Дублінці
Two Gallants
Healwaysstaredstraightbeforehimasifhewereonparadeand,whenhewishedtogazeaftersomeoneinthestreet,itwasnecessaryforhimtomovehisbodyfromthehips.Atpresenthewasabouttown.Wheneveranyjobwasvacantafriendwasalwaysreadytogivehimthehardword.Hewasoftentobeseenwalkingwithpolicemeninplainclothes,talkingearnestly.Heknewtheinnersideofallaffairsandwasfondofdeliveringfinaljudgments.Hespokewithoutlisteningtothespeechofhiscompanions.Hisconversationwasmainlyabouthimselfwhathehadsaidtosuchapersonandwhatsuchapersonhadsaidtohimandwhathehadsaidtosettlethematter.WhenhereportedthesedialoguesheaspiratedthefirstletterofhisnameafterthemannerofFlorentines.
Lenehanofferedhisfriendacigarette.AsthetwoyoungmenwalkedonthroughthecrowdCorleyoccasionallyturnedtosmileatsomeofthepassinggirlsbutLenehan’sgazewasfixedonthelargefaintmooncircledwithadoublehalo.Hewatchedearnestlythepassingofthegreyweboftwilightacrossitsface.Atlengthhesaid:
“Well...tellme,Corley,Isupposeyou’llbeabletopullitoffallright,eh?”
Corleyclosedoneeyeexpressivelyasananswer.
“Isshegameforthat?”askedLenehandubiously.“Youcanneverknowwomen.”
“She’sallright,”saidCorley.“Iknowthewaytogetaroundher,man.She’sabitgoneonme.
