it, it can't be dishonest," said Dr.
O'Grady. "You'll agree to that, I suppose, Major? You won't want to
accuse the hierarchy of Ireland, Protestant and Roman Catholics, of
flying in the face of the ten commandments."

The Major had sat down again. While Dr. O'Grady was speaking he turned
his chair half round and stared out of the window. He wished to convey
the impression that he was not listening to a word that was said. When
Dr. O'Grady appealed to him directly he turned round again and answered:

"It's dishonest to take money given for one purpose and use it for
another," he said.

"I'm with you there, Major," said Father McCormack. "I'm with you
there."

"Are you prepared," said Dr. O'Grady, "to go back on the whole theory of
necessary expenses? Would you refuse to allow the unfortunate secretary
of a charitable society to refund himself for the postage stamps he uses
in sending out his appeals?"

"Secretaries have nothing to do with us," said the Major. "This is a
simple question of right and wrong."

"You haven't quite caught my point yet," said Dr. O'Grady patiently.
"What I'm trying to explain to you is this: we're in exactly the same
position as the charity that's getting up a bazaar. In order to make the
money we want for the good of the town--the good of the town, mind you,
Major--that's a worthy object."

"A pier wouldn't be any good if you had it," said the Major.

"A lot of money would be spent building it," said Dr. O'Grady, "and
that would do us all good. But in order to get a pier we must incur
some expense. We shan't get the pier unless we succeed in enticing a
Lord-Lieutenant down here."

"You will not," said Doyle. "It's waste of time writing letters to those
fellows, for they don't read them."

"And we can't get the Lord-Lieutenant down unless we have a statue for
him to unveil," said Dr. O'Grady.

"He wouldn't come without he had something of the sort," said Father
McCormack. "That's sure."

"Therefore," said Dr. O'Grady, "the statue is a necessary part of our
expenses in getting the pier. So is the illuminated address. So is the
bouquet. And we're just as well entitled to charge what they all cost us
against the money we succeed in making, as the secretary of a charitable
bazaar is to debit his gross earnings with the hire of the hall in which
the show is held."

"Now that you put it in that way," said Father McCormack, "I can see
well that there's something in what you say."