Улісс

           DroppingdownlockbylocktoDublin.Withturffromthemidlandbogs.Salute.Heliftedhisbrownstrawhat,salutingPaddyDignam.

           TheydroveonpastBrianBoroimhehouse.Nearitnow.

           —IwonderhowisourfriendFogartygettingon,MrPowersaid.

           —BetteraskTomKernan,MrDedalussaid.

           —Howisthat?MartinCunninghamsaid.Lefthimweeping,Isuppose?

           —Thoughlosttosight,MrDedalussaid,tomemorydear.

           ThecarriagesteeredleftforFinglasroad.

           Thestonecutter’syardontheright.Lastlap.Crowdedonthespitoflandsilentshapesappeared,white,sorrowful,holdingoutcalmhands,kneltingrief,pointing.Fragmentsofshapes,hewn.Inwhitesilence:appealing.Thebestobtainable.Thos.H.Dennany,monumentalbuilderandsculptor.

           Passed.

           OnthecurbstonebeforeJimmyGeary,thesexton’s,anoldtrampsat,grumbling,emptyingthedirtandstonesoutofhishugedustbrownyawningboot.Afterlife’sjourney.

           Gloomygardensthenwentby:onebyone:gloomyhouses.

           MrPowerpointed.

           —ThatiswhereChildswasmurdered,hesaid.Thelasthouse.

           —Soitis,MrDedalussaid.Agruesomecase.SeymourBushegothimoff.Murderedhisbrother.Orsotheysaid.

           —Thecrownhadnoevidence,MrPowersaid.

           —Onlycircumstantial,MartinCunninghamadded.That’sthemaximofthelaw.Betterforninetynineguiltytoescapethanforoneinnocentpersontobewrongfullycondemned.

           Theylooked.Murderer’sground.Itpasseddarkly.Shuttered,tenantless,unweededgarden.Wholeplacegonetohell.Wrongfullycondemned.Murder.Themurderer’simageintheeyeofthemurdered.Theylovereadingaboutit.