Part 26 (2/2)

”What tune is it, Mary Ellen?” he said.

”I couldn't rightly say,” said Mary Ellen.

”Didn't I tell you,” said Gallagher, ”that there was underhand work going on?”

”What tune did Moriarty say it was?” said Doyle.

”He said it was a tune the doctor is after teaching young Kerrigan,”

said Mary Ellen.

”What did I tell you?” said Gallagher. ”Maybe you'll believe me now.”

”The best thing for you to do, Thady.” said Doyle, ”if you're dead set on finding out about that tune is to go and ask young Kerrigan what it is. The boy's a decent boy, and he'll tell you if you speak civil to him.”

”I'll do that same,” said Gallagher, ”and if I discover??”

”You'd better be quick about it then,” said Doyle, ”for the committee is to meet at half after one and I wouldn't like you'd miss the proceedings.”

”Come along with me,” said Gallagher. ”I wish you to hear the way I mean to talk to young Kerrigan.”

Doyle did not want to listen to Gallagher browbeating young Kerrigan, but he realised that he would save time and a long argument if he went at once. He made a last appeal to Mary Ellen to collect at least the corks which were on the floor. Then he went out with Gallagher. In the porch of the hotel they met Major Kent who was a scrupulously punctual man, on his way to the committee meeting.

”You're a bit early, Major,” said Doyle. ”But if you'll step into the commercial room you won't have long to wait. Thady and I have to cross the street on a matter of business but we'll be back in less than five minutes. The doctor might be here any time and I see Father McCormack coming along from the presbytery.”

Doyle was unduly optimistic. He was not back in five minutes. He did not, indeed, get back for nearly half an hour.

Kerrigan, very red in the face, and rather exhausted, was still blowing vigorously into his cornet when Gallagher and Doyle entered the back-yard. Gallagher went straight to business without wasting any time on preliminary politeness.

”Will you stop that blasted noise,” he said.

Kerrigan took the cornet from his lips and gazed at Gallagher in extreme surprise.

”Speak civil to the boy,” said Doyle.

”What tune is that?” said Gallagher.

”What Mr. Gallagher's meaning to say,” said Doyle, ”is that party tunes is unsuitable to this locality where the people has always lived in peace and harmony, Protestant and Catholic together, and respected one another. That's what Mr. Gallagher means, and if Constable Moriarty didn't annoy him it's what he'd say.”

”It's a tune the doctor taught me,” said young Kerrigan, ”and it's a fine tune, so it is.”

”What's the name of it?” said Gallagher.

”That,” said young Kerrigan, ”is what I was meaning to ask the doctor next time he happened to be pa.s.sing but if you're in a hurry to know, Mr. Gallagher, you can ask him yourself. It's likely you'll be seeing him before I do.”

Young Kerrigan's words were perfectly civil; but there was a look in his eyes which Gallagher did not like and the tone in which he spoke suggested that he meant to be impudent.

”I'll take no back talk from you,” said Gallagher. ”What tune is it?”

<script>