recollect--"

"I may be inaccurate in some of the details," said Meldon, "but the
broad principle is as I state it; and I put it to you now, Major,
before I say good-night, will you or will you not respond to the
appeal? Remember Trafalgar and the old _Victory_. You're a military
man, of course, but you must have some respect for Nelson."

"I have. But I don't see how duty comes in in this case. Oh, J. J.!
I wish you'd go to bed and stop talking."

"I will. I want to. I'm absolutely dropping off to sleep, but I can't
go till I've explained to you where your duty lies. Here is the town
of Ballymoy groaning under an intolerable tyranny. Doyle's life is a
burden to him. O'Donoghue can't sleep at night for fear of a Local
Government Board enquiry. The police are harried in the discharge of
their duties. The rector's bronchitis is intensified to a dangerous
extent. Sabina Gallagher's red-haired cousin, whose name I've not yet
been able to discover, is perfectly miserable. Poor old Callaghan, who
means well, though he has a most puritanical dread of impropriety, is
worn to a shadow. It rests with you whether this state of things is to
continue or not. You and, so far as I can see at present, you alone,
are in a position to arrange for the downfall of Simpkins. Is it or is
it not your duty, your simple duty, to do what you can, even at the
cost of some little temporary inconvenience to yourself?"

"If I thought all that--" said the Major. "But I'm much too sleepy to
think."

"You're not asked to think," said Meldon. "Whatever thinking has to be
done I'll do myself. You have to act, or rather in this case to permit
me to act."

"I expect you'll act, as you call it, whether I permit you or not."

"Of course I will," said Meldon. "But I'd rather have your permission.
I'd rather you didn't shatter the ideal I've always had of you as a
duty-loving Englishman."

"All right," said the Major wearily. "Do what you like, but for
goodness' sake go to bed and stop talking."

"Good-night," said Meldon. "If you find yourself inclined to change
your mind before morning, just murmur over to yourself, 'England
expects every man to do his duty.' That will stiffen your back."

CHAPTER X.

Major Kent came down to breakfast next morning in a frock coat and a
white waistcoat. His silk hat, carefully brushed and glossy, lay on
the hall table with a pair of pale grey kid gloves beside it. Meldon,
who was