use again till this whole business is over."

"I wish that were possible," said Dr. O'Grady. "I should be much easier
in my mind if you weren't here at all. But unfortunately we must have
you. You give an air of solid respectability to the proceedings.
You inspire confidence. We can't do without you. I'll get Gregg,
the District Inspector, dragged into it too, and Ford, the Resident
Magistrate, if I can."

"You won't get him. He has too much sense."

"I'll get his wife anyway. She loves a fuss of any kind."

"Some of them will give you away," said the Major. "You'll be found
out."

"If Gallagher gets through this afternoon," said Dr. O'Grady, "I shall
feel pretty safe. I wish I hadn't been obliged to send Gallagher off
alone with Billing. Poor Thady is such an ass. But what could I do? I
couldn't go myself because I had to explain the situation to you and
Doyle. I shall feel deeply thankful when Thady is safely home again."

"By the way," said the Major, "what was the explanation that you gave to
Doyle? It was different from my one I know. I'd rather like to hear it."

"Poor Doyle!" said Dr. O'Grady. "Do you know I felt quite sorry for him
about that filly. He probably won't find out what's wrong with her for
about a fortnight or three weeks. He'll be so busy over this General
John Regan business that he won't have time to do anything with her. But
when he does find out----"

"He'll not be the first man in Ireland," said the Major, "who's been let
in over a horse, and I don't pity him."

"I do," said Dr. O'Grady, "I pitied you, Major, when you were stuck and
I helped you to get out I don't see why I shouldn't pity Doyle too."

"How do you mean to get him out?" said the Major. "Perhaps you intend to
palm off that filly on your American."

"Not at all," said Dr. O'Grady. "My idea is to get Doyle's money back
for him out of the statue."

The Major thought this statement over and gradually came to suspect that
O'Grady contemplated some dishonourable use of public money. He was just
beginning to make a violent protest when the door of the room in which
they were sitting opened, and Gallagher came in.

"Doctor," he said, "will you oblige me by coming over to the hotel at
once and pacifying the American gentleman?"

"I thought as much," said Dr. O'Grady, jumping up. "You've muddled
things somehow, Thady."

"I did the best I could," said Gallagher, "but he wouldn't rest content
with young Kerrigan's wife."