Дублінці

           Heshookhisfistintheman’sfacetillitseemedtovibrateliketheknobofsomeelectricmachine:

           “Youimpertinentruffian!Youimpertinentruffian!I’llmakeshortworkofyou!Waittillyousee!You’llapologisetomeforyourimpertinenceoryou’llquittheofficeinstanter!You’llquitthis,I’mtellingyou,oryou’llapologisetome!”

           Hestoodinadoorwayoppositetheofficewatchingtoseeifthecashierwouldcomeoutalone.Alltheclerkspassedoutandfinallythecashiercameoutwiththechiefclerk.Itwasnousetryingtosayawordtohimwhenhewaswiththechiefclerk.Themanfeltthathispositionwasbadenough.HehadbeenobligedtoofferanabjectapologytoMr.Alleyneforhisimpertinencebutheknewwhatahornet’snesttheofficewouldbeforhim.HecouldrememberthewayinwhichMr.AlleynehadhoundedlittlePeakeoutoftheofficeinordertomakeroomforhisownnephew.Hefeltsavageandthirstyandrevengeful,annoyedwithhimselfandwitheveryoneelse.Mr.Alleynewouldnevergivehimanhour’srest;hislifewouldbeahelltohim.Hehadmadeaproperfoolofhimselfthistime.Couldhenotkeephistongueinhischeek?Buttheyhadneverpulledtogetherfromthefirst,heandMr.Alleyne,eversincethedayMr.AlleynehadoverheardhimmimickinghisNorthofIrelandaccenttoamuseHigginsandMissParker:thathadbeenthebeginningofit.HemighthavetriedHigginsforthemoney,butsureHigginsneverhadanythingforhimself.