“Very well,” said Dr. O’Grady. “What happens when a bazaar is held?”
“It doesn’t matter to us what happens,” said the Major. “We’re not holding one.”
“Let the doctor speak,” said Doyle.
“What happens is this,” said Dr. O’Grady. “A large sum of money, very often an enormous sum, is spent on getting up switch-back railways, and Alpine panoramas, and underground rivers, and old English villages. Those things are absolutely necessary to the success of the show. They cost thousands of pounds sometimes. Now, who pays for them? The charity pays, and is jolly glad to. The price of them is deducted from the gross receipts and the balance is handed over to the hospital. Is there anything dishonest about that?”
“There is not, of course,” said Father McCormack. “It’s always done.”
“Wouldn’t a bishop do it? A bishop of any church?”
“Lots of them do,” said Father McCormack.
“Well, if a bishop would do it, it can’t be dishonest,” said Dr. O’Grady. “You’ll agree to that, I suppose, Major? You won’t want to accuse the hierarchy of Ireland, Protestant and Roman Catholics, of flying in the face of the ten commandments.”
The Major had sat down again. While Dr. O’Grady was speaking he turned his chair half round and stared out of the window. He wished to convey the impression that he was not listening to a word that was said. When Dr. O’Grady appealed to him directly he turned round again and answered:
“It’s dishonest to take money given for one purpose and use it for another,” he said.