"Proxy, is ut!" exclaimed O'Connor. "Chimmie, me boy, give me the odther wan." Jimmie handed him a second paper, which he in turn handed to the president. [Illustration: The royal blood was now at boiling-point.—Page 232.] "This seems to be perfectly regular, dated to-day, from Andrew J. Ahearn, for five hundred shares," the president said, and handed the proxy to me. The stir of expectation had become a ripple of excitement. I observed that Mr. Walker moved uneasily. "Yis, sor," said O'Connor, with a touch of ludicrous _aplomb_. "Andy Ahearn—shure, the ould divil wouldn't give me the wan widout I bought the odther. And now, thin, sor, I have the privilege to vote, is ut?" The president bowed and looked about the room for some other person who might have business before the meeting. "Thin I, Michael O'Connor," the old fellow continued, to everybody's surprise and amusement, "do hereby vote on these five hunder' shares"—here he held the certificate aloft in his right hand—"for Mr. Hinry Haitch Cutting, Esquire, so help me God, and——" He was interrupted by a roar of laughter. Mr. Walker was now on his feet. When the laughter ceased, he said: "Mr. President, are we to take this stockholder as a fair example of Mr. Cutting's faithful following?" The question was greeted with silence. Mr. Walker had made a blunder, and he was instantly made to feel it. O'Connor spoke again, quietly and slowly, addressing the presiding officer, but looking angrily at the interrupter through half-closed eyelids, his nose held high. As he spoke he gently smoothed down his long upper lip at the corners with thumb and forefinger. "Mr. Prisidint," he said, "I think—I dunno-o—but may-be-e—I have the floo-or?" The president bowed, but added that it was not yet time to take a vote. Those who are familiar with the Irish well know how rarely you find one with absolutely _no_ knowledge of parliamentary procedure. It seems to be imbibed with the mother's milk. O'Connor was not in the least disconcerted. "Thin, sor," he continued, "wid your kind permission, I will make a few remarks." "I shall be glad to hear them, Mr. O'Connor," the president said. A small wave of approval passed over the meeting. O'Connor placed his thumbs firmly in the armholes of his waistcoat, planted his feet well apart, and began. The royal blood was up.