“If I did be wanting a red ticket,” said Patsy, “it wouldn’t be you I’d ask for it. There’s them would give it to me and maybe something along with it, and what’s more, did give it to me no later than this morning.” “Well,” said Jimmy, who guessed at the identity of the unnamed benefactor, “and if so be that his lordship is after giving you the ticket, why didn’t you go and fetch the doctor to herself?” “I went for him right enough.” “And do you mean to tell me that he refused to attend the call and you with the red ticket in your hand? For if he did----” “He wasn’t within when I went for him.” The explanation was perfectly simple and natural; but Jimmy O’Loughlin, noting the manner in which it was given, realized there was something behind it. “What do you mean?” he asked. Patsy Devlin winked again. Jimmy, vaguely anxious, but not knowing what to fear, handed his visitor a third pint of porter. “I’m thinking,” said Patsy, “that it’s about time for us to be making a move in the matter of collecting funds for the horse races and athletic sports. The season’s going on and if we don’t have them before the end of the month the days will be getting short on us. I suppose now I may put you down for a pound the same as last year?” “You may,” said Jimmy. “But what was it you were after telling me about Dr. O’Grady?” “Does he owe you any money?” “He does, a power.” “Then you’ll not see it. Devil the penny of it ever you’ll handle, no matter how you try.” Patsy chuckled. He had nourished a grudge against Jimmy O’Loughlin ever since the election of the inspector of sheep dipping. “And why will I not?” “Because the doctor’s gone, that’s why. He’s off to America, and every stick of furniture he owns is gone along with him.” “He is not,” said Jimmy. “He couldn’t. It was only last night he passed this door, looking the same as usual. I was speaking to him myself, and him on his way home after being out beyond in the bog.” “It was last night he went.” “He couldn’t. Sure you know as well as I do there’s no train.” “There’s the goods that passes at one o’clock. What would hinder him getting into one of them cattle trucks? Who’d see him? Anyway, whether it was that way he went or another, he’s gone. And you may be looking for your money from New York. Be damn! but I’d take half a crown for all of it you’ll ever get.” “I don’t believe you,” said Jimmy; but it was evident that he was fighting desperately against conviction. “Go round to the house then yourself and you’ll see. He’s not in it, and what’s more he didn’t leave it this morning, for old Biddy Halloran was watching out for him along the road the way he’d renew the bottle he gave her for the rheumatism, and if he’d gone out she’d have seen him.” “It might be,” said Jimmy, “that he was called out in the night and didn’t get back yet.”