Дублінці
Counterparts
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Themanreturnedtothelowerofficeandsatdownagainathisdesk.Hestaredintentlyattheincompletephrase:InnocaseshallthesaidBernardBodleybe...andthoughthowstrangeitwasthatthelastthreewordsbeganwiththesameletter.ThechiefclerkbegantohurryMissParker,sayingshewouldneverhavetheletterstypedintimeforpost.Themanlistenedtotheclickingofthemachineforafewminutesandthensettoworktofinishhiscopy.Buthisheadwasnotclearandhismindwanderedawaytotheglareandrattleofthepublic-house.Itwasanightforhotpunches.Hestruggledonwithhiscopy,butwhentheclockstruckfivehehadstillfourteenpagestowrite.Blastit!Hecouldn’tfinishitintime.Helongedtoexecratealoud,tobringhisfistdownonsomethingviolently.HewassoenragedthathewroteBernardBernardinsteadofBernardBodleyandhadtobeginagainonacleansheet.
Hefeltstrongenoughtoclearoutthewholeofficesinglehanded.Hisbodyachedtodosomething,torushoutandrevelinviolence.Alltheindignitiesofhislifeenragedhim....Couldheaskthecashierprivatelyforanadvance?No,thecashierwasnogood,nodamngood:hewouldn’tgiveanadvance....Heknewwherehewouldmeettheboys:LeonardandO’HalloranandNoseyFlynn.Thebarometerofhisemotionalnaturewassetforaspellofriot.
Hisimaginationhadsoabstractedhimthathisnamewascalledtwicebeforeheanswered.Mr.
