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e subject he pondered suitable ways and means during which Stephen repeatedly yawned。 So far as he could see he was rather pale in the face so that it occurred to him as highly advisable to get a conveyance of some description which would answer in their then condition； both of them being e。 d。 ed； particularly Stephen； always assuming that there was such a thing to be found。 Accordingly； after a few such preliminaries； as； in spite of his having forgotten to take up his rather soapsuddy handkerchief after it had done yeoman service in the shaving line； brushing； they both walked together along Beaver street； or； more properly； lane； as far as the farrier's and the distinctly fetid atmosphere of the livery stables at the corner of Montgomery street where they made tracks to the left from thence debouching into Amiens Street round by the corner of Dan Bergin's。 But； as he confidently anticipated； there was not a sign of a Jehu plying for hire anywhere to be seen except a fourwheeler； probably engaged by some fellows inside on the spree； outside the North Star Hotel and there was no symptom of its budging a quarter of an inch when Mr Bloom； who was anything but a professional whistler； endeavoured to hail it by emitting a kind of a whistle； holding his arms arched over his head； twice。
This was a quandary but； bringing monsense to bear on it； evidently there was nothing for it but put a good face on the matter and foot it which they accordingly did。 So； bevelling around by Mullet's and the Signal House； which they shortly reached； they proceeded perforce in the direction of Amiens street railway terminus； Mr Bloom being handicapped by the circumstance that one of the back buttons of his trousers had； to vary the timehonoured adage； gone the way of all buttons； though； entering thoroughly into the spirit of the thing； he heroically made light of the mischance。 So； as neither of them were particularly pressed for time； as it happened； and the temperature refreshing since it cleared up after the recent visitation of Jupiter Pluvius； they dandered along past by where the empty vehicle was waiting without a fare or a jarvey。 As it so happened a Dublin United Tramways pany's sandstrewer happening to be returning the elder man recounted to his panion à propos of the incident his own truly miraculous escape of some little while back。 They passed the main entrance of the Great Northern railway station； the starting point for Belfast； where of course all traffic was suspended at that late hour； and； passing the back door of the morgue （a not very enticing locality； not to say gruesome to a degree； more especially at night）； ultimately gained the Dock Tavern and in due course turned into Store street； famous for its C division police station。 Between this point and the high； at present unlit； warehouses of Beresford Place Stephen thought to think of Ibsen； associated with Baird's； the stonecutter's； in his mind somehow in Talbot Place； first turning on the right； while the other； who was acting as his fidus Achates； inhaled with internal satisfaction the smell of James Rourke's city bakery； situated quite close to where they were； the very palatable odour indeed of our daily bread； of all modities of the public the primary and most indispensable。 Bread； the staff of life； earn your bread； O tell me where is fancy bread？ At Rourke's the baker's； it is said。
En route； to his taciturn； and； not to put too fine a point on it； not yet perfectly sober panion； Mr Bloom； who at all events； was in plete possession of his faculties； never more so； in fact disgustingly sober； spoke a word of caution re the dangers of nighttown； women of ill fame and swell mobsmen； which； barely permissible once in a while； though not as a habitual practice； was of the nature of a regular deathtrap for young fellows of his age particularly if they had acquired drinking habits under the influence of liquor unless you knew a little juijitsu for every contingency as even a fellow on the broad of his back could administer a nasty kick if you didn't look out。 Highly providential was the appearance on the scene of Corny Kelleher when Stephen was blissfully unconscious that； but for that man in the gap turning up at the eleventh hour； the finis might have been that he might have been a candidate for the accident ward； or； failing that； the Bridewell and an appearance in the court next day before Mr Tobias； or； he being the solicitor； rather old Wall； he meant to say； or Malony which simply spelt ruin for a chap when it got bruited about。 The reason he mentioned the fact was that a lot of those policemen； whom he cordially disliked； were admittedly unscrupulous in the service of the Crown and； as Mr Bloom put it； recalling a case or two in the A Division in Clanbrassil street； prepared to swear a hole through a ten gallon pot。 Never on the spot when wanted but in quiet parts of the City； Pembroke Road； for example； the guardians of the law were well in evidence； the obvious reason being they were paid to protect the upper classes。 Another thing he mented on was equipping soldiers with firearms or sidearms of any description； liable to go off at any time； which was tantamount to inciting them against civilians should by any chance they fall nut over anything。 You frittered away your time； he very sensibly maintained； and health and also character besides which the squandermania of the thing； fast women of the demimonde ran away with a lot of #。 s。 d。 into the bargain and the greatest danger of all was who you got drunk with though； touching the much vexed question of stimulants； he relished a glass of choice old wine in season as both nourishing and blood…making and possessing aperient virtues （notably a good burgundy which he was a staunch believer in） still never beyond a certain point where he invariably drew the line as it simply led to trouble all round to say nothing of your being at the tender mercy of others practically。 Most of all he mented adversely on the desertion of Stephen by all his pubhunting confrères but one； a most glaring piece of ratting on the part of his brother medicos under all the circs。
And that one was Judas； said Stephen； who up to then had said nothing whatsoever of any kind。
Discussing these and kindred topics they made a beeline across the back of the Customhouse and passed under the Loop Line bridge when a brazier of coke burning in front of a sentrybox； or something like one； attracted their rather lagging footsteps。 Stephen of his own accord stopped for no special reason to look at the heap of barren cobblestones and by the light emanating from the brazier he could just make out the darker figure of the corporation watchman inside the gloom of the sentrybox。 He began to remember that this had happened； or had been mentioned as having happened； before but it cost him no small effort before he remembered that he recognised in the sentry a quondam friend of his father's Gumley。 To avoid a meeting be drew nearer to the pillars of the railway bridge。
Someone saluted you； Mr Bloom said。
A figure of middle height on the prowl； evidently； under the arches saluted again； calling： Night！ Stephen； of course； started rather dizzily and stopp