“I won’t. But don’t forget the committee meeting to-morrow morning. Half past eleven, in Doyle’s Hotel.” “What committee?” “Strictly speaking,” said Dr. O’Grady, “it’s two committees—the Statue Erection Committee and the Lord-Lieutenant Reception Committee—but the same people are on both, so we may as well make one meeting do.” “I’ll go,” said the Major, “in the hope, utterly vain of course, of keeping you from further excesses.” “Good,” said Dr. O’Grady. “And now I must hurry off. I’ve a lot to do between this and then.” Major Kent was a kind-hearted man. He had suffered intensely during the earlier part of the day and for some hours had been seriously angry with Dr. O’Grady. But his sense of hospitality was stronger than his resentment. “Stop for half an hour,” he said, “and have something to eat Now that you’ve given up punishing my poor old piano we might have lunch in peace.” “Can’t possibly waste time in eating. I’ve far too much to do. To tell you the truth, Major, I don’t expect to sit down to a square meal until I join the Lord-Lieutenant’s luncheon party. Till then I must snatch a crust as I can while running from one thing to another.” Dr. O’Grady mounted his bicycle and hurried off. He reached the Greggs’ house at twenty minutes past three, Mary Ellen was standing on the step outside the door, smiling in a good-humoured way. Mrs. Gregg, who looked hot and puzzled, was just inside the door. “Oh, Dr. O’Grady,” she said, “I’m so glad you’ve come. This girl won’t go away and I can’t make out what she wants.” “It was Constable Moriarty bid me come,” said Mary Ellen. “It’s all right,” said Dr. O’Grady. “I arranged for her to be here. I’ll explain everything in one moment. Is that the only frock you own, Mary Ellen?” “It is not; but I have another along with it.” “I don’t expect the other is much better,” said Dr. O’Grady. “Just look at that dress, will you, Mrs. Gregg?” Mrs. Gregg looked at Mary Ellen’s clothes carefully. She did not appear to admire them much. “There’s a long tear in the skirt,” she said. “It might be mended, of course, but—and she has only one button on her blouse, and her boots are pretty well worn out, and she’s horribly dirty all over.” “In fact,” said Dr. O’Grady, “you couldn’t very well present her to the Lord-Lieutenant as she is at present.” “The Lord-Lieutenant!” said Mrs. Gregg. “Perhaps I forgot to mention,” said Dr. O’Grady, “that Mary Ellen must be presented. She’s the grand niece of General John Regan.” “Are you really?” said Mrs. Gregg. “It’s what the doctor has put out about me,” said Mary Ellen. “It isn’t a matter of what I’ve put out or haven’t put out,” said Dr. O’Grady. “Mr. Billing has publicly acknowledged her as the grand niece of the General. Didn’t he, Mary Ellen?” “He did,” said Mary Ellen.