登陆注册
5572400000043

第43章

-- Good day, Myles. J.J. O'Molloy said, letting the pages he held slip limply back on the file. Is that Canada swindle case on today?

The telephone whirred inside.

-- Twenty eight... No, twenty... Double four . Yes.

Spot the Winner

Lenehan came out of the inner office with Sports tissues.

-- Who wants a dead cert for the Gold cup? he asked. Sceptre with O. Madden up.

He tossed the tissues on to the table.

Screams of newsboys barefoot in the hall rushed near and the door was flung open.

-- Hush, Lenehan said. I hear feetstoops.

Professor MacHugh strode across the room and seized the cringing urchin by the collar as the others scampered out of the hall and down the steps. The tissues rustled up in the draught, floated softly in the air blue scrawls and under the table came to earth.

-- It wasn't me, sir. It was the big fellow shoved me, sir.

-- Throw him out and shut the door, the editor said. There's a hurricane blowing.

Lenehan began to paw the tissues up from the floor, grunting as he stooped twice.

-- Waiting for the racing special, sir, the newsboy said. It was Pat Farrel shoved me, sir.

He pointed to two faces peering in round the door-frame.

-- Him, sir.

-- Out of this with you, professor MacHugh said gruffly.

He hustled the boy out and banged the door to.

J.J. O'Molloy turned the files crackingly over, murmuring, seeking:

-- Continued on page six, column four.

-- Yes... Evening Telegraph here, Mr Bloom phoned from the inner office. Is the boss... ? Yes, Telegraph... To where?... Aha! Which auction rooms?... Aha! I see... Right. I'll catch him.

A Collision ensues

The bell whirred again as he rang off. He came in quickly and bumped against Lenehan who was struggling up with the second tissue.

-- Pardon, monsieur, Lenehan said, clutching him for an instant and making a grimace.

-- My fault, Mr Bloom said, suffering his grip. Are you hurt? I'm in a hurry.

-- Knee, Lenehan said.

He made a comic face and whined, rubbing his knee.

-- The accumulation of the anno Domini.

-- Sorry, Mr Bloom said.

He went to the door and, holding it ajar, paused. J.J. O'Molloy slapped the heavy pages over. The noise of two shrill voices, a mouthorgan, echoed in the bare hallway from the newsboys squatted on the doorsteps:

We are the boys of Wexford

Who fought with heart and hand.

Exit Bloom

-- I'm just running round to Bachelor's walk, Mr Bloom said, about this ad of Keyes's. Want to fix it up. They tell me he's round there in Dillon's.

He looked indecisively for a moment at their faces. The editor who, leaning against the mantelshelf, had propped his head on his hand suddenly stretched forth an arm amply.

-- Begone! he said. The world is before you.

-- Back in no time, Mr Bloom said, hurrying out.

J.J. O'Molloy took the tissues from Lenehan's hand and read them, blowing them apart gently, without comment.

-- He'll get that advertisement, the professor said, staring through his blackrimmed spectacles over the crossblind. Look at the young scamps after him.

-- Show! Where? Lenehan cried, running to the window.

A Street Cortege

Both smiled over the crossblind at the file of capering newsboys in Mr Bloom's wake, the last zigzagging white on the breeze a mocking kite, a tail of white bowknots.

-- Look at the young guttersnipe behind him hue and cry, Lenehan said, and you'll kick. O, my rib risible! Taking off his flat spaugs and the walk. Small nines. Steal upon larks.

He began to mazurka in swift caricature across the floor on sliding feet past the fireplace to J.J. O'Molloy who placed the tissues in his receiving hands.

-- What's that? Myles Crawford said with a start. Where are the other two gone?

-- Who? the professor said, turning. They're gone round to the Oval for a drink. Paddy Hooper is there with Jack Hall. Came over last night.

-- Come on then, Myles Crawford said. Where's my hat?

He walked jerkily into the office behind, parting the vent of his jacket, jingling his keys in his back pocket. They jingled then in the air and against the wood as he locked his desk drawer.

-- He's pretty well on, professor MacHugh said in a low voIce.

-- Seems to be, J.J. O'Molloy said, taking out a cigarette case in murmuring meditation, but it is not always as it seems. Who has the most matches?

The Calumet of Peace

He offered a cigarette to the professor and took one himself. Lenehan promptly struck a match for them and lit their cigarettes in turn. J.J. O'Molloy opened his case again and offered it.

-- Thanky vous, Lenehan said, helping himself.

The editor came from the inner office, a straw hat awry on his brow. He declaimed in song, pointing sternly at professor MacHugh:

'Twas rank and fame that tempted thee,

'Twas empire charmed thy heart.

The professor grinned, locking his long lips.

-- Eh? You bloody old Roman empire? Myles Crawford said.

He took a cigarette from the open case. Lenehan, lighting it for him with quick grace, said:

-- Silence for my brandnew riddle!

-- Imperium romanum, J.J. O'Molloy said gently. It sounds nobler than British or Brixton. The word reminds one somehow of fat in the fire.

Myles Crawford blew his first puff violently towards the ceiling.

-- That's it, he said. We are the fat. You and I are the fat in the fire. We haven't got the chance of a snowball in hell.

The Grandeur that was Rome

-- Wait a moment, professor MacHugh said, raising two quiet claws. We mustn't be led away by words, by sounds of words. We think of Rome, imperial, imperious, imperative.

He extended elocutionary arms from frayed stained shirtcuffs, pausing:

-- What was their civilisation? Vast, I allow: but vile. Cloac&Aelig;: sewers. The Jews in the wilderness and on the mountaintop said: It is meet to be here. Let us build an altar to Jehovah. The Roman, like the Englishman who follows in his footsteps, brought to every new shore on which he set his foot (on our shore he never set it) only his cloacal obsession. He gazed about him in his toga and he said: It is meet to be here. Let us construct a watercloset.

同类推荐
  • 世界上最美的情诗

    世界上最美的情诗

    《世界上最美的情诗》从诗歌宝库中精选了百余篇具有代表性的篇章,所选篇目皆出自于名家之手,它们语言优美,意境深邃,篇篇可谓人类文明的共同财富。同时在本书内容的选择上也力求广泛,它们或讴歌大自然,或吟咏爱情,或感叹人生,可谓包罗人生的方方面面。
  • 英文爱藏:淡定的人生不寂寞

    英文爱藏:淡定的人生不寂寞

    学英语不再枯燥无味——吴文智编著的《淡定的人生不寂寞》内文篇 目均取自国外最经典、最权威、最流行、最动人的篇章,中英双语,适于 诵读,提升阅读能力;学英语不再沉闷辛苦——优美的语言、深厚的情感 、地道的英文,让我们在阅读这些动人的绝美篇章时,不仅能够提升生活 质量,丰富人生内涵,更能够轻松提升英文领悟能力,体味英文之...
  • Rose O' the River

    Rose O' the River

    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
  • 文秘英语对答如流

    文秘英语对答如流

    该书内容真实鲜活,共包括电话、客户来访、邮电通讯、招聘、培训和面试、秘书人际关系、安排行程和会议、日常工作用语、与外宾交流、办公事务英语以及处理紧急事件十个章节。该书内容编排上有以下几个特点:互动问答、高频精句、场景会话、金词放送、精彩片段。
  • 美丽英文:越长大越快乐(成长卷)(套装共6册)

    美丽英文:越长大越快乐(成长卷)(套装共6册)

    《美丽英文:越长大越快乐(成长卷)》(套装共6册)包括《美丽英文:致十年后的自己》《美丽英文:遇见成功的自己》《美丽英文:世界上最美的情书》《美丽英文:那些激励我前行的睿思》《美丽英文:那些触动我心扉的故事》《美丽英文:快乐是自找的》。在这里,世界级的大师用发人深省的哲理语言,从不同的角度告诉我们,应如何面对生活、品味情感、看待世间百态、抓住未来的人生。那些岁月如歌的光阴,那些浮生若梦的幻影,是一篇篇难以忘却的经典故事,它们有的激励人心、感人肺腑,有的美轮美奂、令人深思。
热门推荐
  • 魔术安魂曲

    魔术安魂曲

    这个故事是从食人山古墓开始的,自从魔术连环杀人案被揭开谜底后,凶手落入法网,华升大学最知名的社团魔术社却为此付出了血的代价。社长程东、凌飞、薛洋、马天书、杜小磊、张旭、郭台亮的尸骨,以及生死未卜的思瑶,还有古代魔术师的后人杜克帆都随着古墓的倒塌被深深埋在了冰凉的泥土里。然而,警方却无法找到找到他们的尸体,给世间留下了不少神秘的猜想……
  • 今天的饭局谁买单

    今天的饭局谁买单

    许晴雯忐忑着再次来到方德律师的办公室门口,抬手刚要敲门,从敞开的门缝看到里面有客人,她就停住了,觉得站不稳,就手扶墙壁,使劲闭着眼睛,叹出一口长气,才觉得好一点。几个月前从这里抱着上百万财产的转交证书和银行支票走出去时,她没想到自己还会回来。那时尽管自己的心理充满了矛盾和疑惑,但神情是平常的,人也很有精神;而这次回来,她却觉得自己浑身无力,从走廊上的大镜子中,她看到了自己的憔悴和萎靡,眼睛里充满了忧伤。出来送客的方德律师看见她几乎是大吃一惊,与客人摆摆手,就急忙过来扶住她的肩膀询问:“许女士,你怎么了?病了吗?要不要去看医生?”
  • 暖口味心理学

    暖口味心理学

    本书以快速让自己的心情变好为主旨,以心理学为依据,围绕快乐主题,结合生活实际和事例,引导人们在生活中学会掌控情绪,管理心情,用理智驾驭情感,进而获得成功和阳光人生。本书阐述了生活中最常见的心理和情绪问题,并提供了有效的改善方法。例如,什么是情绪,情绪对健康的影响,如何摆脱情绪障碍,怎样做情绪的主人;心情的力量究竟有多大,我们为什么要快乐地活着,我们为什么会莫名地忧郁和烦恼,好心情由谁决定,如何创造和坚持好心情;在职场如何调节情绪,以及在生活中如何自我管理情绪等。希望本书能够帮助你走出心情的低谷,摆脱烦恼的困扰,彻底地改变你的精气神,用热情、积极、乐观和快乐的心情拥抱美好人生。"
  • 四书通读

    四书通读

    中国优秀传统文化中蕴藏着解决当代人类面临的难题的重要启示,我们要结合时代条件加以继承和发扬,赋予其新的涵义。作者潜心研读四书经典,结合其八十年的社会阅历和人生感悟,阐释做人之道、教学之道、为政之道等,希望读者从中获得人生启迪,得到智慧滋养。
  • 拿起来就放不下的80个自然地理之谜

    拿起来就放不下的80个自然地理之谜

    本书对世界地理悬而未决、不为人知的谜案进行了全面、系统的探索,包括:令人疑惑的古代英伦巨石阵、神奇的变色巨岩——艾尔斯巨岩、人类最后的秘境——雅鲁藏布江大峡谷等。
  • 别太单纯,也别太精明

    别太单纯,也别太精明

    本书不是教你如何耍奸使滑,奸诈虚伪,而是告诉年轻读者在为人处事上,要有智慧,懂得把握分寸,学会处理与同事、朋友、家人等一切社会关系,在办事上要懂得方圆,别太单纯,也别太精明,谨言慎行,礼行天下。
  • 魔兽真三之神级小兵

    魔兽真三之神级小兵

    如果有一天,你一觉醒来,发现自己躺在一泓清澈的泉水旁边。泉水名曰:生命之泉。这时,一道白光闪过,出现了一名你极为熟悉的身影……背上背着两把交叉的刀,尤其是那别在腰上的弓箭。你失声叫道:“马岱?生命之泉……这是魔兽真三国无双3.9D?”只听到马岱自言自语道:“妈嘞个逼的,41真JB恶心,又TM和典韦来抓我……不行!我要证明,我马岱不是永远的150,不是移动的经验书!我要合玄武,合三烈,合七星、血斧、大地、翔靴、倚天、黄龙剑……哈哈哈,我马岱,将会成神,神级马岱!”这个时候马岱看到了你,惊奇万分道:“咦?这个小兵怎么刷到温泉来了?”
  • 酋长大人的绯闻女友

    酋长大人的绯闻女友

    由于本人个人原因本文暂停更新我会把后续部分继续写完,但是半年之内应该都不会再继续更新了,半年之后将后面的二十万字一次性更完后会申请完结
  • 君雨君林

    君雨君林

    一个傻子写的一本傻小说。在此,祝大家一生万事皆如意,久伴双君于吉祥。
  • 心情的风景

    心情的风景

    本书是作者数十年游历各地对于山川风物、古今人物所抒写的随笔、散记的选集,都近年来在各类媒体上发表的作品,内容涉及历史文化名人的逸闻趣事、历史文化名城的传说与典故,读来耐人寻味,容知识性与趣味性于一体。这些文章集知识性、趣味性于一体,内容有深度,观点新颖,文笔优美,语言流畅,可读性强。