This is a book about sinners, for sinners, by quite a big sinner. You may not like it. You may even hate it, as some are sure to do. You may dislike the theme, for, though it introduces lovely people, it comes to grips with an unlovely subject. And solves its riddle. You may dislike the characters as they are limned in print, but not in real life. As they are all living, you may encounter them yourself someday, and discover their excellence. At least one will live on as an historic figure when this generation has merged with the ages. Perhaps many. Meanwhile, none can disprove the contents of this book or avoid its challenge. The story is true; the challenge is to you.