“I can’t argue with you, O’Grady,” said the Major, “but you’re wrong.”
“What’s the good of talking?” said Doyle. “We’ll do what the doctor says.”
“Your nephew won’t be able to get that advance he asked for,” said Dr. O’Grady.
“Let him not,” said Doyle. “I don’t pity him. He’ll get his money in the end.”
“Gentlemen,” said Father McCormack, “is it your will that the plan now laid before the meeting by Dr. O’Grady, be adopted?”
“What else is there for us to do?” said Doyle.
“You may take me as dissenting,” said the Major.
“I’ll make a note of that in the minutes,” said Dr. O’Grady, “and then your conscience will be perfectly clear, no matter what happens.”
“Well, gentlemen,” said Father McCormack, “I suppose that completes our arrangements for to-day. When shall we have our next meeting?” He rose to his feet as he spoke. Everyone else rose too. Major Kent put on his hat and walked towards the door. When he reached it he turned.
“I shan’t come to any more meetings,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s any necessity to hold another meeting,” said Dr. O’Grady, “until after the Lord-Lieutenant has left and the time comes for squaring up things. I shall be so busy between this and the day of his visit that I shan’t have time to attend meetings.”
“Very well,” said Father McCormack. “I shall be all the better pleased.”
He left the room and followed Major Kent down the stairs.
“Thady,” said Doyle, “do you go down to the bar, and I’ll be with you in a minute. I’ve a word to say to the doctor.”
“I could do with a sup of porter after all that talk,” said Gallagher, as he left the room.
“Doctor,” said Doyle, “if things turn out the way we hope——”.
“I suppose you’re knocking a commission out of that nephew of yours for selling his statue for him?”
“Twenty-five per pent, is the amount agreed on. It isn’t everyone I’d tell, but I’ve confidence in you, doctor.”
“A middling good pier,” said Doyle, “as good a pier as anyone’d have a right to expect in a place like this, might be built for £300.”
“That’ll put £120 into your pocket, Doyle, not counting anything you may make on the luncheons!”
“What I was meaning to say, doctor, is, that it would be a satisfaction to me if there was something coming to yourself. You deserve it.”