第93章

(Shocked，onweakhams，hehalts。TommyandJackyvanishthere，there。

Bloompatswithparcelledhandswatch，fobpocket，bookpocket，pursepocket，sweetsofsin，potatosoap。)

BLOOMBewareofpickpockets。Oldthieves’dodge。Collide。Thensnatchyourpurse。

(Theretrieverapproachessniffling，nosetotheground。Asprawledformsneezes。AstoopedbeardedfigureappearsgarbedinthelongcaftanofanelderinZionandasmokingcapwithmagentatassels。Hornedspectacleshangdownatthewingsofthenose。Yellowpoisonstreaksareonthedrawnface。)

RUDOLPHSecondhalfcrownwastemoneytoday。Itoldyounotgowithdrunkengoyever。So。Youcatchnomoney。

BLOOM(Hidesthecrubeenandtrotterbehindhisbackand，crestfallen，feelswarmandcoldfeetmeat)Ja，ichweiss，papachi。

RUDOLPHWhatyoumakingdownthisplace？Haveyounosoul？(WithfeeblevulturetalonshefeelsthesilentfaceofBloom)AreyounotmysonLeopold，thegrandsonofLeopold？AreyounotmydearsonLeopoldwholeftthehouseofhisfatherandleftthegodofhisfathersAbrahamandJacob？

BLOOM(Withprecaution。)Isupposeso，father。Mosenthal。Allthat’sleftofhim。

RUDOLPH(Severely。)Onenighttheybringyouhomedrunkasdogafterspendyourgoodmoney。Whatyoucallthemrunningchaps？

BLOOM(Inyouth’ssmartblueOxfordsuitwithwhitevestslips，narrowshouldered，inbrownAlpinehat，wearinggent’ssterlingsilverwaterburykeylesswatchanddoublecurbAlbertwithsealattached，onesideofhimcoatedwithstiffeningmud。)Harriers，father。Onlythatonce。

RUDOLPHOnce！Mudheadtofoot。Cutyourhandopen。Lockjaw。Theymakeyoukaput，Leopoldleben。Youwatchthemchaps。

BLOOM(Weakly。)Theychallengedmetoasprint。Itwasmuddy。

Islipped。

RUDOLPH(Withcontempt)Ooimnachez。Nicespectaclesforyourpoormother！

BLOOMMamma！

ELLENBLOOM(Inpantomimedame’sstringedmobcap，crinolineandbustle，widowTwankey’sblousewithmuttonlegsleevesbuttonedbehind，greymittensandcameobrooch，herhairplaitedinacrispingnet，appearsoverthestaircasebanisters，aslantedcandlestickinherhandandcriesoutinshrillalarm。)

OblessedRedeemer，whathavetheydonetohim！Mysmellingsalts！(Shehaulsupareefofskirtandransacksthepouchofherstripedblaypetticoat。

Aphial，anAgnusDei，ashrivelledpotatoandacelluloiddollfallout。)

SacredHeartofMary，wherewereyouatall，atall？

(Bloom，mumbling，hiseyesdowncast，beginstobestowhisparcelsinhisfilledpocketsbutdesists，muttering。)

AVOICE(Sharply。)Poldy！

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，hergoldcu