(a multitude of midges swarms over his robe. he scratches himself with crossed arms at his ribs, grimacing, and exclaims.) i'm suffering the agony of the damned. by the hoky fiddle, thanks be to jesus those funny little chaps are not unanimous. if they were they'd walk me off the face of the bloody globe.
(his head aslant, he blesses curtly with fore and middle fingers, imparts the easter kiss and doubleshuffles off comically, swaying his hat from side to side, shrinking quickly to the size of his train bearers. the dwarf acolytes, giggling, peeping, nudging, ogling, easterkissing, zigzag behind him. his voice is heard mellow from afar, merciful, male, melodious.) shall carry my heart to thee, shall carry my heart to thee, and the breath of the balmy night shall carry my heart to thee.
(the trick doorhandle turns.)
the doorhandle theeee.
zoe the devil is in that door.
(a male form passes down the creaking staircase and is heard taking the waterproof and hat from the rack. bloom starts forward involuntarily and, half closing the door as he passes, takes the chocolate from his pocket and offers it nervously to zoe.)zoe (sniffs his hair briskly.) hum. thank your mother for the rabbits. i'm very fond of what i like.
bloom (hearing a male voice in talk with the whores on the doorstep, pricks his ears.) if it were he? after? or because not? or the double event?
zoe (tears open the silverfoil.) fingers was made before forks. (she breaks off and nibbles a piece, gives a piece to kitty ricketts and then turns kittenishly to lynch.) no objection to french lozenges? (he nods. she taunts him.) have it now or wait till you get it? (he opens his mouth, his head cocked. she whirls the prize in left circle. his head follows. she whirls it back in right circle. he eyes her.) catch.
(she tosses a piece. with an adroit snap he catches it and bites it through with a crack.)kitty (chewing.) the engineer i was with at the bazaar does have lovely ones. full of the best liqueurs. and the viceroy was there with his lady. the gas we had on the toft's hobbyhorses. i'm giddy still.