Corny Kelleher:  Leave it to me, sergeant.  That’ll be all right. (He laughs, shaking his head) We were often as bad ourselves, ay or worse.  What?  Eh, what?

First watch:  (Laughs) I suppose so.

Corny Kelleher:  (Nudges the second watch) Come and wipe your name off the slate. (He LILTS, wagging his head) With my tooraloom tooraloom tooraloom tooraloom.  What, eh, do you follow me?

Second watch:  (Genially) Ah, sure we were too.

Corny Kelleher:  (Winking) Boys will be boys.  I’ve a car round there.

Second watch:  All right, Mr Kelleher.  Good night.

Corny Kelleher:  I’ll see to that.

Bloom:  (Shakes hands with both of the watch in turn) Thank you very much, gentlemen.  Thank you. (He mumbles confidentially) We don’t want any scandal, you understand.  Father is a wellknown highly respected citizen.  Just a little wild oats, you understand.

First watch:  O. I understand, sir.

Second watch:  That’s all right, sir.

First watch:  It was only in case of corporal injuries I’d have to report it at the station.

Bloom:  (Nods rapidly) Naturally.  Quite right.  Only your bounden duty.

Second watch:  It’s our duty.

Corny Kelleher:  Good night, men.

The watch:  (Saluting together) Night, gentlemen. (They move off with slow
heavy tread)

Bloom:  (Blows) Providential you came on the scene.  You have a car? ...

Corny Kelleher:  (Laughs, pointing his thumb over his right shoulder to the car brought up against the scaffolding) Two commercials that were standing fizz in Jammet’s.  Like princes, faith.  One of them lost two quid on the race.  Drowning his grief.  And were on for a go with the jolly girls.  So I landed them up on Behan’s car and down to nighttown.

Bloom:  I was just going home by Gardiner street when I happened to ...

Corny Kelleher:  (Laughs) Sure they wanted me to join in with the mots.  No, by God, says I. Not for old stagers like myself and yourself. (He laughs again and leers with lacklustre eye) Thanks be to God we have it in the house, what, eh, do you follow me?  Hah, hah, hah!

Bloom:  (Tries to laugh) He, he, he!  Yes.  Matter of fact I was just visiting an old friend of mine there, Virag, you don’t know him (poor fellow, he’s laid up for the past week) and we had a liquor together and I was just making my way home ...