And what did Simpkins do it for if it
wasn't just the delight he takes in destroying the peace of the town?
You know very well, Mr. Meldon, the way we all pulled together here,
Catholics and Protestants, and never had any bad feeling. And where's
the good of bringing in the Local Government Board to be stirring up
strife among us? But that's not all he did, nor the half or it. He
wrote a letter last October to the Inspector-General of the Police,
complaining of the sergeant beyond, that he wasn't doing his duty."
"I wouldn't expect you to be taking the part of the police," said Meldon.
"You always went in for being a strong Nationalist."
"And so I am," said Doyle. "And so's the doctor. In a general way there
isn't two men in Ireland that hates the police worse than the doctor and
myself; but the sergeant was a decent, poor man, with a long family
dependent on him, and I never heard tell of his doing any harm to any
one."
"Perhaps," said Meldon, "that was the reason Mr. Simpkins complained of
him. After all, Doyle, we must be reasonable. What are the police for,
if it isn't to do harm to people--objectionable people? A policeman who
never injures anybody isn't worth his keep.
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