Mr. Billing hesitated for a moment. It was not clear whether he meant to promise a handsome subscription or merely to say that he would help in collecting the necessary money. Dr. O’Grady thought it well to assume at once that a subscription had been promised. “Good,” he said, “take note of that, Thady, and announce it to the Urban District Council at the next meeting. Mr. Billing will hand over his subscription to the treasurer as soon as one is appointed. You can arrange about a proper vote of thanks being passed.” Mr. Billing seemed quite pleased at this interpretation of his unfinished sentence. He went on to make another promise. “And I think I may safely guarantee,” he said, “on behalf of the people of Bolivia——they can never forget——” “They oughtn’t to,” said the doctor. “After all he did more for them than he ever did for us.” “He was born here,” said Mr. Billing, “and that’s something to be proud of.” “And we are proud of it. Thady Gallagher is having an article in his paper next week saying how much we appreciate the dear old General. Aren’t you, Thady?” “I am, of course,” said Gallagher. Then, lest he should be committed any further, Gallagher slipped away and joined Major Kent and Doyle. They were standing together near the motorcar in high debate as to whether the price of the filly was to be £30 or £34. The Major had abated one pound of the price he asked at first. Doyle had, so far, resisted every effort to induce him to make an advance upon his original offer. They were both enjoying themselves greatly. But Gallagher interrupted them. “The doctor knows all about him,” he said, “thanks be to God he’s——” “She’s a filly,” said Doyle, “and I know as much about her as the doctor does.” He had for the moment forgotten his American guest, and was thinking only of the animal which Major Kent was trying to sell him. “It’s the General I’m talking about,” said Gallagher in an aggrieved tone, “and the doctor says there’s to be an article on the paper about him next week. But if there is the doctor may write it himself. It’ll be easy for him seeing he knows who the General was.” “He does not know any more than the rest of us,” said Doyle. “Didn’t he say a minute ago he was a well-known millionaire?” “He knows now, anyway,” said Gallagher, “and what’s more he says that the Urban District Council has been talking about erecting a statue to him.” “Erecting a statue to who?” said the Major. “To General John Regan, of course,” said Gallagher. “But sure there was no such talk,” said Doyle, “not that I heard of, anyway.” “There was not,” said Gallagher, “but there will be now; and there might have been. There’s no denying that there might have been.” “Doyle,” said the Major anxiously. “We must finish settling the price of the filly later on. I’m nervous, I’m confoundedly nervous about what the doctor may be doing. You never know what wild idea he may take into his head, or what he may let us all in for.”