第94章

Woman，it’sbreakingme！(DennisBreen，whitetallhatted，withWisdomHely’ssandwichboard，shufflespastthemincadetslippers，hisdullbeardthrustout，mutteringtorightandleft。LittleAlfBergan，cloakedinthepalloftheaceofspaces，dogshimtoleftandright，doubledinlaughter。)

ALFBERGAN(Pointsjeeringatthesandwichboards。)U。p。：Up。

MRSBREEN(ToBloom。)Highjinksbelowstairs。(Shegiveshimthegladeye。)Whydidn’tyoukissthespottomakeitwell？Youwantedto。

BLOOM(Shocked。)Molly’sbestfriend！Couldyou？

MRSBREEN(Herpulpytonguebetweenherlips，offersapigeonkiss。)

Hnhn。Theanswerisalemon。Haveyoualittlepresentformethere？

BLOOM(Offhandedly。)Kosher。Asnackforsupper。Thehomewithoutpottedmeatisincomplete。IwasatLeah。MrsBandmanPalmer。TrenchantexponentofShakespeare。Unfortunatelythrewawaytheprogramme。Rattlinggoodplaceroundthereforpig’sfeet。Feel。

(RichieGoulding，threeladies’hatspinnedonhishead，appearsweightedtoonesidebytheblacklegalbagofCollisandWardonwhichaskullandcrossbonesarepaintedinwhitelimewash。Heinsitandshowsitfullofpolonies，kippered，herrings，Findonhaddiesandtightpackedpills。)

RICHIEBestvalueinDub。

(BaldPat，botheredbeetle，standsonthecurbstone，foldinghisnapkin，waitingtowait。)

PAT(Advanceswithatilteddishofspillspillinggravy。)Steakandkidney。Bottleoflager。Heeheehee。WaittillIwait。

RICHIEGoodgod。Ineverateinall……

(Withhangingheadhemarchesdoggedlyforward。Thenavvy，lurchingby，goreshimwithhisflamingpronghorn。)

RICHIE(Withacryofpain，hishandtohisback)Ah！Bright’s！

Lights！

BLOOM(Pointstothenavvy。)Aspy。Don’tattractattention。

Ihatestupidcrowds。Iamnotonpleasurebent。Iaminagravepredicament。

MRSBREENHumbugginganddelutberingasperusualwithyourcockandbullstory。

BLOOMIwanttotellyoualittlesecretabouthowIcametobehere。

Butyoumustnevertell。NotevenMolly。Ihaveamostparticularreason。

MRSBREEN(Allagog。)O，notforworlds。

BLOOMLet’swalkon。Shallus？

MRSBREENLet’s。

(Thebawdmakesanunheededsign。BloomwalksonwithMrsBreen。

Theterrierfollows，whiningpiteously，wagginghistail。)

THEBAWDJewman’smelt！

BLOOM(Inanoatmealsportingsuit，asprigofwoodbineinthelapel，tonybuffshirt，shepherd’splaidSaintAndrew’scrossscarftie，whitespats，fawndustcoatonhisarm，tawnyredbrogues，fieldglassesinbandolierandagreybillycockhat。)Doyourememberalonglongtime，yearsandyearsago，justafterMilly，Marionettewecalledher，wasweanedwhenweallwenttogethertoFairyhouseraces，wasit？

MRSBREEN(InsmartSaxetailormade，whitevelourshatandspiderveil。)Leopardstown。

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。

Sh