----Where did you pick up all that history? O'Keeffe asked.

----I know all the history of your family, too, Temple said, turning to Stephen. Do you know what Giraldus Cambrensis says about your family?

----Is he descended from Baldwin too? asked a tall consumptive student with dark eyes.

----Baldhead, Cranly repeated, sucking at a crevice in his teeth.

----Pernobilis et pervetusta familia, Temple said to Stephen. The stout student who stood below them on the steps farted briefly. Dixon turned towards him, saying in a soft voice:

----Did an angel speak?

Cranly turned also and said vehemently but without anger:

----Goggins, you're the flamingest dirty devil I ever met, do you know.

----I had it on my mind to say that, Goggins answered firmly. It did no one any harm, did it?

----We hope, Dixon said suavely, that it was not of the kind known to science as a paulo post futurum.

----Didn't I tell you he was a smiler? said Temple, turning right and left. Didn't I give him that name?

----You did. We're not deaf, said the tall consumptive.

Cranly still frowned at the stout student below him. Then, with a snort of disgust, he shoved him violently down the steps.

----Go away from here, he said rudely. Go away, you stinkpot. And you are a stinkpot.

Goggins skipped down on to the gravel and at once returned to his place with good humour. Temple turned back to Stephen and asked:

----Do you believe in the law of heredity?