Дублінці
Ivy Day in the Committee Room
“Didyoueverseethislittletrick?”
Hetooktwobottlesfromthetableand,carryingthemtothefire,putthemonthehob.Thenhesatdow-nagainbythefireandtookanotherdrinkfromhisbottle.Mr.Lyonssatontheedgeofthetable,pushedhishattowardsthenapeofhisneckandbegantoswinghislegs.
“Whichismybottle?”heasked.
“This,lad,”saidMr.Henchy.
Mr.Croftonsatdownonaboxandlookedfixedlyattheotherbottleonthehob.Hewassilentfortworeasons.Thefirstreason,sufficientinitself,wasthathehadnothingtosay;thesecondreasonwasthatheconsideredhiscompanionsbeneathhim.HehadbeenacanvasserforWilkins,theConservative,butwhentheConservativeshadwithdrawntheirmanand,choosingthelesseroftwoevils,giventheirsupporttotheNationalistcandidate,hehadbeenengagedtoworkforMr.Tiemey.
Inafewminutesanapologetic“Pok!”washeardasthecorkflewoutofMr.Lyons’bottle.Mr.Lyonsjumpedoffthetable,wenttothefire,tookhisbottleandcarrieditbacktothetable.
“Iwasjusttellingthem,Crofton,”saidMr.Henchy,thatwegotagoodfewvotestoday.”
“Whodidyouget?”askedMr.Lyons.
“Well,IgotParkesforone,andIgotAtkinsonfortwo,andgotWardofDawsonStreet.Fineoldchapheis,too—regularoldtoff,oldConservative!‘Butisn’tyourcandidateaNationalist?’saidhe.
