“That’s just as well, for you wouldn’t get it if you did. I’ve no money, for one thing; and besides it wouldn’t suit a man in my position to be subscribing to rebel bands.”
“I wouldn’t ask you,” said O’Farrelly. “Don’t I know as well as yourself that it would be no use? And anyway it isn’t the money we want, but our own band instruments.”
“What’s happened to them?” said Hinde.
“You had a lot. Last time I saw your band it was fitted out with drums and trumpets enough for a regiment.”
“It’s just them we’re trying to get back.”
“If anyone has stolen them,” said Hinde, “I’ll look into the matter and do my best to catch the thief for you.”
“Nobody stole them,” said O’Farrelly; “not what you’d call stealing, anyway; but it’s our belief that the police has them.”
“You’re wrong there,” said Hinde. “The police never touched your instruments, and wouldn’t.”
“They might not if they knew they were ours. But from information received we think the police took them instruments the time they were suppressing the Manchester Martyrs beyond the Lisnan, the instruments being lent to them footballers at that time.”
“I remember all about that business,” said Hinde. “I was there myself. But we never saw your instruments. All we took away with us was two old footballs and a set of rotten goal-posts. Whatever happened to your instruments, we didn’t take them. I expect,” said Hinde, “that the Manchester Martyr boys pawned them.”