?O, it's a fine order, Nosey Flynn said. They stick to you when you're down. I know a fellow was trying to get into it, but they're as close as damn it. By God they did right to keep the women out of it.
Davy Byrne smiledyawnednodded all in one:
?Iiiiiichaaaaaaach!
?There was one woman, Nosey Flynn said, hid herself in a clock to find out what they do be doing. But be damned but they smelt her out and swore her in on the spot a master mason. That was one of the Saint Legers of Doneraile.
Davy Byrne, sated after his yawn, said with tearwashed eyes: ?And is that a fact? Decent quiet man he is. I often saw him in here and I never once saw him, you know, over the line.
?God Almighty couldn't make him drunk, Nosey Flynn said firmly. Slips off when the fun gets too hot. Didn't you see him look at his watch? Ah, you weren't there. If you ask him to have a drink first thing he does he outs with the watch to see what he ought to imbibe. Declare to God he does.
?There are some like that, Davy Byrne said. He's a safe man, I'd say.
?He's not too bad, Nosey Flynn said, snuffling it up. He has been known to put his hand down too to help a fellow. Give the devil his due. O, Bloom has his good points. But there's one thing he'll never do.
His hand scrawled a dry pen signature beside his grog.
?I know, Davy Byrne said.
?Nothing in black and white, Nosey Flynn said.
Paddy Leonard and Bantam Lyons came in. Tom Rochford followed frowning, a plaining hand on his claret waistcoat. ?Day, Mr Byrne. ?Day, gentlemen. They paused at the counter. ?Who's standing? Paddy Leonard asked. -?I'm sitting anyhow, Nosey Flynn answered. ?Well, what'll it be? Paddy Leonard asked. ?I'll take a stone ginger, Bantam Lyons said. ?How much? Paddy Leonard cried. Since when, for God's sake? What's yours, Tom?
?How is the main drainage? Nosey Flynn asked, sipping.
3. I.e., in the 'free and accepted order' of Freemasons, one of the oldest European secret societies; it was not in good repute in predominantly Roman Catholic countries like Ireland.
.
ULYSSES [LESTRYGONIANS] / 22 17
For answer Tom Rochford pressed his hand to his breastbone and hiccupped.
?Would I trouble you for a glass of fresh water, Mr Byrne? he said.
?Certainly, sir.
Paddy Leonard eyed his alemates.
?Lord love a duck, he said, look at what I'm standing drinks to! Cold water and gingerpop! Two fellows that would suck whisky off a sore leg. He has some bloody horse up his sleeve for the Gold cup. A dead snip.
?Zinfandel is it? Nosey Flynn asked.
Tom Rochford spilt powder from a twisted paper into the water set before him. ?That cursed dyspepsia, he said before drinking. ?Breadsoda is very good, Davy Byrne said. Tom Rochford nodded and drank. ?Is it Zinfandel? ?Say nothing, Bantam Lyons winked. I'm going to plunge five bob on my own.
?Tell us if you're worth your salt and be damned to you, Paddy Leonard said. Who gave it to you? Mr Bloom on his way out raised three fingers in greeting. ?So long, Nosey Flynn said. The others turned. ?That's the man now that gave it to me, Bantam Lyons whispered. ?Prrwht! Paddy Leonard said with scorn. Mr Byrne, sir, we'll take two of
your small Jamesons4 after that and a . . .
?Stone ginger, Davy Byrne added civilly.
?Ay, Paddy Leonard said. A suckingbottle for the baby.
Mr Bloom walked towards Dawson street, his tongue brushing his teeth
smooth. Something green it would have to be: spinach say. Then with those Rontgen rays5 searchlight you could.
At Duke lane a ravenous terrier choked up a sick knuckly cud on the cobblestones and lapped it with new zest. Surfeit. Returned with thanks having fully digested the contents. First sweet then savoury. Mr Bloom coasted warily. Ruminants. His second course. Their upper jaw they move. Wonder if Tom Bochford will do anything with that invention of his. Wasting time explaining it to Flynn's mouth. Lean people long mouths. Ought to be a hall or a place where inventors could go in and invent free. Course then you'd have all the cranks pestering.
He hummed, prolonging in solemn echo, the closes of the bars:
Don Giovanni, a cenar teco M'invitasti,6
Feel better. Burgundy. Good pick me up. Who distilled first? Some chap in the blues. Dutch courage. That Kilkenny People in the national library now I must.
Bare clean closestools, waiting, in the window of William Miller, plumber,
4. Brand of Irish whiskey. opera supplies some of the key themes in Ulysses, 5. X-rays. and the famous duet between Don Giovanni and 6. Because Molly is a singer, Bloom is familiar Zerlina, 'La ci darem la mano' (There we will join with opera. Here he recalls the song sung by the hands), haunts Bloom's mind throughout the day. Commendatore's statue in Mozart's Don Giovanni It is on the program of Molly's concert that she is and below he translates accurately the Italian discussing with Boylan that afternoon, and Bloom words he quotes, except for 'teco' (with thee). This associates it with her adultery with Boylan.
