Part 80 (1/2)

--Poor old Goodwin was the pianist that night, Father Cowley reminded them. There was a slight difference of opinion between himself and the Collard grand.

There was.

--A symposium all his own, Mr Dedalus said. The devil wouldn't stop him.

He was a crotchety old fellow in the primary stage of drink.

--G.o.d, do you remember? Ben bulky Dollard said, turning from the punished keyboard. And by j.a.pers I had no wedding garment.

They laughed all three. He had no wed. All trio laughed. No wedding garment.

--Our friend Bloom turned in handy that night, Mr Dedalus said. Where's my pipe, by the way?

He wandered back to the bar to the lost chord pipe. Bald Pat carried two diners' drinks, Richie and Poldy. And Father Cowley laughed again.

--I saved the situation, Ben, I think.

--You did, averred Ben Dollard. I remember those tight trousers too.

That was a brilliant idea, Bob.

Father Cowley blushed to his brilliant purply lobes. He saved the situa.

Tight trou. Brilliant ide.

--I knew he was on the rocks, he said. The wife was playing the piano in the coffee palace on Sat.u.r.days for a very trifling consideration and who was it gave me the wheeze she was doing the other business? Do you remember? We had to search all Holles street to find them till the chap in Keogh's gave us the number. Remember? Ben remembered, his broad visage wondering.

--By G.o.d, she had some luxurious operacloaks and things there.

Mr Dedalus wandered back, pipe in hand.

--Merrion square style. Balldresses, by G.o.d, and court dresses. He wouldn't take any money either. What? Any G.o.d's quant.i.ty of c.o.c.ked hats and boleros and trunkhose. What?

--Ay, ay, Mr Dedalus nodded. Mrs Marion Bloom has left off clothes of all descriptions.

Jingle jaunted down the quays. Blazes sprawled on bounding tyres.

Liver and bacon. Steak and kidney pie. Right, sir. Right, Pat.

Mrs Marion. Met him pike hoses. Smell of burn. Of Paul de k.o.c.k. Nice name he.

--What's this her name was? A buxom la.s.sy. Marion...

--Tweedy.

--Yes. Is she alive?

--And kicking.

--She was a daughter of...

--Daughter of the regiment.

--Yes, begad. I remember the old drummajor.