General John Regan

, "tell me exactly what happe

mentioning young Kerrigan

asn't got a wife,

rigan's wife we'd be in a better position to judge what has to be done about it, Start off now at the moment when you went aw

allagher, "but at the first go off I too

said Dr. O'Grady. "In fact you began by

Gallagher, "and along the bohireen by the side of

for," said the Major, "if you

"we took a twist round, like as we might b

he town," said Dr. O'Grady. "I suppose you enjo

ing what questions he might be asking about the General when we got there. I'd be glad

ply to satisfy your morbid curiosity. Go on with your story. What happe

f Bolivia, first saw the light?' 'It was,' says I. So he took a leap out of the motor-car and stood in front of the old house with his hat in his hand. So I told him about the way the landlords had treated t

you needn't go over all that to us, particu

easing to the Major, who is well liked in this locality and always

ady, "did he throw stones at you while yo

ood there looking at the houseen with th

rady, "do you mean t

man,' says he, 'the mighty warrior,' says he, and more to that, the same as i

ome ways," said Dr. O'Grady. "Are you telling

r. "I'd take my oath

Dr. O'Grady, "or else-but I'll find that out afterwa

e'd cried abou

said he didn'

was going to cry. I

Major. "What's the use of lis

o the point. Go ahead, Thady. You'd just got to the sauce

ny relatives or friends of the General surv

m there were severa

m set on finding someone belonging to the General? 'Who are they?' s

Dr. O'Grady, "when you didn

al's, even if there was no money to be got out of it, and it could be that there would. But, not knowing much about the General, I wasn't easy in my m

safer to name somebody who didn't exist. But wh

ead," said Gallagher, "and I was that

w did he

to her,' he said. 'Take me to see her this m

said Dr. O'Grady.

e might have hired some

ay later,' 'And why not?' says he. 'The reason why you can't,' says I, 'is a delicate matter,' 'Oh!' says he. 'That's the way of it, is it? I'm glad to hear of it. The more of the stock of the old General there are in the world the better.' Well, when I s

ung Kerrigan?"

g Kerrigan the way things are, so as he'd be ready when the gentleman came. But Doyle

he could, but in the end he'd have had to produce the twins. That's the awkward part.

ought not to prove a hopeless obstacle. I should think that one of the hospitals where they go in f

e helpful. The Major had an objectionable habit of i

useful. You know perfectly well that there's no use talking about importing babies. Wh

you wouldn't let me. Now that I've heard about young Kerrig

y of those heavy jokes of yours against him I don't mind. Here we are. I expect Doyle ha

Gallagher wistfully. "After all t

e street He's just come out of Kerrigan's shop. Why on earth Doyle couldn't have kept him in play till I came.... He's sure to

ssible, I should imag

d a large cigar between his teeth, came jaunt

said. "I hope you've had a pleas

joined the group opposite the hotel. Constable Moriarty was grinning broadly.

r, "that Thady Gallagher made a mist

ng, "that he kind of wande

isn't married,"

ffort of imagination. I am a man of imagi

was rather what I'd call prophetic. The fact is young Kerrigan is going to be married. Gallagher only anticipated things

oke. He wanted Gallagher

grinning, "and I wouldn't say but he's h

of porter, came out of the hotel. He was natu

. Billing, "were con

nerally in fact-not necessarily twins, but more or less that kind of thing. I can quite understand Thady making the mist

e a photograph of her. The Bolivian public will be intere

id Dr. O'Grady. "I'll have her rea

satisfied and quite without s

ady, "fetch Mary Ellen

Mary

r at once, and

n's not the grandni

can possibly get on such sho

"will Mr. Gallagher be too well plea

nconvenience," said Dr. O'Grady. "He got u

ing and looked truculent, "but I'll not have it put out that Mary Ellen's g

you won't call her, Doyle, I must do it m

e nor the grandniece of any General. As soon as ever you face her with the American gentleman she'

he need on any subject. I never could drag anything beyond 'I did,' or 'I did not,' or '

s lit on Constable Moriarty. Her face and hands were a little dirtier than they had been earlier in the day, but she had added a smal

ere it is for you plain and straight. I'll not s

't you," sai

ess to interfere. No one is committing a crime of any sort. You'd far better send Mor

sergeant. "Do you want me to have to report you

go back to the barrack; but he retired to the background and did no more than

a pocket-handkerchief. Major, just lend me-- Oh hang it! I can't. Here comes Billing with his camera. Pull yourself together now, Mary Elle

curious way. Dr. O'Grady looked at him suspiciously. A casual observ

ry Ellen, "is the grandniece, the only s

"When I recollect that she cooked cho

ady. "A true democrat, the General, if ever there was one. I daresay he often cook

ressing Mary Ellen, "are the gr

t be,"

ege-gentlemen, please stand

le Moriarty sidled up to Major Kent. Nothing had been said about Mary Ellen's

maybe if you asked the gentleman he'd gi

aid the Major. "He's managing this

"on account of what passed between us a minute ago when I

ements and stood beside his came

O'Grady, "that you wouldn't

ne democrat if ever there was one. He wouldn't have t

ious about this repetition of his words. He glanced at the Major, at Doyle, and then at the two policemen. They all seem

daring, asked Mr. Billing for a print of the photograph. Mr. Billing promised him a copy of the life of General John Re

ll on you to-morrow morning, Mr. Billing, I should like to make a

ting?" s

ich he hoped that Doyle would interpret correctly. "You'd better remind him that he's to take the chair. He promised a week ago, but he may have forgotten. That

Mr. Billing, "that my arr

if you handle them firmly, and we'd like to have you. A speech from you about the Genera

hear it," s

ajor. By the way, Doyle, if Thady takes a drop too much to drink,

d of the street and were well out on the lonely road which led to the

t you're satisfied wi

the truth, Ma

the Major. "You've told the most ou

le explanation of a rat

ughing stock of a

le that she ought to be proud to o

is,

don't at all like the way he's goin

all those lies you told him in the way he

planation I gave-particularly that part about Mary Ellen being engaged to young Kerrigan, was a bit strained. I expected the American would have shied. But he didn't. He swallowed it whole without so much as a choke. Now I don't think that was quite

nly trying to ma

f he has a game. I may be wronging him. He may be simply

e Major. "Nothing els

ter position to judge when I've found out all there is to know about this General of his. I'll write for the books I've mentioned, and I'll wri

The doctor did indeed intend to stop thinking about it. But it is difficult to bridle thought. After walking half a

"Billing may possibly think he's playing some kind of trick on us

" said the Major, "but everybody else will