The Annotated "Ulysses"/Page 107
We are praying now for the repose of his soul. Hoping you’re well and
not in hell. Nice change of air. Out of the fryingpan of life into the fire of
purgatory.
Does he ever think of the hole waiting for himself? They say you do
when you shiver in the sun. Someone walking over it. Callboy’s warning. Near
you. Mine over there towards Finglas, the plot I bought. Mamma, poor
mamma, and little Rudy.
The gravediggers took up their spades and flung heavy clods of clay
in on the coffin. Mr Bloom turned his face. And if he was alive all the time?
Whew! By Jingo, that would be awful! No, no : he is dead, of course. Of
course he is dead. Monday he died. They ought to have some law to pierce
the heart and make sure or an electric clock or a telephone in the coffin and
some kind of a canvas airhole. Flag of distress. Three days. Rather long to keep
them in summer. Just as well to get shut of them as soon as you are sure there’sns.
The clay fell softer. Begin to be forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind.
The caretaker moved away a few paces and put on his hat. Had enough of
it. The mourners took heart of grace, one by one, covering themselves without
show. Mr Bloom put on his hat and saw the portly figure make its way deftly
through the maze of graves. Quietly, sure of his ground, he traversed the dismal
fields.
Hynes jotting down something in his notebook. Ah, the names. But he
knows them all. No : coming to me.
— I am just taking the names, Hynes said below his breath. What is
your christian name? I’m not sure.
— L, Mr Bloom said. Leopold. And you might put down M’Coy’s name
too. He asked me to.
— Charley, Hynes said writing. I know. He was on the Freeman once.
So he was before he got the job in the morgue under Louis Byrne. Good
idea a postmortem for doctors. Find out what they imagine they know. He
died of a Tuesday. Got the run. Levanted with the cash of a few ads.
Charley, you’re my darling. That was why he asked me to. O well, does no
harm. I saw to that, M’Coy. Thanks, old chap : much obliged. Leave him
under an obligation : costs nothing.
— And tell us, Hynes said, do you know that fellow in the, fellow was
over there in the...
He looked around.
— Macintosh. Yes, I saw him, Mr Bloom said. Where is he now?