“If you’re planning out a regular court presentation for Mary Ellen,” said Dr. O’Grady, “the thing can’t be done. No one here is in a position to present anyone else because we have none of us been presented ourselves. Besides, it wouldn’t be the least use to her if she was presented. The Lord-Lieutenant wouldn’t take her on as an upper housemaid or anything of that sort merely because she’d been presented to him as General John Regan’s niece.” “It wasn’t a situation for Mary Ellen I was thinking of,” said Moriarty. “In the name of God,” said Doyle, “will you tell us what it is you have in your mind?” “What I was thinking,” said Moriarty, “was that if the matter was represented to the Lord-Lieutenant in a proper manner—-about Mary Ellen being the General’s niece and all to that—he might, maybe, see his way to making me a sergeant. It was that I was saying to you, Mary Ellen, wasn’t it, now?” “It was,” said Mary Ellen. “The idea of trotting out Mary Ellen on the occasion isn’t at all a bad one,” said Dr. O’Grady. “I’ll see what can be done about it.” “I’m obliged to you,” said Moriarty. “But I don’t promise that you’ll be made a sergeant, mind that now.” “Sure I know you couldn’t promise that,” said Moriarty. “But you’ll do the best you can. Come along now, Mary Ellen. It’s pretty near time for me to be going on patrol, and the sergeant will check me if I’m late.” “There’s something in that idea of Moriarty’s,” said Dr. O’Grady, when he and Doyle were alone again. “I don’t see what good will come of it,” said Doyle, “and I’m doubting whether Thady Gallagher will be pleased. Mary Ellen’s mother was a cousin of his own.” “She’s a good-looking girl,” said Dr. O’Grady. “If we had her cleaned up a bit and a nice dress put on her she’d look rather well standing at the foot of the statue. I expect the Lord-Lieutenant would be pleased to see her.” “And who’d be getting the lunch for the Lord-Lieutenant,” said Doyle, “when Mary Ellen would be playing herself?” “We’ll get someone to manage the lunch all right. The great thing for us is to be sure of making a good general impression on the Lord-Lieutenant, and I think Mary Ellen would help. I daresay you’ve never noticed it, Doyle—it would be hard for you when she will not wash her face—but she really is a good-looking girl. The Lord-Lieutenant will want something of the sort to look at after he’s faced Mrs. Ford and her illuminated address. She’s not exactly—-” “The man that would run away with that one,” said Doyle vindictively, “would do it in the dark if he did it at all.” “Besides,” said Dr. O’Grady, “we ought to think of poor little Mary Ellen herself. It’ll be a great day for her, and she’ll enjoy having a new dress.” “Who’s to pay for the dress?” said Doyle.