登陆注册
5572400000031

第31章

They went past the bleak pulpit of Saint Mark's, under the railway bridge, past the Queen's theatre: in silence. Hoardings. Eugene Stratton. Mrs Bandman Palmer. Could I go to see Leah tonight, I wonder. I said I. Or the Lily of Killarney? Elster Grimes Opera company. Big powerful change. Wet bright bills for next week. Fun on the Bristol. Martin Cunningham could work a pass for the Gaiety. Have to stand a drink or two. As broad as it's long.

He's coming in the afternoon. Her songs.

Plasto's. Sir Philip Crampton's memorial fountain bust. Who was he?

-- How do you do? Martin Cunningham said, raising his palm to his brow in salute.

-- He doesn't see us, Mr Power said. Yes, he does. How do you do?

-- Who? Mr Dedalus asked.

-- Blazes Boylan, Mr Power said. There he is airing his quiff.

Just that moment I was thinking.

Mr Dedalus bent across to salute. From the door of the Red Bank the white disc of a straw hat flashed reply: passed.

Mr Bloom reviewed the nails of his left hand, then those of his right hand. The nails, yes. Is there anything more in him that they she sees? Fascination. Worst man in Dublin. That keeps him alive. They sometimes feel what a person Is. Instinct. But a type like that. My nails. I am just looking at them: well pared. And after: thinking alone. Body getting a bit softy. I would notice that from remembering. What causes that I suppose the skin can't contract quickly enough when the flesh falls off. But the shape is there. The shape is there still. Shoulders. Hips. Plump. Night of the dance dressing. Shift stuck between the cheeks behind.

He clasped his hands between his knees and, satisfied, sent his vacant glance over their faces.

Mr Power asked:

-- How is the concert tour getting on, Bloom?

-- O very well, Mr Bloom said. I hear great accounts of it. It's a good idea, you see .

-- Are you going yourself?

-- Well no, Mr Bloom said. In point of fact I have to go down to the county Clare on some private business. You see the idea is to tour the chief towns. What you lose on one you can make up on the other.

-- Quite so, Martin Cunningham said. Mary Anderson is up there now.

-- Have you good artists?

-- Louis Werner is touring her, Mr Bloom said. O yes, we'll have all topnobbers. J. C. Doyle and John MacCormack I hope and. The best, in fact.

-- And Madame, Mr Power said, smiling. but not least.

Mr Bloom unclasped his hands in a gesture of soft politeness and clasped them. Smith O'Brien. Someone has laid a bunch of flowers there. Woman. Must be his deathday. For many happy returns. The carriage wheeling by Farrell's statue united noiselessly their unresisting knees.

Oot: a dullgarbed old man from the curbstone tendered his wares, his mouth opening: oot.

-- Four bootlaces for a penny.

Wonder why he was struck off the rolls. Had his office in Hume street. Same house as Molly's namesake. Tweedy, crown solicitor for Waterford. Has that silk hat ever since. Relics of old decency. Mourning too. Terrible comedown, poor wretch! kicked about like snuff at a wake. O'Callaghan on his last legs.

And Madame. Twenty past eleven. Up. Mrs Fleming is in to clean. Doing her hair, humming: voglio e non vorrei. No: vorrei e non. Looking at the tips of her hairs to see if they are split. Mi trema un poco il. Beautiful on that tre her voice is: weeping tone. A thrust. A throstle. There is a word throstle that expressed that.

His eyes passed lightly over Mr Power's goodlooking face. Greyish over the ears. Madame: smiling. I smiled back. A smile does a long way. Only politeness perhaps. Nice fellow. Who knows is that true about the woman he keeps? Not pleasant for the wife. Yet they say, who was it told me, there is no carnal. You would imagine that would get played out pretty quick. Yes, it was Crofton met him one evening bringing her a pound of rumpsteak. What is this she was? Barmaid in Jury's. Or the Moira, was it?

They passed under the hugecloaked Liberator's form.

Martin Cunningham nudged Mr Power.

-- Of the tribe of Reuben, he said.

A tall blackbearded figure, bent on a stick, stumping round the corner of Elvery's elephant house showed them a curved hand open on his spine.

-- In all his pristine beauty, Mr Power said.

Mr Dedalus looked after the stumping figure and said mildly:

-- The devil break the hasp of your back!

Mr Power, collapsing in laughter, shaded his face from the window as the carriage passed Gray's statue.

-- We have all been there, Martin Cunningham said broadly.

His eyes met Mr Bloom's eyes. He caressed his beard, adding:

-- Well, nearly all of us.

Mr Bloom began to speak with sudden eagerness to his companions' faces. -- That's an awfully good one that's going the rounds about Reuben J. and the son.

-- About the boatman? Mr Power asked.

-- Yes. Isn't it awfully good?

-- What is that? Mr Dedalus asked. I didn't hear it.

-- There was a girl in the case, Mr Bloom began, and he determined to send him to the isle of Man out of harm's way but when they were both...

-- What? Mr Dedalus asked. That confirmed bloody hobbledehoy is it?

-- Yes, Mr Bloom said. They were both on the way to the boat and he tried to drown...

-- Drown Barabbas! Mr Dedalus cried. I wish to Christ he did!

Mr Power sent a long laugh down his shaded nostrils.

-- No, Mr Bloom said the son himself...

Martin Cunningham thwarted his speech rudely.

-- Reuben J. and the son were piking it down the quay next the river on their way to the isle of Man boat and the young chiseller suddenly got loose and over the wall with him into the Liffey.

-- For God's sake! Mr Dedalus exclaimed in fright. Is he dead?

-- Dead! Martin Cunningham cried. Not he! A boatman got a pole and fished him out by the slack of the breeches and he was landed up to the father on the quay. More dead than alive. Half the town was there.

-- Yes, Mr Bloom said. But the funny part is...

-- And Reuben J., Martin Cunningham said, gave the boatman a florin for saving his son's life.

A stifled sigh came from under Mr Power's hand.

-- O, he did, Martin Cunningham affirmed. Like a hero. A silver florin.

-- Isn't it awfully good? Mr Bloom said eagerly.

同类推荐
  • Little Novice 小沙弥

    Little Novice 小沙弥

    半个世纪前的西藏有着怎样的神秘往事?转世活佛有着怎样不寻常的艰难经历?六百多年前,藏传佛教格鲁派创始人宗喀巴大师创造了什么样的神奇?六百年后,他的法体又遭遇了什么样的劫难?佛法故事、民间传说、艺人说唱……何为活佛,何为马帮,何为藏药,何为唐卡,何为藏族人心中对死的理解……
  • 带本英语书游世界

    带本英语书游世界

    本书章节分为 Chapter 1 万事俱备 Chapter 2 快乐出发 Chapter 3 平安到达 Chapter 4 享受美食 Chapter 5 遨游世界 Chapter 6 疯狂购物每个章节详细描写了相关旅游出行的细节,词汇补给、旅游应急句、实用情景对话帮助读者轻松出行。
  • 那些光影飞华的魅惑(每天读一点英文)

    那些光影飞华的魅惑(每天读一点英文)

    《那些光影飞华的魅惑》由我的美丽日记、我的健康我做主、时尚达人、勇闯天涯、摩登时代等篇目组成,让你在体味时尚、逐赶潮流中,不知不觉提升英语能力。
  • 我的第一本英语百科全书

    我的第一本英语百科全书

    本书的特色:全!全到不能再全的英语百科,内容涵盖口语、俚语、句型、短语、希腊神话一应俱全细!每个常识讲解非常的详尽,深入浅出,很好地解决了读者学习时的“输出”问题!酷!课堂上很少能接触到的美式英语。英语最实用常识一网打尽!值!超长美语录音MP3免费下载,标准美音,地道表达,犹如外教在身边,给读者以超值的学习体验!练口语,会俚语,学句型,知短语,晓故事,这些基础知识是学习好英语的基础,而《 我的第一本英语百科全书》已完整收录了所有功能,相信读者在使用本书后,英文能力肯定能够得到全面提升!
  • Never Give Up on Yourself 永不放弃自己

    Never Give Up on Yourself 永不放弃自己

    谁也不能改变你的容貌,但你能通过修炼自己变成一个魅力四射的女人。汪洋的经历就充分证明了这一点。《永不放弃自己》一书告诉大家,只要你不放弃希望,灰姑娘也会变成美丽的公主,你梦想的一切都会实现!
热门推荐
  • 王爷乱来:亲亲小痞妃

    王爷乱来:亲亲小痞妃

    她无耻,她流氓,接近他是有所图。可这一个权倾朝野、风华绝代的王爷也未免太过张扬,摸摸亲亲不止,还刻意招来一帮脑残女找她麻烦?!尼玛,动动小手指也气死你们……当她21世纪新新人类好惹吗?……然而,有一天她终于领悟,某爷不止张扬,是绝对的阴险毒辣……(情节虚构,切勿模仿)
  • 诸天万界传道行动

    诸天万界传道行动

    人们总是在不断重复的生活中消磨着生命,但值得庆幸的是,头顶有可以让我们仰望的遥远星空,脚下有可以让我们塌实的无边大地。从射雕到天龙,从斗破到遮天,从武侠到仙侠,看主角如何恶搞轮回,笑傲天地
  • 和乐天感鹤

    和乐天感鹤

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 暗度诸天

    暗度诸天

    青年被冥冥之中的另一个自己开启神藏,暗渡诸天世界……!
  • 佛说普达王经

    佛说普达王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 伤心苦参地

    伤心苦参地

    夏日的风带些苦味,这是宋占德走进这片山坡上,才感觉出的。宋占德首先看到的是地上茂盛的植物,他认不出这是什么植物,但他可以肯定这植物是山坡地上的灵物。在他感叹的时候,也看见一座低矮的木屋,这木屋很别致,它竟然是在一棵古榆树的树杈上。当然,这榆树还活着,不然它的绿荫不会半遮半掩着木屋。这树中阁楼,还有两点红色点缀。在木屋的门口,挤坐着两个人:一壮汉,嘴里叼着烟袋,烟袋上悬着红布荷包;还有一女孩,穿着很红的小褂子,那红褂子很小,却很艳丽。“是常大叔吗?”宋占德用手遮着斜阳,冲阁楼喊。
  • 超级汽修厂

    超级汽修厂

    其实一开始听说要我修车我是拒绝的,因为,你不能让我修,我就马上去修,第一我要好处,因为我不愿意修完以后没有钱拿,钱包“Duang”的一下,很扁、很空,这样我会很难受。系统:“闭嘴,完成有奖励,完不成你就GG!”目前世界:[头文字D]
  • 文学概论通用教程:文学概论教程作品论

    文学概论通用教程:文学概论教程作品论

    什么样的作品有阅读价值?这些作品应当如何去读?它们在哪些方面值得注意?这些都是我们要进一步研究的。作品需要阐释,就如同作品需要阅读一样。本书在学生听课笔记的基础上改写而成,保留了课堂教学口语风格,以“正文+附录”为体例,以文学的本质及其规律为逻辑,深入浅出,为读者理解文学及其相关事物提供桥梁。
  • 永无宁日

    永无宁日

    一个在愚昧闭塞的环境中成长的少年,因偶然看到的一幕特殊场面而震颤而迷乱。战乱的时代又把一杆枪放在他无知的手中,从此他便知道了用枪去解决自己古怪的愿望。他一次次地杀了自己的亲人,也杀了自己所谓的敌人,欲望吞噬着他的灵魂,令人永无安生之日。
  • 宿主脑阔疼

    宿主脑阔疼

    简介是不可能写简介的。我叫苏小木,只要我足够溜,系统给我加的debuff就追不上我,我一点都不慌,就是脑阔有点疼。…………已有完本高订2万的老书《神豪无极限》。破碗破盆收破烂群:835679518,欢迎大家。