Улісс
Chapter 3
—Theytellthestory,hesaid,thattwodrunkscameouthereonefoggyeveningtolookforthegraveofafriendoftheirs.TheyaskedforMulcahyfromtheCoombeandweretoldwherehewasburied.Aftertraipsingaboutinthefogtheyfoundthegravesureenough.Oneofthedrunksspeltoutthename:TerenceMulcahy.TheotherdrunkwasblinkingupatastatueofOurSaviourthewidowhadgotputup.
Thecaretakerblinkedupatoneofthesepulchrestheypassed.Heresumed:
—And,afterblinkingupatthesacredfigure,Notabloodybitliketheman,sayshe.That’snotMulcahy,sayshe,whoeverdoneit.
RewardedbysmileshefellbackandspokewithCornyKelleher,acceptingthedocketsgivenhim,turningthemoverandscanningthemashewalked.
—That’salldonewithapurpose,MartinCunninghamexplainedtoHynes.
—Iknow,Hynessaid.Iknowthat.
—Tocheerafellowup,MartinCunninghamsaid.It’spuregoodheartedness:damnthethingelse.
MrBloomadmiredthecaretaker’sprosperousbulk.Allwanttobeongoodtermswithhim.Decentfellow,JohnO’Connell,realgoodsort.Keys:likeKeyes’sad:nofearofanyonegettingout.Nopassoutchecks.Habeascorpus.Imustseeaboutthatadafterthefuneral.DidIwriteBallsbridgeontheenvelopeItooktocoverwhenshedisturbedmewritingtoMartha?Hopeit’snotchuckedinthedeadletteroffice.Bethebetterofashave.Greysproutingbeard.That’sthefirstsignwhenthehairscomeoutgrey.Andtempergettingcross.Silverthreadsamongthegrey.Fancybeinghiswife.Wonderhehadthegumptiontoproposetoanygirl.
