ady
to release the shutter.

"You're quite sure," said Dr. O'Grady, "that you wouldn't care to have
her face washed?"

"Certain," said Mr. Billing. "The General was a genuine democrat if
ever there was one. He wouldn't have thought a bit the worse of her for
having a dirty face."

Dr. O'Grady started slightly and then looked questioningly at Mr.
Billing. It struck him that there was something suspicious about this
repetition of his words. He glanced at the Major, at Doyle, and then at
the two policemen. They all seemed completely absorbed in the taking of
the photograph. Mr. Billing's last remark had not struck them as in any
way odd.

The shutter clicked. One of Mary Ellen's sweetest smiles was secured
on the sensitive plate. Constable Moriarty, greatly daring, asked Mr.
Billing for a print of the photograph. Mr. Billing promised him a copy
of the life of General John Regan when it appeared. He said that there
would be a full page reproduction of Mary Ellen's portrait in the second
volume.

"The Major and I must be off," said Dr. O'Grady, "but if I may call on
you to-morrow morning, Mr. Billing, I should like to make arrangements
about the public meeting. We want to have you at it."

"The meeting?" said Doyle.

"The meeting about the statue," said Dr. O'Grady. "By the way, Doyle,
you might call on Father McCormack this evening." He spoke with a glance
at Mr. Billing which he hoped that Doyle would interpret correctly.
"You'd better remind him that he's to take the chair. He promised a week
ago, but he may have forgotten. That's the worst of these good-natured
men," he added, speaking directly to Mr. Billing. "They promise
anything, and then it's ten to one they forget all about it."

"I'm not quite sure," said Mr. Billing, "that my arrangements will allow
me----"

"Oh, they will if you squeeze them a bit. Arrangements are extraordinary
pliable things if you handle them firmly, and we'd like to have you. A
speech from you about the General would be most interesting. It would
stimulate the whole population. Wouldn't it, Major?"

"I'd like to hear it," said the Major.

"Good-bye then, for the present," said Dr. O'Grady. "Come along, Major.
By the way, Doyle, if Thady takes a drop too much to drink, and he may,
don't let him start boring Mr. Billing about Home Rule."

He took Major Kent by the arm and walked off. Until they passed the
end of the street and were well out on the lonely road which led to the