—­Well, what is it? he said, stopping.

The lacquey rang his bell behind their backs.

—­Barang!

—­Curse your bloody blatant soul, Mr Dedalus cried, turning on him.

The lacquey, aware of comment, shook the lolling clapper of his bell but feebly: 

—­Bang!

Mr Dedalus stared at him.

—­Watch him, he said.  It’s instructive.  I wonder will he allow us to talk.

—­You got more than that, father, Dilly said.

—­I’m going to show you a little trick, Mr Dedalus said.  I’ll leave you all where Jesus left the jews.  Look, there’s all I have.  I got two shillings from Jack Power and I spent twopence for a shave for the funeral.

He drew forth a handful of copper coins, nervously.

—­Can’t you look for some money somewhere?  Dilly said.

Mr Dedalus thought and nodded.

—­I will, he said gravely.  I looked all along the gutter in O’Connell street.  I’ll try this one now.

—­You’re very funny, Dilly said, grinning.

—­Here, Mr Dedalus said, handing her two pennies.  Get a glass of milk for yourself and a bun or a something.  I’ll be home shortly.

He put the other coins in his pocket and started to walk on.

The viceregal cavalcade passed, greeted by obsequious policemen, out of Parkgate.

—­I’m sure you have another shilling, Dilly said.

The lacquey banged loudly.

Mr Dedalus amid the din walked off, murmuring to himself with a pursing mincing mouth gently: 

—­The little nuns!  Nice little things!  O, sure they wouldn’t do anything! 
O, sure they wouldn’t really!  Is it little sister Monica!

* * * * *

From the sundial towards James’s gate walked Mr Kernan, pleased with the order he had booked for Pulbrook Robertson, boldly along James’s street, past Shackleton’s offices.  Got round him all right.  How do you do, Mr Crimmins?  First rate, sir.  I was afraid you might be up in your other establishment in Pimlico.  How are things going?  Just keeping alive.  Lovely weather we’re having.  Yes, indeed.  Good for the country.  Those farmers are always grumbling.  I’ll just take a thimbleful of your best gin, Mr Crimmins.  A small gin, sir.  Yes, sir.  Terrible affair that General Slocum explosion.  Terrible, terrible!  A thousand casualties.  And heartrending scenes.  Men trampling down women and children.  Most brutal thing.  What do they say was the cause?  Spontaneous combustion.  Most scandalous revelation.  Not a single lifeboat would float and the firehose all burst.  What I can’t understand is how the inspectors ever allowed a boat like that ...  Now, you’re talking straight, Mr Crimmins.  You know why?  Palm oil.  Is that a fact?  Without a doubt.  Well now, look at that.  And America they say is the land of the free.  I thought we were bad here.

I smiled at him.  America, I said quietly, just like that.  What is it?  The sweepings of every country including our own.  Isn’t that true?  That’s a fact.