Chapter 4

           INTHEHEARTOFTHEHIBERNIANMETROPOLIS

           BeforeNelson’spillartramsslowed,shunted,changedtrolley,startedforBlackrock,KingstownandDalkey,Clonskea,RathgarandTerenure,PalmerstonParkandupperRathmines,SandymountGreen,Rathmines,RingsendandSandymountTower,Harold’sCross.ThehoarseDublinUnitedTramwayCompany’stimekeeperbawledthemoff:

           —RathgarandTerenure!

           —Comeon,SandymountGreen!

           Rightandleftparallelclangingringingadoubledeckerandasingledeckmovedfromtheirrailheads,swervedtothedownline,glidedparallel.

           —Start,PalmerstonPark!

           THEWEAREROFTHECROWN

           Undertheporchofthegeneralpostofficeshoeblackscalledandpolished.ParkedinNorthPrince’sstreetHisMajesty’svermilionmailcars,bearingontheirsidestheroyalinitials,E.R.,receivedloudlyflungsacksofletters,postcards,lettercards,parcels,insuredandpaid,forlocal,provincial,Britishandoverseasdelivery.

           GENTLEMENOFTHEPRESS

           GrossbooteddraymenrolledbarrelsdullthuddingoutofPrince’sstoresandbumpedthemuponthebreweryfloat.OnthebreweryfloatbumpeddullthuddingbarrelsrolledbygrossbooteddraymenoutofPrince’sstores.

           —Thereitis,RedMurraysaid.AlexanderKeyes.

           —Justcutitout,willyou?MrBloomsaid,andI’lltakeitroundtotheTelegraphoffice.

           ThedoorofRuttledge’sofficecreakedagain.DavyStephens,minuteinalargecapecoat,asmallfelthatcrowninghisringlets,passedoutwitharollofpapersunderhiscape,aking’scourier.

           RedMurray’slongshearsslicedouttheadvertisementfromthenewspaperinfourcleanstrokes.