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multigeminal； twikindled and monstrous births conceived during the catamenic period or of consanguineous parents … in a word all the cases of human nativity which Aristotle has classified in his master…piece with chromolithographic illustrations。 The gravest problems of obstetrics and forensic medicine were examined with as much animation as the most popular beliefs on the state of pregnancy such as the forbidding to a gravid woman to step over a country stile lest； by her movement； the navelcord should strangle her creature and the injunction upon her in the event of a yearning； ardently and ineffectually entertained； to place her hand against that part of her person which long usage has consecrated as the seat of castigation。 The abnormalities of harelip； breastmole； supernumerary digits； negro's inkle； strawberry mark and portwine stain were alleged by one as a primafacie and natural hypothetical explanation of swineheaded （the case of Madame Grissel Steevens was not forgotten） or doghaired infants occasionally born。 The hypothesis of a plasmic memory； advanced by the taledonian envoy and worthy of the metaphysical traditions of the land he stood for； envisaged in such cases an arrest of embryonic development at some stage antecedent to the human。 An outlandish delegate sustained against both these views with such heat as almost carried conviction the theory of copulation between women and the males of brutes； his authority being his own avouchment in support of fables such as that of the Minotaur which the genius of the elegant Latin poet has handed down to us in the pages of his Metamorphoses。 The impression made by his words was immediate but shortlived。 It was effaced as easily as it had been evoked by an allocution from Mr Candidate Mulligan in that vein of pleasantry which none better than he knew know to affect； postulating as the supremest object of desire a nice clean old man。 Contemporaneously； a heated argument having arisen between Mr Delegate Madden and Mr Candidate Lynch regarding the juridical and theological dilemma in the even of one Siamese twin predeceasing the other； the difficulty by mutual consent was referred to Mr Canvasser Bloom for instant submittal to Mr Coadjutor Deacon Dedalus。 Hitherto silent； whether the better to show by preternatural gravity that curious dignity of the garb with which he was invested or in obedience to an inward voice； he delivered briefly； and as some thought perfunctorily； the ecclesiastical ordinance forbidding man to put asunder what God has joined。
But Malachias' tale began to freeze them with horror。 He conjured up the scene before them。 The secret panel beside the chimney slid back and in the recess appeared。。。 Haines！ Which of us did not feel his flesh creep？ He had a portfolio full of Celtic literature in one hand； in the other a phial marked Poison。 Surprise； horror； loathing were depicted on all faces while he eyed them with a ghastly grin。 I anticipated some such reception； he began with an eldritch laugh； for which； it seems； history is to blame。 Yes； it is true。 I am the murderer of Samuel Childs。 And how I am punished！ The inferno has no terrors for me。 This is the appearance is on me。 Tare and ages； what way would I be resting at all； he muttered thickly； and I tramping Dublin this while back with my share of songs and himself after me the like of a soulth or a bullawurrus？ My hell； and Ireland's； is in this life。 It is what I tried to obliterate my crime。 Distractions； rookshooting； the Erse language （he recited some）； laudanum （he raised the phial to his lips）； camping out。 In vain！ His spectre stalks me。 Dope is my only hope。。。 Ah！ Destruction！ The black panther！ With a cry he suddenly vanished and the panel slid back。 An instant later his head appeared in the door opposite and said： Meet me at Westland row station at ten past eleven。 He was gone！ Tears gushed from the eyes of the dissipated host。 The seer raised his hand to heaven； murmuring： The vendetta of Mananaan！ The sage repeated Lex talionis。 The sentimentalist is he who would enjoy without incurring the immense debtorship for a thing done。 Malachias； overe by emotion； ceased。 The mystery was unveiled。 Haines was the third brother。 His real name was Childs。 The black panther was himself the ghost of his own father。 He drank drugs to obliterate。 For this relief much thanks。 The lonely house by the graveyard is uninhabited。 No soul will live there。 The spider pitches her web in the solitude。 The nocturnal rat peers from his hole。 A curse is on it。 It is haunted。 Murderer's ground。
What is the age of the soul of man？ As she hath the virtue of the chameleon to change her hue at every new approach； to be gay with the merry and mournful with the downcast； so too is her age changeable as her mood。 No longer is Leopold； as he sits there； ruminating； chewing the cud of reminiscence； that staid agent of publicity and holder of a modest substance in the funds。 He is young Leopold； as in a retrospective arrangement； a mirror within a mirror （hey； presto！）； he beholdeth himself。 That young figure of then is seen； precociously manly； walking on a nipping morning from the old house in Clambrassil street to the high school； his book satchel on him bandolierwise； and in it a goodly hunk of wheaten loaf； a mother's thought。 Or it is the same figure； a year or so gone over； in his first hard hat （ah； that was a day！）； already on the road； a fullfledged traveller for the family firm； equipped with an orderbook； a scented handkerchief （not for show only）； his case of bright trinketware （alas； a thing now of the past！）； and a quiverful of pliant smiles for this or that halfwon housewife reckoning it out upon her fingertips or for a budding virgin shyly acknowledging （but the heart？ tell me！） his studied baisemoins。 The scent； the smile but more than these； the dark eyes and oleaginous address brought home at duskfall many a mission to the head of the firm seated with Jacob's pipe after like labours in the paternal ingle （a meal of noodles； you may be sure； is aheating）； reading through round horned spectacles some paper from the Europe of a month before。 But hey； presto； the mirror is breathed on and the young knighterrant recedes； shrivels； to a tiny speck within the mist。 Now he is himself paternal and these about him might be his sons。 Who can say？ The wise father knows his own child。 He thinks of a drizzling night in Hatch street； hard by the bonded stores there； the first。 Together （she is a poor waif； a child of shame； yours and mine and of all for a bare shilling and her luck…penny）； together they hear the heavy tread of the watch as two raincaped shadows pass the new royal university。 Bridie！ Bridie Kelly！ He will never forget the name； ever remember the night； first night； the bridenight。 They are entwined in nethermost darkness； the willer with the willed； and in an instant （fiat！） light shall flood the world。 Did heart leap to heart？ Nay； fair reader。 In a breath 'twas done but … hold！ Back！ It must not be！ In terror the poor girl flees away through the murk。 She is the bride of darkness； a daughter of night。 She dare not bear the sunnygolden babe of day。 No； Leopold！ Name and memory solace thee not。 That you