me now out of that," he said, "every one of yez."

Then another event of great interest occurred. Mr. Billing backed his
large motor-car along the lane which led from Doyle's back yard, and
emerged into the square. There the car growled angrily while he shifted
the levers and twisted the steering wheel. The people scattered this
way and that while the machine, darting backwards and forwards, was
gradually turned round. A splendid burst of cheering pursued him when he
finally sped down the street and disappeared. It was understood by those
who heard his speech that he had gone off at more than twenty miles
an hour to ransack the great European libraries for information about
General John Regan. Everyone felt that the splendid eagerness of his
departure reflected a glory on Ballymoy.

Mr. Gregg led Dr. O'Grady and Major Kent into his office. He shut the
door, offered his two guests chairs, and then lit a cigarette.

"It's rather an awkward business," he said, "and perhaps I oughtn't to
say anything about it."

"If it hasn't anything to do with me personally," said the Major, "I
think I'll leave you and the doctor to settle it together. I want to get
home as soon as I can."

"Well, it does affect you more or less," said Mr. Gregg. "But of course
you'll regard anything I say to you now as strictly confidential."

"Out with it, Gregg," said Dr. O'Grady. "I know by the look in your
eye that you can't possibly keep it to yourself, whatever it is. You're
simply bursting to tell it, whatever it is, whether we promise to keep
it secret or not."

"All the same," said Gregg, "it wouldn't suit my book to have it
generally known that I told you. It wouldn't suit at all. That fellow
Ford is a vindictive sort of beast."

"Oh, it's Ford, is it?" said Dr. O'Grady. "I was afraid he might turn
nasty. What an ass he is! Why can't he see that we're giving him the
chance of his life?"

"He's doing his best to put a spoke in your wheel, O'Grady."

"Has he got anything against the statue?"

"Not exactly the statue."

"Or found out anything discreditable about the General?"

The doctor asked this question a little anxiously.

"No," said Gregg, "I don't think he knows a thing about the General. He
asked me this morning who he was."

"Look here, O'Grady," said the Major. "You'd far better drop this whole
business. What's the good of going on with it? A joke's a joke all
right, but there's no use pushing things too far."

"What