Улисс

           I’llreadtherestafter.That’llbeallright.

           Lenehanextendedhishandsinprotest.

           —Butmyriddle!hesaid.Whatoperaislikearailwayline?

           —Opera?MrO’MaddenBurke’ssphinxfacereriddled.

           Lenehanannouncedgladly:

           —TheRoseofCastile.Seethewheeze?Rowsofcaststeel.Gee!

           HepokedMrO’MaddenBurkemildlyinthespleen.MrO’MaddenBurkefellbackwithgraceonhisumbrella,feigningagasp.

           —Help!hesighed.Ifeelastrongweakness.

           Lenehan,risingtotiptoe,fannedhisfacerapidlywiththerustlingtissues.

           Theprofessor,returningbywayofthefiles,swepthishandacrossStephen’sandMrO’MaddenBurke’slooseties.

           —Paris,pastandpresent,hesaid.Youlooklikecommunards.

           —LikefellowswhohadblownuptheBastile,J.J.O’Molloysaidinquietmockery.OrwasityoushotthelordlieutenantofFinlandbetweenyou?Youlookasthoughyouhaddonethedeed.GeneralBobrikoff.

           OMNIUMGATHERUM

           —Wewereonlythinkingaboutit,Stephensaid.

           —Allthetalents,MylesCrawfordsaid.Law,theclassics...

           —Theturf,Lenehanputin.

           —Literature,thepress.

           —IfBloomwerehere,theprofessorsaid.Thegentleartofadvertisement.

           —AndMadamBloom,MrO’MaddenBurkeadded.Thevocalmuse.Dublin’sprimefavourite.

           Lenehangavealoudcough.

           —Ahem!hesaidverysoftly.O,forafreshofbreathair!Icaughtacoldinthepark.Thegatewasopen.

           “YOUCANDOIT!”

           TheeditorlaidanervoushandonStephen’sshoulder.

           —Iwantyoutowritesomethingforme,hesaid.Somethingwithabiteinit.Youcandoit.Iseeitinyourface.Inthelexiconofyouth...