Улісс
Chapter 9
Quietly,unassuminglyRumboldsteppedontothescaffoldinfaultlessmorningdressandwearinghisfavouriteflower,theGladiolusCruentus.HeannouncedhispresencebythatgentleRumboldiancoughwhichsomanyhavetried(unsuccessfully)toimitate—short,painstakingyetwithalsocharacteristicoftheman.Thearrivaloftheworldrenownedheadsmanwasgreetedbyaroarofacclamationfromthehugeconcourse,theviceregalladieswavingtheirhandkerchiefsintheirexcitementwhiletheevenmoreexcitableforeigndelegatescheeredvociferouslyinamedleyofcries,hoch,banzai,eljen,zivio,chinchin,pollakronia,hiphip,vive,Allah,amidwhichtheringingevvivaofthedelegateofthelandofsong(ahighdoubleFrecallingthosepiercinglylovelynoteswithwhichtheeunuchCatalanibeglamouredourgreatgreatgrandmothers)waseasilydistinguishable.Itwasexactlyseventeeno’clock.Thesignalforprayerwasthenpromptlygivenbymegaphoneandinaninstantallheadswerebared,thecommendatore’spatriarchalsombrero,whichhasbeeninthepossessionofhisfamilysincetherevolutionofRienzi,beingremovedbyhismedicaladviserinattendance,DrPippi.Thelearnedprelatewhoadministeredthelastcomfortsofholyreligiontotheheromartyrwhenabouttopaythedeathpenaltykneltinamostchristianspiritinapoolofrainwater,hiscassockabovehishoaryhead,andoffereduptothethroneofgraceferventprayersofsupplication.
