suppose. Father McCormack might. What about your police?"

"The sergeant might think it was 'Auld Lang Syne,'" said Gregg, "he has
no ear whatever. But Moriarty would know it the minute he heard it."

"Moriarty might be made to keep his mouth shut," said Dr. O'Grady. "You
could threaten him."

"Your idea," said Gregg, "is to spring it on the town band under some
other name and have it played as if----"

"I'd tell them that it was one of Moore's Melodies."

"No good," said Gregg. "Far too many people know it. Even if you shut up
Moriarty in a cell between this and then----"

"The thing for you to do, O'Grady," said the Major bitterly, "is to get
a version of 'God Save the King 'with variations. I once heard 'Home,
Sweet Home,' done that way and it was all I could do to make out what
tune it was meant to be."

"That's probably meant to be sarcastic," said Dr. O'Grady, "but it's not
at all a bad idea. I've heard 'Home Sweet Home' done that way and I
know exactly how it goes. 'Tum--tum----tiddle--adle--diddle--tum--tum--twee-- Mid
pleasures and palaces--Tiddle--tiddle--tum--tiddle--rat--a ti--tee-- too--though
we may roam.' Just as you think that you're going to recognise the tune
it kind of fades away and you're left with the impression that small
dogs are chasing each other up and down the piano. I don't see why
something of the same kind mightn't be done with 'God Save the King,'
The Lord-Lieutenant would be quite satisfied, because he'd think we were
always just going to begin and probably come to the conclusion in the
end it was the fault of the band that the tune never quite came off. On
the other hand Gallagher, whatever suspicions he might have, couldn't
possibly swear that we were playing anything objectionable. I wonder
if there's a version of 'God Save the King' with variations to be got
anywhere?"

"Never heard of one," said Gregg.

"I'll write to-night," said Dr. O'Grady. "If there isn't such a thing I
might work one up myself. It can't be very difficult."

"That will be just what's wanted," said the Major, "to ensure the
success of the day. A musical composition of yours, O'Grady, played
by our own town band, will be quite likely to distract the
Lord-Lieutenant's attention from the fact that here's no statue here for
him to unveil."

"You won't mind my using your piano, Major," said Dr. O'Grady. "I
haven't got one of my own, and I'll have to strum it out for a bit
before I get it into shape for th