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Updated: June 11, 2025
Besides, even if Crossan had suddenly developed symptoms of kindly idiocy, neither wood-carving or lace-making could possibly have made Rose's freckly faced young man rich enough to buy a gold brooch. The thing puzzled me nearly as much as did the Finola's midnight activity. All competent critics appear to agree that art ought to be kept entirely distinct from moral purposes.
I wanted Crossan to realize how fully I entered into his feelings, so I quoted a phrase from one of Babberly's speeches. "In this supreme crisis of our country's destiny," I said, "it is the duty of every man to do his uttermost to avert the threatened ruin of our common Protestantism." That ought to have pacified Crossan even if it did not rouse him to enthusiasm.
"It has to be," said Crossan. I did not quite see why it had to be; but Crossan spoke with such conviction that I dared not contradict him and did not even like to question him. Fortunately he explained himself. "I'm the Grand Master, as your lordship is aware," he said. "Worshipful" is the title of courtesy applied to Grand Masters, and I'm sure no one ever deserved it better than Crossan.
Godfrey left me, and I went on fidgetting with my papers until luncheon-time. Marion and I were just finishing luncheon when Godfrey came in again. "Well," I said, "have you captured your millionaire?" "He wasn't on board," said Godfrey. "There were two men there, Power, who's Conroy's secretary, and a horrid bounder called McNeice. They were drinking bottled stout in the cabin with Crossan."
I explained all this carefully to the deputation. It pained me to have to say no to their request, but I said it quite firmly. My decision, I think, was understood. My feelings I fear were not. Very soon after the deputation left, Godfrey himself arrived. He wanted me to dismiss Crossan. I am not at all sure that I could dismiss Crossan even if I wanted to do so.
"What's in it, my lord, is this. I'm resigning the management of your business here, and the sooner you're suited with a new man the better." "If my nephew Godfrey has been worrying you, Crossan," I said, "I'll take steps " "It's not that, my lord. For all the harm his talk ever did me I'd stay on. But " He looked at McNeice as if asking permission to say more. "Political business," said McNeice.
He had certainly given Lady Moyne a handsome cheque. He was financing McNeice's little paper in the most liberal way. He had, I suspected, supplied Crossan with the motor car in which he went about the country tuning up the Orange Lodges. It seemed quite likely it was his money with which Rose's young man bought the gold brooch which had attracted Marion's attention.
This shows, I think, that the charges of bigotry and intolerance brought against our Northern Protestants are quite unfounded. Crossan had no wish to persecute even a professed atheist. We did not go very far though we were out for nearly two hours. The streets were filled with armed men and everybody we met challenged us. The police were the hardest to get rid of.
I suppose Marion told him about that. He said at the end of the letter that he had no motive in writing it except a sincere wish for Conroy's welfare. This was quite untrue. He had several other motives. His love of meddling was one. Hatred of Crossan was another. Jealousy of Bob Power was a third. "Now is there anything objectionable in that letter?
Unless he happened to be carrying some sort of certificate of his religious faith in his pocket, Crossan would almost certainly have put him to bed. The moment he saw me he came fussing up to me. "I'm very glad to be able to tell you," he said, "that the troops are to be kept in barracks to-day unless they are urgently required. I'm sure you'll agree with me that's a good plan."
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