第24章

Racingspecial！

Dublin。Ihavemuch，muchtolearn。

TheyturnedtotheleftalongAbbeystreet。

Ihaveavisiontoo，Stephensaid。

Yes，theprofessorsaid，skippingtogetintostep。Crawfordwillfollow。

Anothernewsboyshotpastthem，yellingasheran：

Racingspecial！DearDirtyDublinDubliners。

TwoDublinvestals，Stephensaid，elderlyandpious，havelivedfiftyandfiftythreeyearsinFumbally’slane。

Whereisthat？theprofessorasked。

OffBlackpitts。

Dampnightreekingofhungrydough。Againstthewall。Faceglisteningtallowunderherfustianshawl。Frantichearts。Akasicrecords。Quicker，darlint！

Onnow。Dareit。Lettherebelife。

TheywanttoseetheviewsofDublinfromthetopofNelson’spillar。

Theysaveupthreeandtenpenceinaredtinletterboxmoneybox。Theyshakeoutthethreepennybitsandasixpenceandcoaxoutthepennieswiththebladeofaknife。Twoandthreeinsilverandoneandsevenincoppers。

Theyputontheirbonnetsandbestclothesandtaketheirumbrellasforfearitmaycomeontorain。

Wisevirgins，professorMacHughsaid。LifeontheRawTheybuyoneandfourpenceworthofbrawnandfourslicesofpanloafatthenorthcitydiningroomsinMarlboroughstreetfromMissKateCollins，proprietress……Theypurchase-ourandtwentyripeplumsfromagirlatthefootofNelson’spillartotakeoffthethirstofthebrawn。Theygivetwothreepennybitstothegentlemanattheturnstileandbegintowaddleslowlyupthewindingstaircase，grunting，encouragingeachother，afraidofthedark，panting，oneaskingtheotherhaveyouthebrawn，praisingGodandtheBlessedVirgin，threateningtocomedown，peepingattheairslits。

GlorybetoGod。Theyhadnoideaitwasthathigh。

TheirnamesareAnneKearnsandFlorenceMacCabe。AnneKearnshasthelumbagoforwhichsherubsonLourdeswatergivenherbyaladywhogotabottlefulfromapassionistfather。FlorenceMacCabetakesacrubeenandabottleofdoubleXforsuppereverySaturday。

Antithesis，theprofessorsaid，noddingtwice。Vestalvirgins。I

canseethem。What’skeepingourfriend？

Heturned。

Abevyofscamperingnewsboysrusheddownthesteps，scamperinginalldirections，yelling，theirwhitepapersfluttering。HardafterthemMylesCrawfordappearedonthesteps，hishataureolinghisscarletface，talkingwithJ。J。O’Molloy。

Comealong，theprofessorcried，wavinghisarm。

HesetoffagaintowalkbyStephen’sside。ReturnofBloomYes，hesaid。Iseethem。

MrBloom，breathless，caughtinawhirlofwildnewsboysneartheofficesoftheIrishCatholicandDublinPennyJournal，called：

MrCrawford！Amoment！

Telegraph！Racingspecial！

Whatisit？MylesCrawfordsaid，fallingbackapace。AnewsboycriedinMrBloom’sface：

TerribletragedyinRathmines！Achildbitbyabellows！InterviewwiththeEditorJustthisad，MrBloomsaid，pushingthroughtowardsthesteps，puffing，andtakingthecuttingfromhispocket。IspokewithMrKeyesjustnow。

He’llgivearenewalfortwomonths，hesays。Afterhe’llsee。ButhewantsapartocallattentionintheTelegraphtoo，theSaturdaypink。

Andhewantsitifit’snottoolateItoldcouncillorNannettifromtheKilkennyPeople。Icanhaveaccesstoitinthenationallibrary。

Houseofkeys，don’tyousee？HisnameisKeyes。It’saplayonthename。

Buthepracticallypromisedhe’dgivetherenewal。Buthewantsjustalittlepuff。WhatwillItellhim，MrCrawford？K。M。A。Willyoutellhimhecankissmyarse？MylesCrawfordsaid，throwingouthisarmforemphasis。Tellhimthatstraightfromthestable。

Abitnervy。Lookoutforsqualls。Alloffforadrink。Arminarm。

Lenehan’syachtingcaponthecadgebeyond。Usualblarney。WonderisthatyoungDedalusthemovingspirit。Hasagoodpairofbootsonhimtoday。

LasttimeIsawhimhehadhisheelsonview。Beenwalkinginmucksomewhere。

Carelesschap。WhatwashedoinginIrishtown？

Well，MrBloomsaid，hiseyesreturning，ifIcangetthedesignIsupposeit’sworthashortpar。He’dgivetheadIthink。I’lltellhim……

HecankissmyroyalIrisharse，MylesCrawfordcriedloudlyoverhisshoulder。Anytimehelikes，tellhim。

WhileMrBloomstoodweighin