Улісс

           Thedelegationpartookofluncheonattheconclusionofwhichtheduskypotentate,inthecourseofahappyspeech,freelytranslatedbytheBritishchaplain,thereverendAnaniasPraisegodBarebones,tenderedhisbestthankstoMassaWalkupandemphasisedthecordialrelationsexistingbetweenAbeakutaandtheBritishempire,statingthathetreasuredasoneofhisdearestpossessionsanilluminatedbible,thevolumeofthewordofGodandthesecretofEngland’sgreatness,graciouslypresentedtohimbythewhitechiefwoman,thegreatsquawVictoria,withapersonaldedicationfromtheaugusthandoftheRoyalDonor.TheAlakithendrankalovingcupoffirstshotusquebaughtothetoastBlackandWhitefromtheskullofhisimmediatepredecessorinthedynastyKakachakachak,surnamedFortyWarts,afterwhichhevisitedthechieffactoryofCottonopolisandsignedhismarkinthevisitors’book,subsequentlyexecutingacharmingoldAbeakuticwardance,inthecourseofwhichheswallowedseveralknivesandforks,amidhilariousapplausefromthegirlhands.

           —Widowwoman,saysNed.Iwouldn’tdoubther.WonderdidheputthatbibletothesameuseasIwould.

           —Sameonlymoreso,saysLenehan.Andthereafterinthatfruitfullandthebroadleavedmangoflourishedexceedingly.

           —IsthatbyGriffith?saysJohnWyse.

           —No,saysthecitizen.It’snotsignedShanganagh.It’sonlyinitialled:P.

           —Andaverygoodinitialtoo,saysJoe.

           —That’showit’sworked,saysthecitizen.Tradefollowstheflag.

           —Well,saysJ.J.,ifthey’reanyworsethanthoseBelgiansintheCongoFreeStatetheymustbebad.