“I’d tell them that it was one of Moore’s Melodies.”
“No good,” said Gregg. “Far too many people know it. Even if you shut up Moriarty in a cell between this and then——”
“The thing for you to do, O’Grady,” said the Major bitterly, “is to get a version of ‘God Save the King ‘with variations. I once heard ‘Home, Sweet Home,’ done that way and it was all I could do to make out what tune it was meant to be.”
“That’s probably meant to be sarcastic,” said Dr. O’Grady, “but it’s not at all a bad idea. I’ve heard ‘Home Sweet Home’ done that way and I know exactly how it goes. ‘Tum—tum——tiddle—adle—diddle—tum—tum—twee— Mid pleasures and palaces—Tiddle—tiddle—tum—tiddle—rat—a ti—tee— too—though we may roam.’ Just as you think that you’re going to recognise the tune it kind of fades away and you’re left with the impression that small dogs are chasing each other up and down the piano. I don’t see why something of the same kind mightn’t be done with ‘God Save the King,’ The Lord-Lieutenant would be quite satisfied, because he’d think we were always just going to begin and probably come to the conclusion in the end it was the fault of the band that the tune never quite came off. On the other hand Gallagher, whatever suspicions he might have, couldn’t possibly swear that we were playing anything objectionable. I wonder if there’s a version of ‘God Save the King’ with variations to be got anywhere?”
“Never heard of one,” said Gregg.
“I’ll write to-night,” said Dr. O’Grady. “If there isn’t such a thing I might work one up myself. It can’t be very difficult.”
“That will be just what’s wanted,” said the Major, “to ensure the success of the day. A musical composition of yours, O’Grady, played by our own town band, will be quite likely to distract the Lord-Lieutenant’s attention from the fact that here’s no statue here for him to unveil.”
“You won’t mind my using your piano, Major,” said Dr. O’Grady. “I haven’t got one of my own, and I’ll have to strum it out for a bit before I get it into shape for the band.”
“It’ll be a score off Ford,” said Gregg, “if you succeed. But I don’t expect you will.”