Улісс

           Ploversontoast.

           —AndishedoingfortheFreeman?DavyByrnesaid.

           NoseyFlynnpursedhislips.

           —Hedoesn’tbuycreamontheadshepicksup.Youcanmakebaconofthat.

           —Howso?DavyByrneasked,comingfromhisbook.

           NoseyFlynnmadeswiftpassesintheairwithjugglingfingers.Hewinked.

           —He’sinthecraft,hesaid.

           —Doyoutellmeso?DavyByrnesaid.

           —Verymuchso,NoseyFlynnsaid.Ancientfreeandacceptedorder.He’sanexcellentbrother.Light,lifeandlove,byGod.Theygivehimalegup.Iwastoldthatbya—well,Iwon’tsaywho.

           —Isthatafact?

           —O,it’safineorder,NoseyFlynnsaid.Theysticktoyouwhenyou’redown.Iknowafellowwastryingtogetintoit.Butthey’reascloseasdamnit.ByGodtheydidrighttokeepthewomenoutofit.

           DavyByrnesmiledyawnednoddedallinone:

           —Iiiiiichaaaaaaach!

           —Therewasonewoman,NoseyFlynnsaid,hidherselfinaclocktofindoutwhattheydobedoing.Butbedamnedbuttheysmeltheroutandsworeherinonthespotamastermason.ThatwasoneofthesaintLegersofDoneraile.

           DavyByrne,satedafterhisyawn,saidwithtearwashedeyes:

           —Andisthatafact?Decentquietmanheis.IoftensawhiminhereandIneveroncesawhim—youknow,overtheline.

           —GodAlmightycouldn’tmakehimdrunk,NoseyFlynnsaidfirmly.Slipsoffwhenthefungetstoohot.Didn’tyouseehimlookathiswatch?Ah,youweren’tthere.Ifyouaskhimtohaveadrinkfirstthinghedoesheoutswiththewatchtoseewhatheoughttoimbibe.DeclaretoGodhedoes.

           —Therearesomelikethat,DavyByrnesaid.