Улисс

           —He’sprettywellon,professorMacHughsaidinalowvoice.

           —Seemstobe,J.J.O’Molloysaid,takingoutacigarettecaseinmurmuringmeditation,butitisnotalwaysasitseems.Whohasthemostmatches?

           THECALUMETOFPEACE

           Heofferedacigarettetotheprofessorandtookonehimself.Lenehanpromptlystruckamatchforthemandlittheircigarettesinturn.J.J.O’Molloyopenedhiscaseagainandofferedit.

           —Thankyvous,Lenehansaid,helpinghimself.

           Theeditorcamefromtheinneroffice,astrawhatawryonhisbrow.Hedeclaimedinsong,pointingsternlyatprofessorMacHugh:

           ’Twasrankandfamethattemptedthee,

           ’Twasempirecharmedthyheart.

           Theprofessorgrinned,lockinghislonglips.

           —Eh?YoubloodyoldRomanempire?MylesCrawfordsaid.

           Hetookacigarettefromtheopencase.Lenehan,lightingitforhimwithquickgrace,said:

           —Silenceformybrandnewriddle!

           —Imperiumromanum,J.J.O’Molloysaidgently.ItsoundsnoblerthanBritishorBrixton.Thewordremindsonesomehowoffatinthefire.

           MylesCrawfordblewhisfirstpuffviolentlytowardstheceiling.

           —That’sit,hesaid.Wearethefat.YouandIarethefatinthefire.Wehaven’tgotthechanceofasnowballinhell.

           THEGRANDEURTHATWASROME

           —Waitamoment,professorMacHughsaid,raisingtwoquietclaws.Wemustn’tbeledawaybywords,bysoundsofwords.WethinkofRome,imperial,imperious,imperative.

           Heextendedelocutionaryarmsfromfrayedstainedshirtcuffs,pausing:

           —Whatwastheircivilisation?Vast,Iallow:butvile.Cloacae:sewers.