Doyle was himself no less perplexed than everyone else. He was more acutely sensitive than anyone to the danger of financial disaster. But he was a man of cool judgment even in a crisis. He saw that Gallagher’s presence was highly inconvenient. “A bottle of porter, Thady,” he said, “or maybe two, would do you good.” Gallagher made a strong effort to swallow, intending when he had done so to speak again. But the description Doyle gave of the inside of his throat and the thought of cool draughts of porter, had actually induced a very real dryness of his mouth. He turned doubtfully towards the hotel, walked a few steps and then stood still again. Doyle caught a glimpse, through a momentary opening in the crowd, of Dr. O’Grady, shaved, and very carefully dressed in a new grey tweed suit. He became more than ever anxious to get Gallagher into the hotel. “If you fancy a glass of whisky, Thady,” he said, “it’s in there for you and welcome. There’ll be no tunes played here for the next half hour, anyway, so you needn’t be afraid to go.” He took Gallagher by the arm as he spoke and led him towards the hotel. Gallagher went at first with apparent reluctance, but as he got near the door his steps quickened. Doyle did not leave him till he handed him over to the care of the young man who stood behind the bar while Doyle himself was absent. Dr. O’Grady made his way through the crowd with gay confidence, smiling and nodding to his acquaintances as he went. The people had been slightly suspicious beforehand and feared that something had gone wrong with the arrangements for the day’s entertainment. They were cheered, and their confidence was fully restored when they saw Dr. O’Grady was not in the least depressed. He smiled at Mary Ellen as he passed her and winked at Constable Moriarty. Mrs. Gregg, as soon as she caught sight of him, rushed to meet him. “Oh, Dr. O’Grady,” she said, “isn’t it terrible? What are we to do? I wouldn’t mind so much only that Mrs. Ford is delighted. But you’ll be able to do something, won’t you?” “The first thing to be done,” said Dr. O’Grady, “is to stop those children pulling the clothes off Mary Ellen. Would you mind, Mrs. Gregg, just running over and setting her shawl straight? Fix it with a pin. It’s horrid the way it is.” Mrs. Gregg went over to Mary Ellen. She was deeply interested in the girl’s costume, and she still cherished a hope that Dr. O’Grady might manage somehow, even without the Lord-Lieutenant, to arrange for a ceremonial unveiling of the statue. “Well, O’Grady,” said Major Kent maliciously. “I suppose we may as well take down that statue. It’s no particular use where it is, and it doesn’t seem likely to help you to plunder the public funds.” “There will have to be slight alteration in our plans,” said Dr. O’Grady, “but I don’t see any reason for postponing the unveiling of the statue.” “Do you know that the Lord-Lieutenant’s not coming?” said Father McCormack.