“Ladies and gentlemen——” he said again.
This time, the nearer people having stopped talking, his voice carried further than it did at his first attempt. Very many more people turned round and began to listen.
“Ladies and gentlemen——” he said.
This third beginning secured him a large audience. Nearly half the people in the square were listening to him. He felt justified in going on with his speech.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “we are now going to proceed with the unveiling of the statue of General John Regan. Mary Ellen, whom most of you know——”
He paused and the crowd cheered. A crowd nearly always cheers anyone who is mentioned by name in a speech, unless it is quite plain that the speaker means to be abusive.
“Mary Ellen,” said Dr. O’Grady, “who is the nearest living relative of the great General, will perform the ceremony. Now, Mary Ellen,” he went on, in a lower tone, “pull the string. Father McCormack, give her the string. She doesn’t seem able to find it.”
Father McCormack handed the end of the string to Mary Ellen. She chucked at it in a timid, doubtful way. Nothing happened.
“Pull harder,” said Dr. O’Grady.
Sergeant Colgan, who was a benevolent man, and therefore anxious that the ceremony should be a success, stepped to Mary Ellen’s side and laid his hand on hers. He pulled hard. The sheet fluttered to the ground. The crowd cheered delightedly.