“I can hear it; and what’s more I can see the Major with his hat off and the young fellow that’s down from Dublin Castle with his hat off, and the doctor——”
“It’s my belief, Thady,” said Doyle, “that you’re three parts drunk. It would be better for you to go back into the hotel.”
He caught Gallagher by the arm as he spoke and held him fast Young Kerrigan reached the end of his tune with a triumphant flourish. Dr. O’Grady put on his hat again. One by one the various bystanders followed his example. Lord Alfred Blakeney looked round him, puzzled.
“Surely that wasn’t the National Anthem?” he said.
“I thought,” said Dr. O’Grady, “that you didn’t know one tune from another.”
“I don’t; but, hang it all, a man can’t be aide-decamp to His Excellency without getting to know the sound of the National Anthem. What tune was it and why did we all take off our hats?”
“You tell the Lord-Lieutenant when you get back,” said Dr. O’Grady, “that we all, including Major Kent, who’s a strong Unionist, stood bare-headed while the band played. He’ll be able to guess what tune it was, and he’ll be pleased.”
“But it wasn’t the——”
“A speech will now be made,” said Dr. O’Grady, addressing the crowd, “by Lord Alfred Blakeney as representative of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.”
“But I’m not,” said Lord Alfred clutching at Dr. O’Grady. “His Excellency will be furious if he hears——”