I have it, Stephen said, preceding them.

He walked on. Behind him he heard Buck Mulligan club with his heavy bathtowel the leader shoots of ferns or grasses.

Down, sir! How dare you, sir!

Haines asked:

Do you pay rent for this tower?

Twelve quid, Buck Mulligan said.

To the secretary of state for war, Stephen added over his shoulder.

They halted while Haines surveyed the tower and said at last:

Rather bleak in wintertime, I should say. Martello you call it?

Billy Pitt had them built, Buck Mulligan said, when the French were on the sea. But ours is the omphalos.