`But look here, John,' said Mr O'Connor. `Why should we welcome the King of England? Didn't Parnell himself... '

`Parnell,' said Mr Henchy, `is dead. Now, here's the way I look at it. Here's this chap come to the throne after his old mother keeping him out of it till the man was grey. He's a man of the world, and he means well by us. He's a jolly fine, decent fellow, if you ask me, and no damn nonsense about him. He just says to himself: "The old one never went to see these wild Irish. By Christ, I'll go myself and see what they're like." And are we going to insult the man when he comes over here on a friendly visit? Eh? Isn't that right, Crofton?'

Mr Crofton nodded his head.

`But after all now,' said Mr Lyons argumentatively, `King Edward's life, you know, is not the very... '

`Let bygones be bygones,' said Mr Henchy. `I admire the man personally. He's just an ordinary knockabout like you and me. He's fond of his glass of grog and he's a bit of a rake, perhaps, and he's a good sportsman. Damn it, can't we Irish play fair?'

`That's all very fine,' said Mr Lyons. `But look at the case of Parnell now.'

`In the name of God,' said Mr Henchy, `where's the analogy between the two cases?'

`What I mean,' said Mr Lyons, `is we have our ideals. Why, now, would we welcome a man like that? Do you think now after what he did Parnell was a fit man to lead us? And why, then, would we do it for Edward the Seventh?'

`This is Parnell's anniversary,' said Mr O'Connor, `and don't let us stir up any bad blood. We all respect him now that he's dead and gone — even the Conservatives,' he added, turning to Mr Crofton.

Pok! The tardy cork flew out of Mr Crofton's bottle: Mr Crofton got up from his box and went to the fire. As he returned-with his capture he said in a deep voice:

`Our side of the house respects him, because he was a gentleman.'

`Right you are, Crofton!' said Mr Henchy fiercely. `He was the only man that could keep that bag of cats in order. "Down, ye dogs! Lie down, ye curs!" That's the way he treated them. Come in, Joe! Come in!' he called out, catching sight of Mr Hynes in the doorway.