Page 584 - ULYSSES
P. 584
Ulysses
—Did you see that bloody lunatic Breen round there?
says Alf. U. p: up.
—Yes, says J. J. Looking for a private detective.
—Ay, says Ned. And he wanted right go wrong to
address the court only Corny Kelleher got round him
telling him to get the handwriting examined first.
—Ten thousand pounds, says Alf, laughing. God, I’d
give anything to hear him before a judge and jury.
—Was it you did it, Alf? says Joe. The truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth, so help you Jimmy
Johnson.
—Me? says Alf. Don’t cast your nasturtiums on my
character.
—Whatever statement you make, says Joe, will be
taken down in evidence against you.
—Of course an action would lie, says J. J. It implies
that he is not compos mentis. U. p: up.
—Compos your eye! says Alf, laughing. Do you know
that he’s balmy? Look at his head. Do you know that
some mornings he has to get his hat on with a shoehorn.
—Yes, says J. J., but the truth of a libel is no defence to
an indictment for publishing it in the eyes of the law.
—Ha ha, Alf, says Joe.
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