― Compos your eye! says Alf, laughing. Do you know that he’s balmy? Look at his head. Do you know that some mornings he has to get his hat on with a shoehorn?

―Yes, says J. J. , but the truth of a libel is no defence to an indictment for publishing it in the eyes of the law.

―Ha, ha, Alf, says Joe.

―Still, says Bloom, on account of the poor woman, I mean his wife.

―Pity about her, says the citizen. Or any other woman marries a half and half.

―How half and half? says Bloom. Do you mean he⁠ ⁠…

―Half and half I mean, says the citizen. A fellow that’s neither fish nor flesh.