inquiries everywhere, and noted facts for the
enlightenment of the Treasury, for whose benefit his report was to be
drawn up. He also made notes, in a private book, of some of the more
amusing and unexpected ways in which the scheme worked. He found
himself, in the course of his tour, close to Castle Affey, and, being a
dutiful son, called on his father.

He found old Sir Tony in a particularly good humour. He also found
matter enough to fill his private note-book.

"No telling tales, Tony, now," said the old man. "No reports about
Castle Affey to the Government. Do you hear me now? Unless you give me
your word of honour not to breathe what I'm going to tell you to anybody
except your friends, I won't say a word."

"I promise, of course," said Captain Corless.

"Your step-mother's a wonderful woman," said Sir Tony, "a regular lady
bountiful, by Jove! You wouldn't believe how rich everybody round here
is now, and all through her. I give you my word, Tony, if the whisky was
to be got--which, of course, it isn't now-a-days--there isn't a man
in the place need go to bed sober from one week's end to another. They
could all afford it. And it's your step-mother who put the money into
their pockets. Nobody else would have thought of it. Look here, you've
heard of this unemployment-pay business, I suppose?"

"I'm conducting an inquiry about it at the present moment."

"Then I won't say another word," said Sir Tony. "But it's a pity. You'd
have enjoyed the story."

"I needn't put everything I'm told into my report," said Captain
Corless. "A good deal of what I hear isn't true."

"Well, then, you can just consider my story to be an invention," said
Sir Tony.

Captain Corless listened to the story. When it was finished he shook
hands with his father.

"Dad," he said, "I apologise to you. I said--There's no harm in
telling you now that I said you were an old fool when you married the
blacksmith's daughter. I see now that I was wrong. You married the only
woman in Ireland who understands how to make the most of the new law.
Why, everybody else in your position is cursing this scheme as the ruin
of the country, and Lady Corless is the only one who's tumbled to the
idea of using it to make the people happy and contented. She's a great
woman."

"But don't tell on us, Tony," said the old man. "Honour bright, now,
don't tell!"

"My dear Dad, of course not. Anyway, they wouldn't believe me if I did."

II. THE STRI