George A. Birmingham

“ If Tuesday doesn't suit you, Wednesday will be equally convenient to us."
Colonel Beresford read the letter with great pleasure. He had a feeling of warm friendship for the doctor, and was so much gratified that he sat down immediately after breakfast and accepted Lord Allington's invitation. He expressed a pleasure he did not actually feel at the prospect of meeting Danton of the Foreign Office, and promised to give an unbiased opinion on the merits of the unfortunate Fillingham's hock. ”

“ Every publican who wanted an occasional licence would be worrying the life out of me. Every fellow whose heifer had been caught trespassing would send his wife to try and bribe me with a present of some old goose or other. ”

“ Still shaking the doctor's hand, he pushed him from the room.
Three days later Colonel Beresford received from Lord Allington a bulky envelope. It contained a copy of the last issue of The Connacht Mercury and a short letter. The colonel read the letter first.
"My dear Beresford,—I send you herewith a copy of the local paper in which I have marked a paragraph in blue pencil. After reading it, you will, I feel sure, agree with me that it is quite impossible for us to place Dr. Whitty on the Commission of the Peace for this county. I cannot blame you for being mistaken about the man. ”

“ His face wore a puzzled frown as he tore open the envelope.
"We are expecting a couple of young fellows," wrote Lord Allington, "friends of my son's, to spend next week with us for the shooting. Danton, who is old Riversdale's right-hand man in the Foreign Office, is also coming and bringing his wife. It will be a pleasure to us if you will drive over on Tuesday, dine, and spend the night. ”

“ The fact is—I don't, of course, attach any importance to communications of this sort." Lord Allington unlocked a drawer in his writing-table and drew out a letter which he handed to the colonel. "Still, I'm bound to take every possible precaution. You'll quite understand, Beresford, that it wouldn't do. With the way our actions are criticised nowadays, we can't be too careful. But read that letter."
The colonel looked the sheet of paper up and down, and then read:—
"Your Lordship,—Having heard that it is your intention to make a magistrate of Dr. ”