Hussh!” interrupted the presiding lady. “Father Daly is going to sing.”

And the parish priest, who was a general favourite, emerged from the curtain, and gave them “Killarney” in a fine mellow voice, which was clapped to the echo by his parishioners. After a violin solo, and another glee, and a duet on the grand piano (Irish melodies and fireworks), there was a considerable delay. The lamp in the black hole had gone out, and an embarrassing collision occurred between coming and going performers. Then Ulick Doran stepped up on the platform; on this occasion carrying a much-beribboned guitar. He fetched a chair forward, sat down, deliberately tuned up the instrument, struck one or two rich chords, and then broke into “Torear por lo fino” (“The song of the Spanish bull-fighter”).

“El tipo mas flamena que hayen

Espa-ña.”

he sang—

“Es este cuerpecito con tanta

Gra-cia.

Con tanta gracia y este cuerpecito

Y este cuerpecito, Salero!

Con tanta gracia.