All waited. Then wheels were heard from in front, turning: then nearer: then horses’ hoofs. A jolt. Their carriage began to move, creaking and swaying. Other hoofs and creaking wheels started behind. The blinds of the avenue passed and number nine with its craped knocker, door ajar. At walking pace.
They waited still, their knees jogging, till they had turned and were passing along the tramtracks. Tritonville road. Quicker. The wheels rattled rolling over the cobbled causeway and the crazy glasses shook rattling in the doorframes.
—What way is he taking us? Mr Power asked through both windows.
—Irishtown, Martin Cunningham said. Ringsend. Brunswick street.
Mr Dedalus nodded, looking out.
—That’s a fine old custom, he said. I am glad to see it has not died out.
All watched awhile through their windows caps and hats lifted by passers. Respect. The carriage swerved from the tramtrack to the smoother road past Watery lane. Mr Bloom at gaze saw a lithe young man, clad in mourning, a wide hat.
—There’s a friend of yours gone by, Dedalus, he said.
—Who is that?
—Your son and heir.
—Where is he? Mr Dedalus said, stretching over across.
The carriage, passing the open drains and mounds of rippedup roadway before the tenement houses, lurched round the corner and, swerving back to the tramtrack, rolled on noisily with chattering wheels. Mr Dedalus fell back, saying:
—Was that Mulligan cad with him? His fidus Achates!
—No, Mr Bloom said. He was alone.
annotation:
Earlier this week on twitter James Joyce Gazette pointed out that Paddy Dignam’s house changed number from one edition to the another.
.@crackedlooking@ReadingJoyce
Mr. Dignam’s Change of Address
Nᵒ 9 v Nᵒ 10#JamesJoyce#Ulysses#Hades#PaddyDignampic.twitter.com/ExQdhEqSZW— James Joyce Gazette (@JJ_Gazette) August 19, 2016
I checked both of my editions of the book, a Bodley Head edition and a very cheap, very new paperback version that I use when I need to carry it around. The second one looks to have been reprinted from the Modern Library edition. I purchased it ( here ). So it seems that the change in address happened in the Gabler edition. It seems from the map and the geography that my placement of the people in the carriage might be a little off, but I needed them in those positions for the composition, so I’ll claim artistic license.
I’m interested to see if further reading reveals why Simon is so opposed to Buck Mulligan other than perhaps the standard way most fathers dislike the friends of their sons. Simon calls Buck Stephen’s “fidus Achates” which can mean “faithful friend” or “devoted follower”.