Dublin Castle----"

"I don't believe it," said Doyle. "I don't believe a word of it. That
fellow Ford was against us all the time, and he's just saying this now
to annoy us."

"He seemed to believe it himself," said the Major.

"Where's the doctor?" said Father McCormack. "If there's any truth in it
he'll be sure to know."

"If so be that such a telegram was sent," said Doyle, "it'll be on
account of something that fellow Ford has been doing. He was always
against us."

"Where's the doctor?" said Father McCormack helplessly.

"Probably bolted," said the Major. "If Ford's news is true that's the
only thing for the doctor to do."

"He was with me half-an-hour ago," said Doyle, "taking a look round at
the luncheon and the rest of it. He went away back to his house to clean
himself. If he knew----but he didn't."

"I'll go and see him at once," said Father McCormack.

"You'll find that he's cut and run," said the Major.

"You needn't go, Father," said Doyle, "for Thady Gallagher's just after
going to him, and I see him coming back at the far end of the street
this minute."

Thady Gallagher pushed his way through the crowd which had gathered
thickly at the lower end of the square. It was plain from the way he
elbowed the people who stood in his way that he was in a very bad temper
indeed. He strode up to the Major's trap and began to speak at the top
of his voice.

"Let me tell you this, gentlemen," he said: "if you deserve the name of
gentlemen, which you don't, that the conspiracy which you're engaged in
for insulting the people of this district by means of a tune----"

He appeared to be addressing himself particularly to Major Kent, whom
he evidently regarded as, next to the doctor, the chief conspirator. The
Major disliked being abused. He also shrank from complicated situations.
He foresaw that an argument with Gallagher about a tune which might be
played if the Lord-Lieutenant did not fail to keep his appointment, was
likely to be a confused and highly complex business. He touched his pony
with the whip and drove away in the direction of Doyle's yard, where he
usually put up his trap.

"Have sense, Thady," said Father McCormack appealingly.

"I will not have sense," said Gallagher. "Why would I have sense when----"

"Did you speak to the doctor?" said Doyle.

"I did not, but if I had----"

"The Lord save us and deliver us," said Doyle in despair. "He's gone,
the way the Major said he would."

"