第74章

BLOOMWho？(Heducksandwardsoffablowclumsily。)Atyourservice。

(Helooksup。BesidehermirageofdatepalmsahandsomewomaninTurkishcostumestandsbeforehim。Opulentcurvesfilloutherscarlettrousersandjacketslashedwithgold。Awideyellscummerbundgirdlesher。Awhiteyashmakvioletinthenight，coversherface，leavingfreeonlyherlacedarkeyesandravenhair。)

BLOOMMolly！

MARIONWelly？MrsMarionfromthisout，mydearman，whenyouspeaktome。(Satirically。)Haspoorlittlehubbycoldfeetwaitingsolong？

BLOOM(Shiftsfromfoottofoot。)No，no。Nottheleastlittlebit。

(Hebreathesindeepagitation，swallowinggulpsofairquestions，hopes，crubeensforhersupperthingstotellherexcuses，desire，spellbound。

Acoingleamsonherforehead。Onherfeetarejewelledtoerings。Heranklesarelinkedbyaslenderfetterchain。Besideheracamel，hoodedwithaturretingturban，waits。Asilkladderofinnumerablerungsclimbstohisbobbinghowdah。Heamblesnearwithdisgruntledhindquarters。Fiercelysheslapshishaunch，hergoldcurbwristbanglesangriling，scoldinghiminMoorish。)

MARIONNebrakada！Feminimum。

(Thecamel，liftingaforeleg，plucksfromatreealacemangofruit，offersittohismistress，blinking，inhisclovenhoofthendroopshisheadand，grunting，withupliftedneck，fumblestokneel。Bloomstoopshisbackforleapfrog。)

BLOOMIcangiveyou……ImeanasyourbusinessmenagererMrsMarion……

ifyou……

MARIONSoyounoticesomechange？(Herhandspassingslowlyoverhertrinketedstomacher。Aslowfriendlymockeryinhereyes。)OPoldy，Poldy，youareapooroldstickinthemud！Goandseelife。Seethewideworld。

BLOOMIwasjustgoingbackforthatlotionwhitewax，orangeflowerwater。

ShopclosesearlyonThursday。Butthefirstthinginthemorning。(Hepatsdiverspockets。)Thismovingkidney。Ah！

(Hepointstothesouth，thentotheeast。Acakeofnewcleanlemonsoaparises，diffusinglightandperfume。)

THESOAPWe’reacapitalcoupleareBloomandI；

Hebrightenstheearth，Ipolishthesky。(ThefreckledfaceofSweny，thedruggist，appealsinthediscofthesoapsun。)

SWENYThreeandapenny，please。

BLOOMYes。Formywife，MrsMarion。Specialrecipe。

MARION(Softly。)Poldy！

BLOOMYes，ma’am？

MARIONTitremaunpocoilcuore？

(Indisdainshesauntersaway，plumpasapamperedpouterpigeon，hummingtheduetfromDonGiovanni)

BLOOMAreyousureaboutthatVoglio？Imeanthepronunciati……

(Hefollows，followedbythesniffingterrier。Theelderlybawdseizeshissleeve，thebristlesofherchinmoleglittering。)

THEBAWDTenshillingsamaidenhead。Freshthingwasnevertouched。

Fifteen。There’sno-oneinitonlyheroldfatherthat’sdeaddrunk。

(Shepoints。Inthegapofherdarkdenfurtive，rainbedraggledBridieKellystands。)

BRIDIEHatchstreet。Anygoodinyourmind？

(Withasqueaksheflapsherbatshawlandruns。Aburlyroughpursueswithbootedstrides。Hestumblesonthesteps，recovers，plungesintogloom。

Weaksqueaksoflaughterareheard，weaker。)

THEBAWD(Herwolfeyesshining。)He’sgettinghispleasure。Youwon’tgetavirginintheflashhouses。Tenshillings。Don’tbeallnightbeforethepolisinplainclothesseesus。Sixtysevenisabitch。

(LeeringGertyMacDowelllimpsforward。Shedrawsfrombehindogling，andshowscoylyherbloodiedclout。)

GERTYWithallmyworldlygoodsItheeandthou。(Shemurmurs。)

Youdidthat。Ihateyou。

BLOOMI？When？You’redreaming。Ineversawyou。

THEBAWDLeavethegentlemanalone，youcheat。Writingthegentlemanfalseletters。Streetwalkingandsoliciting。Betterforyourmothertakethestraptoyouatthebedpost，hussylikeyou