“Don’t be a blithering idiot, Doyle,” said Dr. O’Grady. “How can you go round and ask people to subscribe to——”
“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” said Father McCormack.
“We must fall back upon the subscription list that was published in the Connacht Eagle,” said the Major, “as well as I recollect we all promised——”
“Nobody promised anything,” said Doyle. “It was Dr. O’Grady that promised for us and before I pay a penny for a man that owes me more this minute than he can pay——”
“Oh, do shut up, Doyle,” said Dr. O’Grady. “What’s the good of raking up the past? What we’ve got to do now is to find a way out of the confounded hole we’ve been let into through your incompetence and carelessness.”
“I’m down for £5,” said the Major, “and I’ll consider that I’m very well out of this business if I have to pay no more. I’d rather give five pounds any day than stand by watching Mary Ellen and the Lord-Lieutenant making faces at a second-hand statue.”
“It’s a handsome offer, so it is,” said Father McCormack, “and the thanks of the meeting——”
“I’ll not pay a penny,” said Doyle, “and what’s more, if the doctor doesn’t pay me what he owes me I’ll put him into the County Court.”
“It’s you that’ll have to pay,” said Gallagher, “whether you like it or not.”
“I’m damned if I do,” said Doyle.