“It’s utterly impossible for me,” said Dr. O’Grady, “to do anything if you keep interrupting me every minute. I’m in the middle of an extremely difficult negotiation, and unless I’m allowed a free hand there’ll certainly be no pier.” “If there’s no pier,” said Doyle angrily, “it’ll be the worse for you. Don’t you forget, doctor, that you owe me a matter of £60, and if I’m at the loss of more money over this statue——” Constable Moriarty’s voice rang out across the square. He was speaking in very strident tones. “Will you stand back out of that?” he said. “What business have you there at all? Didn’t I tell you a minute ago that you weren’t to go near the statue?” Dr. O’Grady and Doyle turned round to see what was happening. A man from the crowd, a well-dressed man, had slipped past Constable Moriarty and reached the statue. He had raised the bottom of the sheet which covered it and was peering at the inscription on the pedestal. “Doyle,” said Dr. O’Grady, “that’s the American again. That’s Billing.” “Bedamn!” said Doyle excitedly. “You’re right. It’s him sure enough.” “Go and seize him. Take him into the hotel. Drag his subscription out of him if you have to use a knife to get it. Whatever happens don’t let him go again.” Doyle realised what his duty was before Dr. O’Grady had stopped speaking. He ran across the square to the statue. Mr. Billing, heedless of Moriarty’s threats, was lifting the sheet still higher. He had read the inscription and wanted to inspect the statue itself. Doyle seized him by the shoulder. “Come you along with me,” he said, “and come quiet if you don’t want me to give you in charge of the police.” Dr. O’Grady, watching from a distance, saw Mr. Billing marched off towards the hotel. Then he turned to Lord Alfred again. “I must apologize,” he said, “for running away from you like that. But we couldn’t have talked with that fellow, Doyle, pestering us. You don’t know Doyle, of course. If you did, and if you happened to owe him a little money you’d realise how infernally persistent he can be.” Lord Alfred had also been watching the capture of Mr. Billing. He wanted to understand, if possible; what was going on round about him. “What is your friend doing with the other man?” he asked. “Only capturing him,” said Dr. O’Grady. “You needn’t feel any anxiety about that. The other man is an American and a thorough-paced swindler. Nothing will happen to him that he doesn’t deserve. But we mustn’t waste time. We’ve still got to unveil the statue. You go on with what you were saying. You were just going to tell me what the Lord-Lieutenant’s difficulty is.” “You invited His Excellency down here,” said Lord Alfred, “to unveil a statue——” “Quite right. And we have the statue ready. There it is.” He pointed out the statue as he spoke. “The statue,” said Lord Alfred, “purports to represent General John Regan.”