lagher----"

"I'll not do it," said Gallagher, "for I wouldn't know what to say."

"Write it out and have done with it, O'Grady," said the Major. "What's
the good of keeping us sitting here all day?"

"Very well," said Dr. O'Grady. "After all, it's not much trouble. How
would this do? 'General John Regan--Patriot--Soldier--Statesman--Vivat
Bolivia'."

"We couldn't do better," said Father McCormack.

"What's the meaning of the poetry at the end of it?" asked Gallagher.

"It's not poetry," said Dr. O'Grady, "and it doesn't mean much. It's the
Latin for 'Long live Bolivia.'"

Gallagher rose to his feet. He had been obliged to confess himself
unable to write an inscription; but he was thoroughly well able to make
a speech.

"Considering," he said, "that the town of Ballymoy is in the Province of
Connacht which is one of the provinces of Ireland, and considering the
unswerving attachment through long centuries of alien oppression which
the Irish people have shown to the cause of national independence, it's
my opinion that there should be something in the inscription, be the
same more or less, about Home Rule. What I say, and what I've always
said----"

"Very well," said Dr. O'Grady, "I'll put 'Esto Perpetua,' if you like.
It's the same number of letters, and it's what Grattan said about the
last Home Rule Parliament. That ought to satisfy you, and I'm sure the
Major won't mind."

"I'm pretty well past minding anything now," said the Major.

"There's no example in history," said Gallagher, "of determined devotion
to a great cause equal to that of the Irish people who have been
returning Members of Parliament pledged to the demand which has been
made with unfaltering tongue on the floor of the House at Westminster----"

"Get a telegraph form, Doyle," said Dr. O'Grady, "and copy out that
inscription while Thady is finishing his speech."

"There's one other point that I'd like to mention," said Doyle, "and
it's this----"

"Wait a minute, Thady," said Dr. O'Grady. "We'll just deal with this
point of Doyle's and then you'll be able to go on without interruption.
What is it, Doyle?"

"My nephew says," said Doyle, "that he'd be glad of a cheque on account
for the statue; he having been put to a good deal of out-of-pocket
expense."

"Very well," said Dr. O'Grady, "send him L25. Now go on, Thady."

"Is it me send him L25?" said Doyle doubtfully.

"Of course it's you. You're the treasurer."

"But it's you has M