Улісс
Chapter 2
Heliftedhisgazefromtheidleshellstotheoldman’sstare.
—Heknewwhatmoneywas,MrDeasysaid.Hemademoney.Apoet,yes,butanEnglishmantoo.DoyouknowwhatistheprideoftheEnglish?DoyouknowwhatistheproudestwordyouwilleverhearfromanEnglishman’smouth?
Theseas’ruler.Hisseacoldeyeslookedontheemptybay:itseemshistoryistoblame:onmeandonmywords,unhating.
—Thatonhisempire,Stephensaid,thesunneversets.
—Ba!MrDeasycried.That’snotEnglish.AFrenchCeltsaidthat.Hetappedhissavingsboxagainsthisthumbnail.
—Iwilltellyou,hesaidsolemnly,whatishisproudestboast.Ipaidmyway.
Goodman,goodman.
—Ipaidmyway.Ineverborrowedashillinginmylife.Canyoufeelthat?Iowenothing.Canyou?
Mulligan,ninepounds,threepairsofsocks,onepairbrogues,ties.Curran,tenguineas.McCann,oneguinea.FredRyan,twoshillings.Temple,twolunches.Russell,oneguinea,Cousins,tenshillings,BobReynolds,halfaguinea,Koehler,threeguineas,MrsMacKernan,fiveweeks’board.ThelumpIhaveisuseless.
—Forthemoment,no,Stephenanswered.
MrDeasylaughedwithrichdelight,puttingbackhissavingsbox.
—Iknewyoucouldn’t,hesaidjoyously.Butonedayyoumustfeelit.Weareagenerouspeoplebutwemustalsobejust.
—Ifearthosebigwords,Stephensaid,whichmakeussounhappy.
MrDeasystaredsternlyforsomemomentsoverthemantelpieceattheshapelybulkofamanintartanfillibegs:AlbertEdward,princeofWales.
—Youthinkmeanoldfogeyandanoldtory,histhoughtfulvoicesaid.