Улисс

           Heliftedhisgazefromtheidleshellstotheoldman’sstare.

           —Heknewwhatmoneywas,MrDeasysaid.Hemademoney.Apoet,yes,butanEnglishmantoo.DoyouknowwhatistheprideoftheEnglish?DoyouknowwhatistheproudestwordyouwilleverhearfromanEnglishman’smouth?

           Theseas’ruler.Hisseacoldeyeslookedontheemptybay:itseemshistoryistoblame:onmeandonmywords,unhating.

           —Thatonhisempire,Stephensaid,thesunneversets.

           —Ba!MrDeasycried.That’snotEnglish.AFrenchCeltsaidthat.Hetappedhissavingsboxagainsthisthumbnail.

           —Iwilltellyou,hesaidsolemnly,whatishisproudestboast.Ipaidmyway.

           Goodman,goodman.

           —Ipaidmyway.Ineverborrowedashillinginmylife.Canyoufeelthat?Iowenothing.Canyou?

           Mulligan,ninepounds,threepairsofsocks,onepairbrogues,ties.Curran,tenguineas.McCann,oneguinea.FredRyan,twoshillings.Temple,twolunches.Russell,oneguinea,Cousins,tenshillings,BobReynolds,halfaguinea,Koehler,threeguineas,MrsMacKernan,fiveweeks’board.ThelumpIhaveisuseless.

           —Forthemoment,no,Stephenanswered.

           MrDeasylaughedwithrichdelight,puttingbackhissavingsbox.

           —Iknewyoucouldn’t,hesaidjoyously.Butonedayyoumustfeelit.Weareagenerouspeoplebutwemustalsobejust.

           —Ifearthosebigwords,Stephensaid,whichmakeussounhappy.

           MrDeasystaredsternlyforsomemomentsoverthemantelpieceattheshapelybulkofamanintartanfillibegs:AlbertEdward,princeofWales.

           —Youthinkmeanoldfogeyandanoldtory,histhoughtfulvoicesaid.