Page 240 - ULYSSES
P. 240

Ulysses


                                            There’s a ponderous pundit MacHugh
                                         Who     wears   goggles  of   ebony   hue.
                                         As       he     mostly      sees     double

                                         To      wear     them      why     trouble?
                                         I can’t see the Joe Miller. Can you?
                                     In mourning for Sallust, Mulligan says. Whose mother
                                  is beastly dead.
                                     Myles Crawford crammed the sheets into a sidepocket.
                                     —That’ll be all right, he said. I’ll read the rest after.
                                  That’ll be all right.
                                     Lenehan extended his hands in protest.
                                     —But my riddle! he said. What opera is like a
                                  railwayline?
                                     —Opera? Mr O’Madden Burke’s sphinx face reriddled.
                                     Lenehan announced gladly:
                                     —The Rose of Castile. See the wheeze? Rows of cast
                                  steel. Gee!
                                     He poked Mr O’Madden Burke mildly in the spleen.
                                  Mr O’Madden Burke fell back with grace on his umbrella,
                                  feigning a gasp.
                                     —Help! he sighed. I feel a strong weakness.
                                     Lenehan, rising to tiptoe, fanned his face rapidly with
                                  the rustling tissues.





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