Улісс
Chapter 2
WhatactdidBloommakeontheirarrivalattheirdestination?
Atthehousestepsofthe4thoftheequidifferentunevennumbers,number7Ecclesstreet,heinsertedhishandmechanicallyintothebackpocketofhistrouserstoobtainhislatchkey.
Wasitthere?
Itwasinthecorrespondingpocketofthetrouserswhichhehadwornonthedaybutonepreceding.
Whywashedoublyirritated?
Becausehehadforgottenandbecauseherememberedthathehadremindedhimselftwicenottoforget.
Whatwerethenthealternativesbeforethe,premeditatedly(respectively)andinadvertently,keylesscouple?
Toenterornottoenter.Toknockornottoknock.
Bloom’sdecision?
Astratagem.Restinghisfeetonthedwarfwall,heclimbedoverthearearailings,compressedhishatonhishead,graspedtwopointsatthelowerunionofrailsandstiles,loweredhisbodygraduallybyitslengthoffivefeetnineinchesandahalftowithintwofeetteninchesoftheareapavementandallowedhisbodytomovefreelyinspacebyseparatinghimselffromtherailingsandcrouchinginpreparationfortheimpactofthefall.