[2572] this rought[₰] and ready cocoon he wore his cloak. He gathered it ~~shiveri~~ shiveringly about him, with one hand, for he needed the other to help him in his investigation of all that aroused his sup^spicions. [2574] Good-morning, good-morning, good-morning, he said, with a strong foreign acca^ent and darting fearful glances all about him, fucking awful business this, no, yes? [2576] Sudden starts instantly repressed dislodged hil^m imperceptibly from his coign of maximum vantage in the centre of the room. [2577] What! he exclaimed. [2578] His soup, examined drop by drop, had been transferred in its entirety to his pot. [2579] Anxiously he watched Lemuel performing his office, filling and emptying. [2580] Dreamt all night of that bloody man Quin again, he said. [2581] It was his habit to go out from time to time, into the air. [2582] Bua[₰]t after a few steps he would ~~halt~~ halt, totter, turn and hasten back into his cell, aghast at such depths of opacity.

[2583] In the third a small thin man was pacing up and down, his cloak folded over his arm, an umbrella in his hand. [2584] Fine head of white flossy hair. [2585] He was asking himself questions in a low voice, rel^flecting, replying. [2586] The door had hardly opened when he made a dart to get out, [2587] for he spent his days ranging about the park in all directions. [2588] Without pt^utting down his bucl^kets Lemuel sent him flying with a toss of his shoulder. [2589] He lay where he had fallen, clutching his cloak and umbrella. Then^, having recovered from his surprise, he began to cry. [2590] In the fourth a misshapen giant, bearded, occupied to the exclusion of all esle ^[ ] in scratching himself, intermittently. [2591] Sprawling on his pillow ~~under~~ ~~the window~~ on the floor under the

[p. 151r]

[2591] window, his head sunk, his mouth open, his legs wide apart, his knees raised, leaning with one hand on the ground while the other came and went under his shirt, he awaited his soup. [2592] When his bowl had been filled he stopped scratching and stretched out his hand towards Lemuel, in the daily disappointed hope of being spared the trouble of getting up. [2593] He still loved the gloom and secrecy of the ferns, but never sought them out. [2594] The youth then, the Saxon, the thin one and the giant. [2595] I don't know if they have changed, I don't remember. [2596] May the others forgive me. [2597] In the fifth Macmann, half asleep.

[2598] A few lines to remind me that I too subsist. [2599] He has not come back. [2600] How long ago is it now? [2601] I don't know. [2602] Long. [2603] And I? [2604] Indubitably going, that's all the^at matters. [2605] Whence this assurance? [2606] Try and think. [2607] I can't. [2608] Grandiose suffering. [2609] I am swelling. [2610] What if I should burst? [2611] The ceiling rises and falls, rises and falls, ~~rhythmic~~ rhythmically, as when I was a foetus. [2612] Also to be mentioned a noise of rushing water, peh^henomenon mutatis mutandis o^perh^[⁁]aa^ps analagous to that of the mirage, in the desert. [2613] The window. [2614] I shall not see it again. Why? Because, to my grief, I cannot turn my head. [2615] Leaden light again, thick, eddying, riddled with ~~tunn~~ little tunnels ~~throu~~ through to brightness, perhaps I should say air, sucking air. [2616] All is ready. [2617] Except me. [2618] I am being given, if I may venture the expression, birth to into death, [2619] such is my impression. [2621] The feet are clear already, of the great cunt of existence. [2622] Favourable ~~presen~~ presentation I trust. [2623] My head will be the last to ~~go.~~ die. [2624] Haul

[p. 152r]

[2624] in your hands. [2625] I can't. [2626] The renter rent. [2627] My story ended I'll be living yet. [2628] Promising lag. [2629] That is the end of me. [2630] I shall say I no more.

[2631] Surrounded by his little flock which after nearly two hours of efforts he had succeeded in assembling, single-handed, Pat having refused to help him, Lemuel sttod on the terrace waiting for Lady Pedal to arrive. [2633] Cords tethered by the ankles the thin one to the youth, the Saxon to the giant, and Lemuel held Macmann by the arm. [2634] Of the five it was Macmann, furious at having been shut up in his cell all morning and at a loss to understand what was wanted of him, whose resistance had been the most lively. [2635] He had notably refused to stir a step without his hat, with such fierce determination that Lemuel had finally consented to his keeping it on, provided it was hidden by the hood. [2636] In spite of this Mav^cmann continued peevish and agitated, trying to free his arm and saying over and over again, Let me go! Let me go! [2638] The youth, tormented by the sun, was grabbing feebly at the thin one's umbrella, saying, Pasol! Pasol! [2639] The thin one retaliated with petulant taps on his hands and arms. [2640] ~~Naught.~~ ^Naughty! he cried. [2641] Help! [2642] The giant had thrown his arms round the Saxon's neck and hung there, hi his legs limp. [2643] The Saxon, tottering, too proud to collapse, demanded to be enlightened in tones without anger. [2644] Who is this shite any how, he said, any of you poor buggers happen to know? [2645] The director, or his delegate, also present, said dreamily from time to time, Now, now, please. [2646] They were alone on the great terrace. [2647] Can ~~it be she fears~~

[p. 153r]

[2647] it be she fears a change ~~in the~~ ^of weather? said the director. [2648] xe added, turning towards Lemuel, I am asking you a question. [2649] The sky was cloudless, the air still. [2650] Where is the beautiful young man with the Messiah beard.^? [2651] But in that case would she not have telephoned? said the director.

[2652] The waggonette. [2653] Up on the box, beside the coachman, Lady Pedal. [2654] On one of the seats, set parallel to the wheels, Lemuel, Macmann, the Sar^xon and the giant. [2657] On the other, facing them, the youth, the thin ~~one,~~ one and two colossi dressed in sailor-suits. [2658] As they passed through the gates the children cheered. [2659] A sudden descent, long and steep, sent them plunging towards the sea. [2660] Under the drag of the brakes the wheels slid more than they rolled and the stumbling horses reared against the thrust. [2661] Lady Pedal clung to the box, her bust flung back. [2662] She was a huge, big, tall, fat woman. [2663] Artificial daisies with brilliant yellow disks gushed from her broad-brimmed straw hat. [2664] At the same time behind the heavily spotted fall-veil her plump red face appeared to pullulate. [2665] The passengers, yielding with unanimous inertia to the tilt of the seats, sprawled pell-mell beneath the box. [2666] Sit back!^! cried Lady ~~Pedal?~~ Pedal. [2667] Nobody stirred. [2668] What good would th that do? said one of the sailors. [2669] None, said the other. [2670] Should they not all get down, said Lady Pedal to the coachman, and walk? [2672] When they were safely at the bottom of the hill at last Lady Pedal turned affably to her guests. [2673] Courage my hearties! she said, to show she was not superior. [2674] The waggonette jolted on at with

[p. 154r]

[2674] gathering speed. [2675] The giant lay on the boards, betww^een the seats. [2676] Are ~~youbthe~~ you the one in charge? said Ladt^y Pedal. [2677] One of the sailors leaned towards Lemuel and said, She wants to know if you're the one in charge. [2678] Fuck off, said Lemuel. [2679] The Saxon uttered a roar which Lady Pedal, on the qui vive for the least sign of ~~hight spirits~~[₰] ^animation, was pleased to interpret as a manifestation of joy. [2680] That's the spirit! she cried. Sing! [2681] Make the most of this glorious day! [2682] Banish your cares, for an hour or so! [2683] And she burst forth:

[2684] Oh the jolly jolly Spring
[2685] Blue and sun and nests and flowers
[2686] Alleluiah Christ is King
[2688] Oh the happy happy hours
[2689] Oh the jolly jolly -

[2690] She broke off, discouraged. [2691] What is the matter with them? she said. [2692] The u^youth, less youthful now, doubled in two, his head swathed in the skirts of his cloak, seemed to be vomiting. [2693] His legs, monstrously bony and knock-kneed, were knocking together at the knees. [2694] The thin one, shivering, though in theory the Saxon is the shiverer, had resumed his dialogue. [2695] Motionless and concentrated between the voices he reinforced these with passionate gestures amplified by the umbrella. [2696] And you?..[2697]Thanks...[2698]And you?..[2699]THANKS!..[2700]True...[2701]Left... [2702]Try...[2703]Back...[2704]Where?..[2705]On...[2706]No!..[2709]Right...[2710]Try... [2711] Do you smell the sea, said L^Lady Pedal, [2712] I do. [2713] Macmann made a bid for freedom. In vain. [2714] Lemuel produced a hatchet from under his cloak and dealt himself a few smart blows on the skull, with the heel, for safety. [2715] Nice jaunt we're having, said one of the sailors. [2716] Swell, said the other. [2717] Sun azure. [2718] Ernest, hand out the buns, said Lady Pedal.