to grasp Dr.
O'Grady's arm as he passed him. But the doctor shook him off
impatiently. He even attempted an appeal to Major Kent, quite vainly.
The Major was still smarting under the rhetorical denunciation of
landlords. He would not at that moment have gone a step out of his way
to rescue Gallagher from drowning.

The moment the motor-car was out of sight Major Kent and Doyle turned
hotly on Dr. O'Grady.

"What the devil do you mean, O'Grady," said the Major, "by talking in
this absurd way? You know perfectly well----"

Doyle spoke at the same time.

"It's a curious thing, so it is, doctor," he said. "It's a curious thing
that you'd be letting me in for L5 when you know the loss I'm in on
account of you already. I'd have thought----"

Dr. O'Grady interrupted them both.

"Suppose you agree to split the difference," he said, "and say L32 10s.
for the filly. It's a pity to see two men like you losing your tempers
over a bargain."

"It's not the bargain," said Doyle, "that has my temper riz. It's----"

"Doyle can have the filly if he likes," said the Major, "at L32 10s. I
don't want to go on wrangling about that. What I want to know----"

"I'll take her," said Doyle.

Major Kent smiled faintly. He was getting out of what threatened to be
a very bad bargain with an actual gain of L2 10s. He began to recover
command of his temper. Doyle also smiled. He believed that he was buying
for L32 10s. an animal for which Major Kent had paid L40 three days
before. He felt kindly disposed towards Dr. O'Grady, who had put the
chance of such a bargain in his way.

"Now, Major," said the doctor, "you trot along to my house while I speak
a word or two to Doyle. I'll be round with you in about ten minutes, and
give you some tea."

"But about that General?" said the Major, "I'd rather like to know----"

He still wanted to know about General John Regan. But the tone in which
he asked for information had changed. He no longer seemed to threaten.

"I'll explain all that to you if you'll only do as I tell you," said Dr.
O'Grady. "At present I can't because I'm going to explain it to Doyle."

"Why can't you explain it to both of us at once?" said the Major. "That
is to say if there is any explanation of the way you've been going on."

"There are two explanations," said Dr. O'Grady, "one for you and one
for Doyle. I can't give them both at once, because they're different. I
should have thought you'd have seen that for yourself."