“All right,” said Gypo, thrusting forward his huge head so that it looked like a battering-ram, suddenly attached to his collar-bone. “D’ye remember the Rat’s sister Susie? She used to be a member o’ the Organization. She——” “All right,” snapped Gallagher angrily. “I remember her. What about her? What has she got to do with it?” “Well, why wouldn’t she have a lot to do with it? She had a baby, didn’t she? Didn’t she leave——” “What d’you know about her baby?” hissed Gallagher. He was deadly pale. “Don’t get yer rag out, Commandant,” leered Gypo with a broad laugh. He was slightly drunk and insolent. “Hit a sore spot, wha’? Well, I don’t know anythin’ about that. Ye can set yer mind at rest. Frank McPhillip was the father o’ that kid an’ he refused to marry her. I remember me an’ him were at the back o’ Cassidy’s havin’ a pint one night, when somebody came in an’ asked Frankie to step around the corner a minute. He was gone a long time so I followed him, suspectin’ that there might be a bit o’ foul play. But I found him an’ Susie jawin’ away to beat the band. She was cryin’ an’ askin’ him to take her away with him somewhere. O’ course he didn’t budge. Next day she went to the ’Pool. Gone on Lime Street, as far as I can hear. Well! You bet yer life that’s why the Rat did it. That’s why he informed.” Gallagher looked at Mulholland. Mulholland wrinkled his forehead and shook his head slightly. Then he looked at Gypo curiously. Connor’s mouth was wide open and there was a look of wonder in his eyes as he gaped at Gypo. Gypo was tightening his trousers belt. “Well, Commandant,” he said, when he had finished, “Yer word holds good about takin’ me back into the Organization?” “Steady on,” murmured Gallagher dreamily, staring at the ground. “We have to verify your statement first. If your statement is true you’ll get back all right.” Suddenly he looked up, smiling, with sparkling eyes. He seized Gypo by the right hand and smiled into his face in a friendly intimate way. “Listen. There’s a Court of Inquiry to-night at half-past one. Be there. Mulholland will take you up there. You can arrange to meet him somewhere. You can rely on me, comrade, to fix you up again. You did good work before, comrade, and you’ll do good work again for the liberation of your class.” Gypo gripped Gallagher’s hand and squeezed it eagerly. Then he clicked his heels and saluted in a grandiose fashion. Then he turned to Mulholland. “I’ll be at Biddy Burke’s place,” he whispered; “about one o’clock. I’ll see ye there.” “Right ye are,” answered Mulholland. “Good night, boys,” cried Gypo in a loud hearty voice. Then he stalked out of the room, striking the floor with his heels fiercely and clearing his throat. They all looked after him in silence for two seconds. Then somebody called, “Time, gentlemen, time.” Gallagher started. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he cried, striking his left hand into his right. “It’s him,” hissed Connor, rushing up to Gallagher with open mouth.