General John Regan Part 46

"I've listened to all you have to say," he said, "and I still feel, in fact I feel more strongly than ever, that an apology is due to His Excellency."

"Very well," said Dr. O'Grady, "I've no objection whatever to apologising. I'm extremely sorry that he was put to such a lot of unnecessary trouble. If I'd had the least idea that he wouldn't have understood about the General?? but I thought he'd have known. I still think he ought to have known. But I won't say a word about that. Tell him from me that I'm extremely sorry. And now, have you an ear for music?"

"That's not an apology," said Lord Alfred. "I won't go back to His Excellency and tell him?? hang it! I can't tell him all that stuff about Venus and Hercules."

"I wish you'd tell me whether you have an ear for music or not. You don't understand the situation because you haven't met Thady Gallagher.

But I can't ask you to unveil the statue until I know whether you've an ear for music or not."

"I don't know what you mean, but??"

Dr. O'Grady made a click with his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

He was becoming very impatient.

"Well, I haven't," said Lord Alfred. "I don't see what business it is of yours whether I have or not; but anyhow, I haven't."

"None at all? You wouldn't know one tune from another?"

"No, I wouldn't. And now will you tell me??"

"I'll tell you anything you like when this business is over. I haven't time to enter into long explanations now. The people are beginning to get very impatient."

Young Kerrigan, with his bandsmen grouped around him, was standing a little below the police barrack. Dr. O'Grady walked quickly over to him. He told him to be ready to begin to play the moment he received the signal.

"And?? listen to me now," he said. "You're to play some other tune, not the one I taught you."

"I'm just as glad," said young Kerrigan. "It's equal to me what tune I play, but Thady Gallagher?What tune will I play?"

"Anything you like," said Dr. O'Grady. "Whatever you know best, but not the one I taught you. Remember that."

He left young Kerrigan, and hurried over to where Major Kent, Father McCormack and Mrs. Gregg were standing together near the statue.

"We're now going to unveil the statue," he said, "and everybody must be ready to do his part. Father McCormack, I want you to take charge of Mary Ellen. In the absence of the Lord-Lieutenant she'll pull the string. You're to see that she does it when I give the word. Then you must go across to the door of the hotel and keep a look out for Thady Gallagher. If he tries to make any sort of disturbance quell him at once."

"I'm willing to try," said Father McCormack, "and so far as Mary Ellen is concerned 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 'G.o.d 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 n.o.body 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 present it to the Lord-Lieutenant, but of course we can't when he isn't here. You're to take it, and hand it over to him next time you see him."

He pushed the address into Lord Alfred's arms as he spoke.

Many men would have made some resistance, would have put their hands into their pockets, perhaps, and so forced Dr. O'Grady either to hold the frame himself or drop it on the ground. But Lord Alfred Blakeney had been aide-de-camp to the Lord-Lieutenant for several years. He knew something of the spirit which must animate all viceroys. It is their business to commend themselves, their office and the party which appoints them to the people over whom they reign. In private a Lord-Lieutenant with a sense of humour?no good Lord-Lieutenant ought to have a sense of humour?may mock at the things he has to do, but in public, however absurd the position in which he finds himself, he must remain gravely suave. His aides-de-camp must never under any circ.u.mstances do anything which could possibly cause offence to any part of the community. Dr. O'Grady was certainly a very important and influential part of the community of Ballymoy. Lord Alfred allowed the illuminated address to be pushed into his arms. He attempted no more than a mild protest.

"Can't I lay it down somewhere?" he said. "It's so huge."

"Better not. If you do it's sure to be forgotten, and then we'll have to forward it by post, which will involve us in a lot of extra expense."

"But it's so absurd to be lugging a great picture frame about in my arms all day, and I can't carry it any other way. It's too big."

Dr. O'Grady, having made over the address to Lord Alfred, was not inclined to listen to any complaints about its size. He took off his hat and stepped forward towards the statue.

"Ladies and gentlemen??" he said.

The few people who could see Dr. O'Grady stopped talking in order to hear what he was going to say.

"Ladies and gentlemen??" he said again.

This time, the nearer people having stopped talking, his voice carried further than it did at his first attempt. Very many more people turned round and began to listen.