“‘Celtic Crosses, Obelisks and every kind of Monument supplied at the shortest notice,’” said Father McCormack, still reading from the card. “‘Family Vaults decorated. Inscriptions Cut. Estimates Free. Low Prices’.” “I don’t see that we could possibly do better than that,” said Dr. O’Grady. “Even Doyle’s nephew can’t make a statue in ten days,” said the Major. “He says ‘shortest notice’ on his card. You ought to believe the man, Major, until you’ve some evidence that he’s a liar.” “I don’t care what he says,” said the Major. “He can’t make a statue in ten days.” “We’ll get to that point in a minute,” said Dr. O’Grady. “The first thing we have to decide is whether Mr. Aloysius Doyle is a suitable man to be entrusted with the work.” “There’s no other tenders before us,” said Father McCormack, “so I suppose we may as well——” “Excuse my interrupting you, Father,” said Doyle, “but before you take the opinion of the meeting on this point, I’d like to say that I’m offering no opinion one way or the other; and what’s more I won’t give a vote either for or against. I wouldn’t like to do it in a case where my own nephew is a candidate.” “You needn’t tell us that, Mr. Doyle,” said Father McCormack. “We all know that you’re not the kind of man who’d be using his public position to further the interests of his relatives. What do you say now, gentlemen? Is Mr. Aloysius Doyle to be given the contract for the statue or not? What do you say, Major?” “If he can make a full-sized statue of a General in ten days,” said the Major, “he’s a man who deserves every encouragement we can give him.” “Now, doctor,” said Father McCormack, “what’s your opinion?” “I’m for giving him the job,” said the Doctor. “Mr. Doyle won’t vote,” said Father McCormack. “I will not,” said Doyle firmly. “So we’d be glad of your opinion, Mr. Gallagher.” “If his price is satisfactory,” said Gallagher, “we may as well give him the preference. I’d be in favour of supporting local talent when possible, and although Mr. Aloysius Doyle isn’t a resident among us at present, his family belongs to Ballymoy.” “Carried unanimously,” said Father McCormack. “And now about the price. What will that nephew of yours do us a statue for, Doyle? And mind you, it must be done well.” “Before we go into that,” said Dr. O’Grady, “I’d like the committee to hear a letter which Mr. Doyle has received from his nephew. I thought it well, considering how short the time at our disposal is——” “Ten days,” said the Major. “Ten days to make a statue——” “The letter which we are just going to read,” said Dr. O’Grady, “will meet the Major’s difficulty. I thought it well to get into communication with Mr. Aloysius Doyle at once so as to have everything ready for the committee.” “I wonder you haven’t the statue ready,” said the Major.