lowly.

"What's this talk about a statue?" said Doyle. "Didn't I tell you before
that I'd agree to no statue? Isn't the rates high enough already without
that? And don't I have to pay more of them than any other man in the
town?"

"There'll be no addition to the rates," said Gallagher. "The way the
doctor was fixing it up it'll be the American gentleman that'll pay
for the statue. He's just after saying he will, and the Urban District
Council is to pass a vote of thanks to him, which is what they'll be
glad to do, and I'll draw it up myself."

"Of course," said Doyle, slightly mollified, "if he pays the cost of it
there'll be no objection to the statue. But are you sure now that he's
fit? Statues cost a deal."

"Look at the motor-car he came in," said Gallagher.

The motor seemed conclusive evidence. It was a very splendid vehicle.
Doyle hurried forward. A stranger who proposed to spend large sums of
money in the town deserved to be treated with every kind of politeness
and respect. A statue still struck Doyle as an exceedingly useless
thing; but he was not without hope that Mr. Billing might be persuaded
to give his money, if he really wanted to give money, to some more
sensible object.

Dr. O'Grady introduced Major Kent to Mr. Billing.

"Our principal resident gentleman," he said, "a J. P. and a strong
Unionist. Gallagher, of course, is a Home Ruler. But these little
political differences of opinion don't really matter. They're both
equally keen on doing their duty to the memory of the great General."

"What's that?" said the Major. "What General are you talking about?"

"General John Regan," said Dr. O'Grady.

"Who? What?" said the Major.

"Don't give yourself away now, Major," said Dr. O'Grady, in a whisper.
"Don't let Mr. Billing find out that you've never heard of the General.
You ought to have heard of him. The Major," he said aloud, "isn't as
well up in the General's history as he might be. He hasn't studied the
details of his campaigns; but he quite agrees with the rest of us that
there ought to be a statue to his memory."

"Dr. O'Grady has just informed me," said Mr. Billing, "that the centre
of this square is the site that has been selected by your Urban District
Council."

"The very spot we're standing on at the present moment," said Dr.
O'Grady. "The Major has promised L5, which shows how keen he is on the
project. Don't say you haven't, Major. We all know that you're a modest
man, doing go