“You can try it,” said Moriarty, “but you’ll not be able. Anything those fellows could play, I’d be able to whistle, and if it’s what I couldn’t whistle they’ll not be able to play it.” “You could whistle that all right if you tried.” “I could not. Nor I couldn’t play it on an ivy leaf, nor yet on a comb, and if I couldn’t there’s nobody else could. I’m not saying it isn’t good music, doctor, for it may be. But there’s neither beginning nor end of it, nor there isn’t anything in the middle that a man would be able to catch hold of.” Dr. O’Grady shut the piano with a bang. Constable Moriarty rose from his seat. “If there’s nothing more you’ll be wanting with me, doctor,” he said, “it might be as well if I was getting back to the barrack. The sergeant’s terrible particular these times. Mr. Gregg, the D.I., has him annoyed with finding fault here and there and everywhere. Not that I blame Mr. Gregg, for everybody knows he’s a nice quiet kind of a man who’d ask for nothing only to be let alone. But that’s what he can’t get on account of Mr. Ford.” “Mr. Ford’s a public nuisance,” said Dr. O’Grady; “but I think we’ll be able to get rid of him.” “It would be no great harm if he was dead,” said Moriarty. “The Lord-Lieutenant,” said Dr. O’Grady, “is almost sure to promote him. That kind of man who never can let other people’s business alone, is just suited to Dublin Castle.” Moriarty got as far as the door of the room and then stopped. “Will it be all right,” he said, “about Mary Ellen? You’ll remember, doctor, that I was speaking to you about her, the way she’d be given the chance of speaking to the Lord-Lieutenant.” “I’ll settle about her at once,” said Dr. O’Grady. “Did you say you were going straight back to the barrack?” “I am,” said Moriarty. “It’ll be better for me if I do on account of the way Mr. Ford does be talking to——” “Are you going so straight that you won’t see Mary Ellen on the way?” “It could be,” said Moriarty, “that I might see her.” “Very well, then, do. And tell her to meet me at Mrs. Gregg’s house at——” He glanced at his watch. “Let me see, it’s nearly half past two, and I’ll have to spend a few minutes pacifying the Major. Suppose you tell her to meet me at Mrs. Gregg’s at a quarter past three. Will you be sure to give her that message?” “I will,” said Moriarty. “And don’t you keep the girl late now, Moriarty, with love making in the pig-stye or any nonsense of that kind.” “Is it likely I would?” “It is very likely. But don’t do it.” “It is not likely then, seeing as how I ought to be back in the barrack this minute on account of the way Mr. Gregg has the sergeant annoyed——” “There’s only one thing worse than keeping Mary Ellen late,” said Dr. O’Grady, “and that is delaying me. Be off with you at once.”