Дублінці
Grace
Hehadfailedinbusinessinalicensedhouseinthecitybecausehisfinancialconditionhadconstrainedhimtotiehimselftosecond-classdistillersandbrewers.HehadopenedasmallshoponGlasnevinRoadwhere,heflatteredhimself,hismannerswouldingratiatehimwiththehousewivesofthedistrict.Heborehimselfwithacertaingrace,complimentedlittlechildrenandspokewithaneatenunciation.Hewasnotwithoutculture.
Mr.Fogartybroughtagiftwithhim,ahalf-pintofspecialwhisky.HeinquiredpolitelyforMr.Kernan,placedhisgiftonthetableandsatdownwiththecompanyonequalterms.Mr.KernanappreciatedthegiftallthemoresincehewasawarethattherewasasmallaccountforgroceriesunsettledbetweenhimandMr.Fogarty.Hesaid:
“Iwouldn’tdoubtyou,oldman.Openthat,Jack,willyou?”
Mr.Poweragainofficiated.Glasseswererinsedandfivesmallmeasuresofwhiskywerepouredout.Thisnewinfluenceenlivenedtheconversation.Mr.Fogarty,sittingonasmallareaofthechair,wasspeciallyinterested.
“PopeLeoXIII,”saidMr.Cunningham,“wasoneofthelightsoftheage.Hisgreatidea,youknow,wastheunionoftheLatinandGreekChurches.Thatwastheaimofhislife.”
“IoftenheardhewasoneofthemostintellectualmeninEurope,”saidMr.Power.“Imean,apartfromhisbeingPope.”
“Sohewas,”saidMr.Cunningham,“ifnotthemostso.
