Дублінці
Two Gallants
Whenhewasquitesurethatthenarrativehadendedhelaughednoiselesslyforfullyhalfaminute.Thenhesaid:
“Well!...Thattakesthebiscuit!”
Hisvoiceseemedwinnowedofvigour;andtoenforcehiswordsheaddedwithhumour:
“Thattakesthesolitary,unique,and,ifImaysocallit,recherchebiscuit!”
Hebecameseriousandsilentwhenhehadsaidthis.Histonguewastiredforhehadbeentalkingalltheafternooninapublic-houseinDorsetStreet.MostpeopleconsideredLenehanaleechbut,inspiteofthisreputation,hisadroitnessandeloquencehadalwayspreventedhisfriendsfromforminganygeneralpolicyagainsthim.Hehadabravemannerofcominguptoapartyoftheminabarandofholdinghimselfnimblyatthebordersofthecompanyuntilhewasincludedinaround.Hewasasportingvagrantarmedwithavaststockofstories,limericksandriddles.Hewasinsensitivetoallkindsofdiscourtesy.Nooneknewhowheachievedthesterntaskofliving,buthisnamewasvaguelyassociatedwithracingtissues.
“Andwheredidyoupickherup,Corley?”heasked.
Corleyranhistongueswiftlyalonghisupperlip.
“Onenight,man,”hesaid,“IwasgoingalongDameStreetandIspottedafinetartunderWaterhouse’sclockandsaidgood-night,youknow.SowewentforawalkroundbythecanalandshetoldmeshewasaslaveyinahouseinBaggotStreet.
