Ford's trying to do," said Gregg, "is to crab the Lord-Lieutenant
part of the business. I thought I'd better tell you, so that you'd know
exactly how things stand."

"You've not told me much, so far," said Dr. O'Grady. "What's Ford's
particular line?"

"I expect he has more than one card up his sleeve," said Gregg, "but
what he said to me this morning was that you couldn't possibly have the
Lord-Lieutenant down here for any kind of public function unless----"

"Can't I?" said Dr. O'Grady. "As it just happens I have a letter in
my pocket this minute----. It came by the midday post, just before the
meeting, and I haven't shown it to anyone yet. He's coming this day
fortnight, and will unveil the statue with the greatest pleasure."

"That settles it," said the Major, "you'll have to drop it now, whether
you want to or not. You can't possibly have a statue ready by this day
fortnight."

"Ford's point," said Gregg--"and there's something in it, you know--is
that the Lord-Lieutenant can't attend a public function unless 'God Save
the King' is played when he arrives. He simply must have that tune on
account of his position. That's what Ford says, anyhow. And I'm inclined
to think he's right. It always is played, I know."

"Well," said Dr. O'Grady, "we'll play it."

"You can't," said the Major. "If you attempt to get the town band to
play 'God Save the King'----"

"I don't think you can really," said Gregg. "I know you have a lot of
influence with these fellows, but that blackguard Gallagher would get
their backs up and----"

"There'll be a riot," said the Major.

"There'll be no riot whatever," said Dr. O'Grady, "if the thing's
managed properly."

"It's your affair, of course," said Gregg, "but I don't particularly
want to have you going about under police protection, and that's
what you'll be doing if Thady Gallagher catches you corrupting the
nationalist principles of the people of Ballymoy by teaching the town
band to play 'God Save the King.'"

This threat seemed to produce a certain effect on Dr. O'Grady. He sat
silent for nearly a minute. Then he asked Gregg for a cigarette, lit it,
and smoked thoughtfully.

"I say, Gregg," he said at last. "How many people are there in Ballymoy,
do you think, who would recognise 'God Save the King' if it was played
suddenly when they weren't expecting it?"

"Oh, lots," said Gregg, "lots."

"You would, I suppose," said Dr. O'Grady, "and the Major would. Ford
would, I