Chapter 2 Summary

Jack and Stephen are dining grandly in the backroom of an inn overlooking the sea, tossing their oyster shells back into the deep with a casual and light-hearted air as they converse. Now and again, they dine on mutton, commenting on the somewhat confused status of their original order, as they do not recognize everything before them on their round table by the bow window.

Staring at the strange dishes, Jack laments his poor grasp of language. Did he not generally wind up with two or three dishes he had not ordered? Stephen asks him if he spoke to them in Spanish- the Castilian variety. Jack replies affirmatively. Stephen points out that the correct language is Catalan, a more refined, more Latinized language- with a completely different sound to it. Stephen further amazes Jack with his erudition in pointing out a dish called...