The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy [77]
"I say, my good man, would you see if there is a letter for Percivil Buttermere ? "
Clerk turning to the row of boxes. Dangerfield rotating on his ankles. O'Keefe standing glumly aside. An apostate. Man murmuring seeing is. Pound in the pocket is twenty in the post. There were guilty smiles.
"Have faith, Kenneth. They say they build a lot of things on that. OI wish the world had more faith"
"I've no sympathy for the grief it's causing you"
Clerk going through the butter. Pulls out a letter for a good look. Puts it back. Comes to the end. Grumbling is heard and mumbling.
"Sorry sir, no Buttermere"
"I say, doo ding dong, there must be some mistake. A mistake, I say. Or said"
O'Keefe drew his shoulders up around his head. And let them down slowly. A shift of the pack and he bent towards the door. Drove his weary self out into the street
"I'll take another look for you, sir"
"Would you. Very urgent matter."
Clerk, nearsighted and whispering.
"There's Butcher, Buttimer—there's Buttermede."
"I say, ding dong, that may be it"
"Blotted"
"Let me see it"
Sound of ripping.
"This is it Ding dong. Come up you numb bunch of bastards out of that hold and batten down or something"
"What, sir?"
"A sentiment"
"O."
A cat, his eyes afire. There were three five pound and broken notes. And a letter. And a moment of hesitation and instant of animal Reading these sweet Erse words.
TA GUIG PUINT STERLING INIOCTHA AS AN NOTA SO LE N-A SHEALBHOIR AR N-A EILEAMH SAN SO I LUNDAIN.
Out into the street Alone. Did I say that this faith was rampant? Or did I say it was just like hot tamale. Check me please. O yes, put this brown stuff in my pocket If I can get up the street away. O'Keefe gone.
Sebastian went hurriedly to a building with an eagle over the door in which they were serving liquor.
"Good day, sir"
"Good day. Put a bottle of brandy on the bar"
"All of it, sir?"
"All."
A figure appeared. Beside Dangerfield. And an outstretched hand. Hungry palm.
"O.K."
"Kenneth, won't you join me?"
"Just give me my money. You would have left me without a cent."
"Had to get change."
"You're a no good bastard and where's that money coming from?"
"Ye of little faith. This is going to be a great night Have you got your coffee grinder ? "
"Give me the money."
"All right, Kenneth, if you prefer. But I can only spare four"
"God damn it Give me the four then"
"Be my guest. We'll have dinner with Miss Frost Be nice. I think she gives, Kenneth, Might be worthwhile looking into it Wouldn't you like a bit of that thing they do in the dark?"
"You're just a son of a bitch. You'd leave me to return to Dublin without a penny. Tomorrow I see Lady Eclair and 1 want nothing to screw this deal. I have to get the eleven-thirty bus to Roundwood. I'm going."
"Don't leave, for the love of God, Kenneth."
"I know you. I don't want to see life through a haze. You'll be talking with some bogman all night"
"Now, Kenneth, you're a man who speaks fluent Greek and Latin, a man of much useless knowledge, schooled in culture, who knows what Plato said to his boys, buggering them in the bushes. Where do you think this harshness is going to get you? I'm going to report you to the Legion of Mary."
"I'm going."
"Jesus, stay. I beg of you, Kenneth. Don't leave me in this time of want Or wampum. Drink up. Motto. Drink up. Come on, Kenneth. Snap out of it. A great world this."
"Where did you get the money?"
"From across the seas."
"Yeah?"
"Absolutely."
"Sounds fishy to me."
"The name of Dangerfield has never and will never be touched with such."
"You're up to monkey business."
"These are strange times, Kenneth. Very strange. There's a world out there with people with eyes and mouths. The eyes see these things and the mouths want the things the eyes see. O but they can't have them. That's the way things are arranged. Got to have things unequal or nothing would happen. Men like yourself who want to have carnal knowledge of the female nates and boob-si-boobs and the other thing they have up there between the legs that we can't get at so easily without first twisting off the garters and whalebone. It's there, but you can't have that"