not the function of the Irish police to decide great questions of
State. Their business is to enforce what the higher powers, for the time
being, wish the law to be. In case of any uncertainty about which power
is the higher, the police occupy the uncomfortable position of neutrals.
The sergeant was not quite sure whether Sir Timothy or Mr. Courtney were
the more influential man. He answered cautiously.

"There's some," he said, "who do be saying that it's one o'clock at the
present time. There's others--and I'm not saying they're wrong--who are
of opinion that it's half-past twelve, or about that. There's them--and
some of the most respectable people is with them there--that says it's 2
p.m. If I was to be put on my oath this minute, I'd find it mortal hard
to say what time it was."

"By Act of Parliament," said Mr. Courtney, its 2 p.m.

"In the matter of an Act of Parliament," said the sergeant, "I wouldn't
like to be contradicting your honour."

Sir Timothy turned on his heel and walked away. The victory was with Mr.
Courtney, but not because he had an Act of Parliament behind him. Nobody
in Ireland pays much attention to Acts of Parliament. He made his point
successfully, because the police did not like to contradict him.
From that day on Sir Timothy made no attempt to take his seat on the
Magistrates' Bench in the Court House.

Late in the summer Sir Archibald Chesney visited the neighbourhood. Sir
Archibald is, of course, a great man. He is one of the people who are
supposed to govern Ireland. He does not actually do so. Nobody could.
But he dispenses patronage, which, after all, is one of the most
important functions of any Government. It was, for instance, in Sir
Archibald's power to give Mr. Courtney a pleasant and well-paid post in
Dublin, to remove him from the uncongenial atmosphere of Connaught, and
set him in an office in the Lower Castle Yard. There, and in a house
in Ailesbury Road--houses in Ailesbury Road are most desirable--Mr.
Courtney could mingle in really intellectual society.

Mr. Courtney knew this, and invited Sir Archibald to be his guest during
his stay in the neighbourhood. Sir Archibald gracefully accepted the
invitation.

Then a surprising thing happened. Mr. Courtney received a very friendly
letter from Sir Timothy.

"I hear," so the letter ran, "that Sir Archibald Chesney is to be with
you for a few days next week. We shall be very pleased if you will bring
him out to dine with