oncerned I'm right enough. She's a good girl, and she'll do as I bid
her. But it'd take more than me to pacify Thady when he hears the band."

"It's all right about that the band won't play that tune at all. As it
happens Lord Alfred has no ear whatever for music. That lets us out of
what was rather an awkward hole. Young Kerrigan can play anything he
likes, and so long as we all take off our hats, Lord Alfred'll think
it's 'God Save the King.' Thady won't be able to say a word."

"If that's the way of it," said Father McCormack, "I'll do the best I
can with Thady."

"Mrs. Gregg," said Dr. O'Grady, "you can't present that bouquet, so the
best thing for you to do is to step forward the moment the sheet drops
off and deposit it at the foot of the statue. Major----"

"You may leave me out," said Major Kent. "I'm merely a spectator."

"You'll support Mrs. Gregg when she's paying her floral tribute to the
memory of the dead General."

"I'll do no such thing."

"You must, Major. You can't let poor Mrs. Gregg go forward alone."

"Please do," said Mrs. Gregg. "I shall be frightfully nervous."

"But--but--hang it all, O'Grady, how can I? What do you mean?"

"It's perfectly simple. Just walk forward beside her and smile. That's
all that's wanted. The band will be playing at the time and nobody will
notice you much. Now, I think everybody understands thoroughly what to
do, and there's no reason why the proceedings shouldn't be a flaming
success in spite of the conduct of the Lord-Lieutenant."

"What about the Lord-Lieutenant?" said Father McCormack. "I'd be glad if
I knew what the reason is of his not coming to us when he promised."

"The reason's plain enough," said the Major. "He evidently has some
common sense."

"As a matter of fact," said Dr. O'Grady, "the exact contrary is the
case. What Lord Alfred says is that he wouldn't come because he found
out at the last moment that there was no such person as General John
Regan. I don't call that sensible."

"I was thinking all along," said Father McCormack, "that there was
something queer about the General."

CHAPTER XX

Doyle came out of the hotel bringing the illuminated address. Dr.
O'Grady took it from him and carried it over to Lord Alfred.

"Just take this," he said.

Lord Alfred looked at the address doubtfully. It was very large, and
seemed an awkward thing to carry about.

"What is it?" he said.

"It's an illuminated address. We intended to p