Улісс

           —HewantsitinforJuly,MrBloomsaid.

           Theforemanmovedhispenciltowardsit.

           —Butwait,MrBloomsaid.Hewantsitchanged.Keyes,yousee.Hewantstwokeysatthetop.

           Hellofarackettheymake.Hedoesn’thearit.Nannan.Ironnerves.MaybeheunderstandswhatI.

           Theforemanturnedroundtohearpatientlyand,liftinganelbow,begantoscratchslowlyinthearmpitofhisalpacajacket.

           —Likethat,MrBloomsaid,crossinghisforefingersatthetop.

           Lethimtakethatinfirst.

           MrBloom,glancingsidewaysupfromthecrosshehadmade,sawtheforeman’ssallowface,thinkhehasatouchofjaundice,andbeyondtheobedientreelsfeedinginhugewebsofpaper.Clankit.Clankit.Milesofitunreeled.Whatbecomesofitafter?O,wrapupmeat,parcels:varioususes,thousandandonethings.

           Slippinghiswordsdeftlyintothepausesoftheclankinghedrewswiftlyonthescarredwoodwork.

           HOUSEOFKEY(E)S

           —Likethat,see.Twocrossedkeyshere.Acircle.Thenherethename.AlexanderKeyes,tea,wineandspiritmerchant.Soon.

           Betternotteachhimhisownbusiness.

           —Youknowyourself,councillor,justwhathewants.Thenroundthetopinleaded:thehouseofkeys.Yousee?Doyouthinkthat’sagoodidea?

           Theforemanmovedhisscratchinghandtohislowerribsandscratchedtherequietly.

           —Theidea,MrBloomsaid,isthehouseofkeys.Youknow,councillor,theManxparliament.Innuendoofhomerule.Tourists,youknow,fromtheisleofMan.Catchestheeye,yousee.Canyoudothat?

           Icouldaskhimperhapsabouthowtopronouncethatvoglio.