尤利西斯-第166章
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ghly providential was the appearance on the scene of Corny Kelleher when Stephen was blissfully unconscious that； but for that man in the gap turning up at the eleventh hour； the finis might have been that he might have been a candidate for the accident ward； or； failing that； the Bridewell and an appearance in the court next day before Mr Tobias； or； he being the solicitor； rather old Wall； he meant to say； or Malony which simply spelt ruin for a chap when it got bruited about。 The reason he mentioned the fact was that a lot of those policemen； whom he cordially disliked； were admittedly unscrupulous in the service of the Crown and； as Mr Bloom put it； recalling a case or two in the A Division in Clanbrassil street； prepared to swear a hole through a ten gallon pot。 Never on the spot when wanted but in quiet parts of the City； Pembroke Road； for example； the guardians of the law were well in evidence； the obvious reason being they were paid to protect the upper classes。 Another thing he mented on was equipping soldiers with firearms or sidearms of any description； liable to go off at any time； which was tantamount to inciting them against civilians should by any chance they fall nut over anything。 You frittered away your time； he very sensibly maintained； and health and also character besides which the squandermania of the thing； fast women of the demimonde ran away with a lot of #。 s。 d。 into the bargain and the greatest danger of all was who you got drunk with though； touching the much vexed question of stimulants； he relished a glass of choice old wine in season as both nourishing and blood…making and possessing aperient virtues （notably a good burgundy which he was a staunch believer in） still never beyond a certain point where he invariably drew the line as it simply led to trouble all round to say nothing of your being at the tender mercy of others practically。 Most of all he mented adversely on the desertion of Stephen by all his pubhunting confrères but one； a most glaring piece of ratting on the part of his brother medicos under all the circs。
And that one was Judas； said Stephen； who up to then had said nothing whatsoever of any kind。
Discussing these and kindred topics they made a beeline across the back of the Customhouse and passed under the Loop Line bridge when a brazier of coke burning in front of a sentrybox； or something like one； attracted their rather lagging footsteps。 Stephen of his own accord stopped for no special reason to look at the heap of barren cobblestones and by the light emanating from the brazier he could just make out the darker figure of the corporation watchman inside the gloom of the sentrybox。 He began to remember that this had happened； or had been mentioned as having happened； before but it cost him no small effort before he remembered that he recognised in the sentry a quondam friend of his father's Gumley。 To avoid a meeting be drew nearer to the pillars of the railway bridge。
Someone saluted you； Mr Bloom said。
A figure of middle height on the prowl； evidently； under the arches saluted again； calling： Night！ Stephen； of course； started rather dizzily and stopped to return the pliment。 Mr Bloom； actuated by motives of inherent delicacy； inasmuch as he always believed in minding his own business； moved off but nevertheless remained on the qui vive with just a shade of anxiety though not funkyish in the least。 Although unusual in the Dublin area； he knew that it was not by any means unknown for desperadoes who had next to nothing to live on to be about waylaying and generally terrorising peaceable pedestrians by placing a pistol at their head in some secluded spot outside the city proper； famished loiterers of the Thames embankment category they might be hanging about there or simply marauders ready to decamp with whatever boodle they could in one fell swoop at a moments notice； your money or your life； leaving you there to point a moral； gagged and garotted。
Stephen； that is when the accosting figure came to close quarters； though he was not in any over sober state himself； recognised Corley's breath redolent of rotten cornjuice。 Lord John Corley； some called him； and his genealogy came about in this wise。 He was the eldest son of Inspector Corley of the G Division； lately deceased； who had married a certain Katherine Brophy； the daughter of a Louth farmer。 His grandfather； Patrick Michael Corley； of New Ross； had married the widow of a publican there whose maiden name had been Katherine （also） Talbot。 Rumour had it； though not proved； that she descended from the house of the Lords Talbot de Malahide in whose mansion； really an unquestionably fine residence of its kind and well worth seeing； his mother or aunt or some relative had enjoyed the distinction of being in service in the washkitchen。 This； therefore； was the reason why the still paratively young though dissolute man who now addressed Stephen was spoken of by some with facetious proclivities as Lord John Corley。
Taking Stephen on one side he had the customary doleful ditty to tell。 Not as much as a farthing to purchase a night's lodgings。 His friends had all deserted him。 Furthermore； he had a row with Lenehan and called him to Stephen a mean bloody swab with a sprinkling of other uncalled…for expressions。 He was out of a job and implored of Stephen to tell him where on God's earth he could get something； anything at all to do。 No； it was the daughter of the mother in the washkitchen that was fostersister to the heir of the house or else they were connected through the mother in some way； both occurrences happening at the same time if the whole thing wasn't a plete fabrication from start to finish。 Anyhow； he was ill in。
I wouldn't ask you； only； pursued he； on my solemn oath and God knows I'm on the rocks。
There'll be a job tomorrow or the next day； Stephen told him； in a boys' school at Dalkey for a gentleman usher。 Mr Garret Deasy。 Try it。 You may mention my name。
Ah； God； Corley replied； sure I couldn't teach in a school； man。 I was never one of your bright ones； he added with a half laugh。 Got stuck twice in the junior at the Christian Brothers。
I have no place to sleep myself； Stephen informed him。
Corley； at the first go…off； was inclined to suspect it was something to do with Stephen being fired out of his digs for bringing in a bloody tart off the street。 There was a dosshouse in Marlborough street； Mrs Maloney's； but it was only a tanner touch and full of undesirables but M'Conachie told him you got a decent enough do in the Brazen Head over in Winetavern street （which was distantly suggestive to the person addressed of friar Bacon） for a bob。 He was starving too though he hadn't said a word about it。
Though this sort of thing went on every other night or very near it still Stephen's feelings got the better of him in a sense though he knew that Corley's brandnew rigmarole； on a par with the others； was hardly deserving of much credence。 However； haud ignarus malorum miseris succurrere disco； etcetera； as the Latin poet remarks； especially as luck would have it he got paid his screw after every middle of the month on the sixteenth which was the date of the month as a matter of fact though a good bit of the wherewithal was demolished。 But the cream of the joke was nothing would get it Out of Corley's head that he was living in affluence and hadn't a thing to do but hand out the needful … whereas。 He put his hand in a pocket anyhow； not with the idea of finding any food there； but thinking he might lend him anything up to a bob or so in lieu so that he might endeavour at all events and get sufficient to eat。 But the result was in the negative for； to his chagrin； he found his cash missing。 A few broken biscuits were all the result of his investigation。 He tried his hardest to recollect for the moment whether he had lost； as well he might have； or left； because in that contingency it was not a pleasant lookout； very much the reverse； in fact。 He was altogether too fagged out to institute a thorough search though he tried to recollect about biscuits he dimly remembered。 Who now exactly gave them； or where was； or did he buy？ However； in another pocket he came across what he surmised in the dark wer
