Дублінці
Two Gallants
“Let’shavealookather,Corley,”hesaid.
Corleyglancedsidewaysathisfriendandanunpleasantgrinappearedonhisface.
“Areyoutryingtogetinsideme?”heasked.
“Damnit!”saidLenehanboldly,“Idon’twantanintroduction.AllIwantistohavealookather.I’mnotgoingtoeather.”
“O...Alookather?”saidCorley,moreamiably.“Well...I’lltellyouwhat.I’llgooverandtalktoherandyoucanpassby.”
“Right!”saidLenehan.
CorleyhadalreadythrownonelegoverthechainswhenLenehancalledout:
“Andafter?Wherewillwemeet?”
“Halften,”answeredCorley,bringingoverhisotherleg.
“Where?”
“CornerofMerrionStreet.We’llbecomingback.”
“Workitallrightnow,”saidLenehaninfarewell.
Corleydidnotanswer.Hesaunteredacrosstheroadswayinghisheadfromsidetoside.Hisbulk,hiseasypace,andthesolidsoundofhisbootshadsomethingoftheconquerorinthem.Heapproachedtheyoungwomanand,withoutsaluting,beganatoncetoconversewithher.Sheswungherumbrellamorequicklyandexecutedhalfturnsonherheels.Onceortwicewhenhespoketoheratclosequartersshelaughedandbentherhead.
Lenehanobservedthemforafewminutes.
