_Sergeant:_ The arrangements have all been left to me, the Archdeacon being away. He knows I have a good intellect for things of the sort. But the loss of those slides puts a man out. The thing people will not see it is not likely it is the thing they will believe. I saw what they call tableaux—standing pictures, you know—one time in Dundrum—— _Mrs. Delane:_ Miss Joyce was saying Father Gregan is supporting you. _Sergeant:_ I am accepting his assistance. No bigotry about me when there is a question of the welfare of any fellow-creatures. Orange and green will stand together to-night. I myself and the station-master on the one side; your parish priest in the chair. _Miss Joyce:_ If his Reverence would mind me he would not quit the house to-night. He is no more fit to go speak at a meeting than (_pointing to the one hanging outside Quirke’s door_) that sheep. _Sergeant:_ I am willing to take the responsibility. He will have no speaking to do at all, unless it might be to bid them give the lecturer a hearing. The loss of those slides now is a great annoyance to me—and no time for anything. The lecturer will be coming by the next train. _Miss Joyce:_ Who is this coming up the street, Mrs. Delane? _Mrs. Delane:_ I wouldn’t doubt it to be the new Sub-Sanitary Inspector. Was I telling you of the weight of the testimonials he got, Miss Joyce? _Miss Joyce:_ Sure I heard the curate reading them to his Reverence. He must be a wonder for principles. _Mrs. Delane:_ Indeed it is what I was saying to myself, he must be a very saintly young man. (_Enter Hyacinth Halvey. He carries a small bag and a large brown paper parcel. He stops and nods bashfully._) _Hyacinth:_ Good-evening to you. I was bid to come to the post office—— _Sergeant:_ I suppose you are Hyacinth Halvey? I had a letter about you from the Resident Magistrate. _Hyacinth:_ I heard he was writing. It was my mother got a friend he deals with to ask him. _Sergeant:_ He gives you a very high character. _Hyacinth:_ It is very kind of him indeed, and he not knowing me at all. But indeed all the neighbours were very friendly. Anything any one could do to help me they did it. _Mrs. Delane:_ I’ll engage it is the testimonals you have in your parcel? I know the wrapping paper, but they grew in bulk since I handled them. _Hyacinth:_ Indeed I was getting them to the last. There was not one refused me. It is what my mother was saying, a good character is no burden. _Fardy:_ I would believe that indeed. _Sergeant:_ Let us have a look at the testimonials. (_Hyacinth Halvey opens parcel, and a large number of envelopes fall out._) _Sergeant:_ (_Opening and reading one by one_). “He possesses the fire of the Gael, the strength of the Norman, the vigour of the Dane, the stolidity of the Saxon”—— _Hyacinth:_ It was the Chairman of the Poor Law Guardians wrote that. _Sergeant:_ “A magnificent example to old and young”—— _Hyacinth:_ That was the Secretary of the DeWet Hurling Club——