Улисс

           —Iplungedabit,saidBoylanwinkinganddrinking.Notonmyown,youknow.Fancyofafriendofmine.

           LenehanstilldrankandgrinnedathistiltedaleandatmissDouce’slipsthatallbuthummed,notshut,theoceansongherlipshadtrilled.Idolores.Theeasternseas.

           Clockwhirred.MissKennedypassedtheirway(flower,wonderwhogave),bearingawayteatray.Clockclacked.

           MissDoucetookBoylan’scoin,struckboldlythecashregister.Itclanged.Clockclacked.FaironeofEgyptteasedandsortedinthetillandhummedandhandedcoinsinchange.Looktothewest.Aclack.Forme.

           —Whattimeisthat?askedBlazesBoylan.Four?

           O’clock.

           Lenehan,smalleyesahungeronherhumming,bustahumming,tuggedBlazesBoylan’selbowsleeve.

           —Let’shearthetime,hesaid.

           ThebagofGoulding,Collis,WardledBloombyryebloomfloweredtables.Aimlesshechosewithagitatedaim,baldPatattending,atablenearthedoor.Benear.Atfour.Hasheforgotten?Perhapsatrick.Notcome:whetappetite.Icouldn’tdo.Wait,wait.Pat,waiter,waited.

           SparklingbronzeazureeyedBlazure’sskybluebowandeyes.

           —Goon,pressedLenehan.There’sno-one.Heneverheard.

           —...toFlora’slipsdidhie.

           High,ahighnotepealedinthetrebleclear.

           BronzedoucecommuningwithherrosethatsankandrosesoughtBlazesBoylan’sflowerandeyes.

           —Please,please.

           Hepleadedoverreturningphrasesofavowal.

           —Icouldnotleavethee...

           —Afterwits,missDoucepromisedcoyly.

           —No,now,urgedLenehan.Sonnezlacloche!Odo!There’sno-one.

           Shelooked.Quick.MissKennoutofearshot.Suddenbent.