Дублінці
After the Race
Villonawasingoodhumourbecausehehadhadaverysatisfactoryluncheon;andbesideshewasanoptimistbynature.Thefourthmemberoftheparty,however,wastooexcitedtobegenuinelyhappy.
Hewasabouttwenty-sixyearsofage,withasoft,lightbrownmoustacheandratherinnocent-lookinggreyeyes.Hisfather,whohadbegunlifeasanadvancedNationalist,hadmodifiedhisviewsearly.HehadmadehismoneyasabutcherinKingstownandbyopeningshopsinDublinandinthesuburbshehadmadehismoneymanytimesover.HehadalsobeenfortunateenoughtosecuresomeofthepolicecontractsandintheendhehadbecomerichenoughtobealludedtointheDublinnewspapersasamerchantprince.HehadsenthissontoEnglandtobeeducatedinabigCatholiccollegeandhadafterwardssenthimtoDublinUniversitytostudylaw.Jimmydidnotstudyveryearnestlyandtooktobadcoursesforawhile.Hehadmoneyandhewaspopular;andhedividedhistimecuriouslybetweenmusicalandmotoringcircles.ThenhehadbeensentforatermtoCambridgetoseealittlelife.Hisfather,remonstrative,butcovertlyproudoftheexcess,hadpaidhisbillsandbroughthimhome.ItwasatCambridgethathehadmetSegouin.TheywerenotmuchmorethanacquaintancesasyetbutJimmyfoundgreatpleasureinthesocietyofonewhohadseensomuchoftheworldandwasreputedtoownsomeofthebiggesthotelsinFrance.Suchaperson(ashisfatheragreed)waswellworthknowing,evenifhehadnotbeenthecharmingcompanionhewas.
