Улісс
Chapter 1
ThoughunusualintheDublinareaheknewthatitwasnotbyanymeansunknownfordesperadoeswhohadnexttonothingtoliveontobeabroadwaylayingandgenerallyterrorisingpeaceablepedestriansbyplacingapistolattheirheadinsomesecludedspotoutsidethecityproper,famishedloiterersoftheThamesembankmentcategorytheymightbehangingaboutthereorsimplymaraudersreadytodecampwithwhateverboodletheycouldinonefellswoopatamoment’snotice,yourmoneyoryourlife,leavingyoutheretopointamoral,gaggedandgarrotted.
Stephen,thatiswhentheaccostingfigurecametoclosequarters,thoughhewasnotinanoversoberstatehimselfrecognisedCorley’sbreathredolentofrottencornjuice.LordJohnCorleysomecalledhimandhisgenealogycameaboutinthiswise.HewastheeldestsonofinspectorCorleyoftheGdivision,latelydeceased,whohadmarriedacertainKatherineBrophy,thedaughterofaLouthfarmer.HisgrandfatherPatrickMichaelCorleyofNewRosshadmarriedthewidowofapublicantherewhosemaidennamehadbeenKatherine(also)Talbot.Rumourhadit(thoughnotproved)thatshedescendedfromthehouseofthelordsTalbotdeMalahideinwhosemansion,reallyanunquestionablyfineresidenceofitskindandwellworthseeing,hermotherorauntorsomerelative,awoman,asthetalewent,ofextremebeauty,hadenjoyedthedistinctionofbeinginserviceinthewashkitchen.ThisthereforewasthereasonwhythestillcomparativelyyoungthoughdissolutemanwhonowaddressedStephenwasspokenofbysomewithfacetiousproclivitiesasLordJohnCorley.
