.  I wonder if it’s possible to teach children so thoroughly that each one owes a certain amount of altruistic, clean service to his local and his federal government that an honest, responsible citizenry would result?”

Enoch drank of the ice water and continued to turn the close-written pages.

“April 12.—­I don’t boast much about my career as a Congressman.  I’ve been straight and I’ve gabbed a good deal.  That about sums up my history.  If I go back as Police Commissioner, I shall feel much more useful.

“Lucy, love is a very important thing in a man’s life.  Sometimes, I think that the less he has of it, the more important it becomes.  I had thought that as I grew older my career would more and more fill my life, that youth and passion were synonymous and that with maturity would come calm and surcease.  This is not the truth.  The older I grow the more difficult it becomes for me to feel that work can fully satisfy a man.  Nor will merely caring for a woman be sufficient.  A man must care for a woman whom he knows to be fine, who can meet his mental needs, or love becomes merely physical and never satisfies him.  Well, I must not whimper.  I have talent and tremendous opportunities, many friends and splendid health.  And I have you.  And each year you become a more intrinsic part of my life.  How patient you have been with me all these years!  I’ve been wondering, lately, if you haven’t rather a marked sense of humor.  It seems to me that nothing else could make you so patient, so tender and so keen!  I’m sure I’m an object of mirth to Jonas at times, so I must be to you.  All right!  Laugh away!  I laugh at myself!

“Lucy, it has been over eighteen months since I touched a card.”

Jonas put his head in at the door, but Enoch turned on to the middle of the book.

“Dec. 1.—­They won’t let me keep it up long, Lucy, but Lord, Lord, hasn’t the going been good, my dear, while it lasted!  I’ve twisted Tammany’s tail till its head’s dropped off!  I’ve ’got long poles and poked out the nests and blocked up the holes.  I shall consult with the carpenters and builders and leave in our town not even a trace of the rats.’  I’ve routed out hereditary grafters and looters.  I’ve run down wealthy gunmen and I’ve turned men’s fame to a notoriety that carried a stench.  But they’ll get me, Lucy!  They’ll either kill me or send me back to Congress.”

Enoch turned more pages.