Cabman's Shelter - Eumeus

Preparatory to anything else, Mr Bloom helps Stephen back on his feet. As they can’t get a cab, Bloom suggests they go for some refreshments at the cabman’s shelter under the loopline bridge. The narrative is old, confused, rambling. The keeper of the cabman’s shelter is rumoured to be Skin-the-Goat Fitzharris, the Invincible. They sit in a discreet corner and order coffee and a bun. A redheaded sailor, D. B. Murphy of Carrigaloe tells tales of the high seas. He is another Odysseus, his weather eye on the newcomers (the narrative adopts figures of speech pertaining to the sea). Bloom browses The Evening Telegraph. Stephen asks “Is that first epistle to the Hebrews in?” referring to Deasy’s foot and mouth letter. Bloom sets his mind at rest, there. They leave together, their two figures, both black, one full, one lean, walk towards the railway bridge.