"His Excellency the Governor wants to see you, detective, at a quarter to eleven sharp. Good morning!"
This nearly took the wind out of my sails, but I managed to steady myself, and said, "Any complaint, sir?"
"No! a great compliment."
I shut the door very softly, and sailed away, feeling rather important, and never once looking at Pat, who was ready to open fire on me.
When I was outside I glanced at my watch, and found I had five minutes to spare, so I walked leisurely to the Government offices, which were then in William Street. Just as I reached the gate the Union Jack was hoisted, to show that the Governor had arrived.
I told the orderly that I had an appointment with His Excellency, and gave my name. I was ushered in at once. No red tape to speak of in those days, only in retail quantities, not wholesale, as now.
His Excellency received me very kindly, and, I believe, would have shaken hands with me if the aide-de-camp hadn't fixed his glass eye on him, as much as to say, "It isn't etiquette, you know."
Well, Sir Charles said he had been keeping his eye on me for some time, had made up his mind that I was the man for Galway, and that he wanted to entrust me with the most important case that had ever sprung up during his term of office.
I felt about six feet six for the moment, and expected him to say that he wanted me to carry secret despatches to Downing Street.