deal more in order to get rid of Simpkins."

The pedal was fixed again. Meldon shook it violently to make sure that
it was really firm.

"I hope," he said, "it will stick on this time. These delays are most
exasperating when one's in a hurry. We shall have to buck up now,
O'Donoghue, and ride really fast."

O'Donoghue groaned. He had been riding at the top of his speed since
he left Donard, and there were still six miles between him and
Ballymoy. Meldon led off at a racing speed, leaving the doctor to
follow him through a choking cloud of dust. About three miles outside
Ballymoy, O'Donoghue, having entirely lost sight of Meldon, sat down to
rest on the side of the road. The pedal was holding to its place, and
he had no hope of seeing his companion again.

Meldon propped his bicycle up outside the door of the hotel, walked
into the hall, and shouted for Doyle.

"I could do," he said, "with a cup of tea, if you'll be so good as to
tell Sabina Gallagher to make it for me."

"I'll do that," said Doyle. "I'd do more than that for you, Mr.
Meldon. The tea will be laid out for you in the commercial room in
five minutes if so be Sabina has the kettle on the boil, and it's what
I'm always telling her she ought to see to."

"I don't want it set out in the commercial room," said Mr. Meldon, "nor
yet in the drawing-room. I want to take it in the kitchen along with
Sabina."

"Is it in the kitchen? Sure that's no place for a gentleman like
yourself to be taking his tea."

"All the same it's there I mean to have it. The fact is, I have a word
or two to say to Sabina privately."

Doyle opened a door at the end of the hall in which they stood, and
shouted down a long passage:

"Sabina, Sabina Gallagher! Are you listening to me? Very well then.
Will you wet some tea in the silver teapot which you'll find beyond
in--"

"I'd prefer the brown one," said Meldon, "if it's all the same to you.
I hate the taste of plate-powder. I don't think it's likely that
Sabina has been wasting her time polishing your silver, but you never
can tell what a girl like that would do."

"In the brown teapot," shouted Doyle. "And set out a cup and saucer on
the kitchen table--"

"Two cups," said Meldon. "I want Sabina to join me, so that I'll be
sure of getting her in a good temper."

"Two cups," shouted Doyle. "And when you have that done be off and
clean yourself as quick as you can, for the Reverend Mr. Meldon will be
d