O, very well, Mr Bloom said. I hear great accounts of it. It’s a good idea, you see...

Are you going yourself?

Well no, Mr Bloom said. In point of fact I have to go down to the county Clare on some private business. You see the idea is to tour the chief towns. What you lose on one you can make up on the other.

Quite so, Martin Cunningham said. Mary Anderson is up there now.

Have you good artists?

Louis Werner is touring her, Mr Bloom said. O yes, we’ll have all topnobbers. J. C. Doyle and John MacCormack I hope and. The best, in fact.

And Madame, Mr Power said smiling. Last but not least.

Mr Bloom unclasped his hands in a gesture of soft politeness and clasped them. Smith O’Brien.