Дублінці
After the Race
Villonawasentertainingalso—abrilliantpianist—but,unfortunately,verypoor.
Thecarranonmerrilywithitscargoofhilariousyouth.Thetwocousinssatonthefrontseat;JimmyandhisHungarianfriendsatbehind.DecidedlyVillonawasinexcellentspirits;hekeptupadeepbasshumofmelodyformilesoftheroadTheFrenchmenflungtheirlaughterandlightwordsovertheirshouldersandoftenJimmyhadtostrainforwardtocatchthequickphrase.Thiswasnotaltogetherpleasantforhim,ashehadnearlyalwaystomakeadeftguessatthemeaningandshoutbackasuitableanswerinthefaceofahighwind.BesidesVillona’shummingwouldconfuseanybody;thenoiseofthecar,too.
Rapidmotionthroughspaceelatesone;sodoesnotoriety;sodoesthepossessionofmoney.ThesewerethreegoodreasonsforJimmy’sexcitement.HehadbeenseenbymanyofhisfriendsthatdayinthecompanyoftheseContinentals.AtthecontrolSegouinhadpresentedhimtooneoftheFrenchcompetitorsand,inanswertohisconfusedmurmurofcompliment,theswarthyfaceofthedriverhaddisclosedalineofshiningwhiteteeth.Itwaspleasantafterthathonourtoreturntotheprofaneworldofspectatorsamidnudgesandsignificantlooks.Thenastomoney—hereallyhadagreatsumunderhiscontrol.Segouin,perhaps,wouldnotthinkitagreatsumbutJimmywho,inspiteoftemporaryerrors,wasathearttheinheritorofsolidinstinctsknewwellwithwhatdifficultyithadbeengottogether.
