rom
Doyle's control, and rushed forward waving his arms.

"Pull the Yank down out of that," he shouted. "What right has he to be
standing there maligning the people of Ireland?"

Father McCormack and Doyle were after him at once and closed on him,
each of them grasping one of his swinging arms.

"Behave yourself, Thady," said Father McCormack, "behave yourself
decent."

"Isn't it him that's paying for the statue," said Doyle, "and hasn't he
a right to say what he likes?"

Mr. Billing seemed quite unimpressed by Gallagher's fiery interruption.
He smiled benevolently again.

"I got bitten with the notion of speeding you up a bit," he said,
"because I felt plumb sure that there wasn't a live man in the place,
nothing but a crowd of doddering hop-toads."

The hop-toad is a reptile unknown in Ireland, but its name sounds
disgusting. The crowd began to get very angry, and surged threateningly
towards the platform. Sergeant Colgan felt that a great opportunity had
arrived. He had all his life been looking for a chance of quelling a
riot. He had it at last.

"Keep back, now," he said, "keep back out of that. Do you want me to
draw my baton to you?"

"Well, gentlemen," said Mr. Billing, "I was mistaken and I own up. There
is one live man in Ballymoy anyway. We haven't got a medical gentleman
on our side of the Atlantic equal to Dr. Lucius O'Grady. He has run
this show in a way that has surprised me considerable. He has erected a
statue that will be an ornament to this town, and it's a pleasure to me
to pay for it."

"Hear, hear," shouted Doyle.

The crowd, which had been booing a minute before, cheered heartily.

"He's fetched down the representative of the Lord-Lieutenant of this
country to unveil the statue!"

"I'm not," said Lord Alfred feebly. "I wish I could get you to
understand that I'm not his representative."

His protest was lost in a fresh burst of cheers.

"He has provided a charming grand-niece," said Mr. Billing, "a
grand-niece that any man, living or dead, might be proud of---"

"Get out," said Mary Ellen softly.

"For General John Regan," said Mr. Billing amidst tumultuous cheers,
"and when I tell you that no such General ever existed in Bolivia or
anywhere else, you'll be in a position to appreciate your doctor."

Doyle dropped Gallagher's arm and rushed forward. The crowd, too,
astonished by Mr. Billing's last words, even to cheer, stood silent.
What Doyle said was plainly heard.

"Be