第75章

BLOOMImean，Leopardstown。AndMollywonsevenshillingsonathreeyearoldnamedNevertellandcominghomealongbyFoxrockinthatoldfiveseatershanderadanofawaggonetteyouwereinyourheydaythenandyouhadonthatnewhatofwhitevelourswithasurroundofmolefurthatMrsHayesadvisedyoutobuybecauseitwasmarkeddowntonineteenandeleven，abitofwireandanoldragofvelveteen，andI’lllayyouwhatyoulikeshediditonpurpose……

MRSBREENShedid，ofcourse，thecat！Don’ttellme！Niceadviser！

BLOOMBecauseitdidn’tsuityouonequarteraswellastheotherduckylittletammytoquewiththebirdofparadisewinginitthatIadmiredonyouandyouhonestlylookedjusttoofetchinginitthoughitwasapitytokillit，youcruelcreature，littlemiteofathingwithaheartthesizeofafullstop。

MRSBREEN(Squeezeshisarm，simpers。)NaughtycruelIwas。

BLOOM(Low，secretly，evermorerapidly。)AndMollywaseatingasandwichofspicedbeefoutofMrsJoeGallaher’slunchbasket。Frankly，thoughshehadheradvisersoradmirers，Inevercaredmuchforherstyle。

Shewas。

MRSBREENToo。

BLOOMYes。AndMollywaslaughingbecauseRogersandMaggotO’ReillyweremimickingacockaswepassedafarmhouseandMarcusTertiusMoses，theteamerchant，drovepastusinagigwithhisdaughter，DancerMoseswashername，andthepoodleinherlapbridledupandyouaskedmeifIeverheardorreadorkneworcameacross。

MRSBREEN(Eagerly。)Yes，yes，yes，yes，yes，yes，yes。

(Shefadesfromhisside。Followedbythewhiningdoghewalksontowardshellsgates。Inanarchwayastandingwoman，bentforward，herfeetapart，pissescowily。Outsideashutteredpubabunchofloitererslistentoatalewhichtheirbrokensnoutedgafferraspsoutwithraucoushumour。

Anarmlesspairofthemflopwrestling，growling，inmaimedsoddenplayfight。)

THEGAFFER(Crouches，hisvoicetwistedinhissnout。)AndwhenCairnscamedownfromthescaffoldinginBeaverStreetwhatwasheafterdoingitintoonlyintothebucketofporterthatwastherewaitingontheshavingsforDerwan’splasterers。

THELOITERERS(Guffawwithcleftpalates。)Ojays！

(Theirpaintspeckledhatswag。Spatteredwithsizeandlimeoftheirlodgestheyfrisklimblesslyabouthim。)

BLOOMCoincidencetoo。Theythinkitfunny。Anythingbutthat。Broaddaylight。Tryingtowalk。Luckynowoman。

THELOITERERSJays，that’sagoodone。Glaubersalts。Ojays，intothemen’sporter。

(Bloompasses。Cheapwhores，singly，coupled，shawled，dishevelled，callfromlanes，doors，corners。)

THEWHORESAreyougoingfar，queerfellow？How’syourmiddleleg？Gotamatchonyou？Eh，comeheretillIstiffenitforyou。

(Heplodgesthroughtheirsumptowardsthelightedstreetbeyond。

Fromabulgeofwindowcurtainsagramophonerearsabatteredbrazentrunk。

Intheshadowashebeenkeeperhaggleswiththenavvyandthetworedcoats。)

THENAVVY(Belching。)Where’sthebloodyhouse？

THESHEBEENKEEPERPurdonstreet。Shillingabottleofstout。Respectablewoman。

THENAVVY(Grippingthetworedcoats，staggersforwardwiththem。)

Comeon，youBritisharmy！

PRIVATECARR(Behindhisback。)Heainthalfbalmy。

PRIVATECOMPTON(LAughs。)Whatho！

PRIVATECARR(Tothenavvy。)Portobellobarrackscanteen。YouaskforCarr。JustCarr。

THENAVVY(Shouts。)

Wearetheboys。OfWexford。

PRIVATECOMPTONSay！Whatpricethesergeantmajor？

PRIVATECARRBennett？He’smypal。IloveoldBennett。

THENAVVY(Shouts。)Thegallingchain。

Andfreeournativeland。(Hestaggersforward，draggingthemwithhim。Bloomstops，atfault。

Thedogapproaches，histongueoutlolling，panting。)

BLOOMWildgoosechasethis。Disorderlyhouses。Lordknowswheretheyaregone。Drunkscoverdistancedoublequick。Nicemixup。SceneatWestlandrow。Thenjumpinfirstclasswiththirdticket。Thentoofa