Page:Ulysses, 1922.djvu/435

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432

                                               first watch
       Proof.

               (A card falls from inside the leather headband of Bloom’s hat.)

                                                  bloom
        (In red fez, cadi’s dress coat with broad green sash, wearing a false badge of
the Legion of Honour, picks up the card hastily and offers it.) Allow me. My
club is the Junior Army and Navy. Solicitors : Messrs John Henry Menton,
27 Bachelor’s Walk.

                                               first watch
        (Reads.) Henry Flower. No fixed abode. Unlawfully watching and
besetting.

                                              second watch
       An alibi. You are cautioned.

                                                  bloom
        (Produces from his heartpocket a crumpled yellow flower.) This is the flower in
question. It was given me by a man I don’t know his name. (Plausibly.) You
know that old joke, rose of Castile. Bloom. The change of name Virag. (He
murmurs privately and confidentially.) We are engaged you see, sergeant. Lady
in the case. Love entanglement. (He shoulders the second watch gently.) Dash it
all. It’s a way we gallants have in the navy. Uniform that does it. (He turns
gravely to the first watch.) Still, of course, you do get your Waterloo sometimes.
Drop in some evening and have a glass of old Burgundy. (To the second watch
gaily.) I’ll introduce you, inspector. She’s game. Do it in shake of a lamb’s
tail.

               (A dark mercurialised face appears, leading a veiled figure.)

                                          the dark mercury
       The Castle is looking for him. He was drummed out of the army.

                                                 martha
       (Thickveiled, a crimson halter round her neck, a copy of the Irish Times in
her hand, in tone of reproach, pointing.) Henry! Leopold! Leopold! Lionel, thou
lost one! Clear my name.