Дублинцы
A Painful Case
Inthesesheetsasentencewasinscribedfromtimetotimeand,inanironicalmoment,theheadlineofanadvertisementforBileBeanshadbeenpastedontothefirstsheet.Onliftingthelidofthedeskafaintfragranceescaped—thefragranceofnewcedarwoodpencilsorofabottleofgumorofanoverripeapplewhichmighthavebeenleftthereandforgotten.
Mr.Duffyabhorredanythingwhichbetokenedphysicalormentaldisorder.Amedivaldoctorwouldhavecalledhimsaturnine.Hisface,whichcarriedtheentiretaleofhisyears,wasofthebrowntintofDublinstreets.Onhislongandratherlargeheadgrewdryblackhairandatawnymoustachedidnotquitecoveranunamiablemouth.Hischeekbonesalsogavehisfaceaharshcharacter;buttherewasnoharshnessintheeyeswhich,lookingattheworldfromundertheirtawnyeyebrows,gavetheimpressionofamaneveralerttogreetaredeeminginstinctinothersbutoftendisappointed.Helivedatalittledistancefromhisbody,regardinghisownactswithdoubtfulside-glasses.Hehadanoddautobiographicalhabitwhichledhimtocomposeinhismindfromtimetotimeashortsentenceabouthimselfcontainingasubjectinthethirdpersonandapredicateinthepasttense.Henevergavealmstobeggarsandwalkedfirmly,carryingastouthazel.
HehadbeenformanyyearscashierofaprivatebankinBaggotStreet.EverymorninghecameinfromChapelizodbytram.
