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532 [ A M E S [ 1922-1923 ]of genius, of inhibitions and limitations,'* 31while Arnold Bennett, whohad been bored by A Portrait, said in the Outlook that the best portionsof Ulysses, chiefly Circe and Penelope in his view, were superb, magicaleven. 34Each duly received a letter of thanks from the half-dementedman of genius. 35Bennett also received a postcard from Ezra Pound,saying only, 'You have heard your Master's Voice.' 36Joyce asked MissWeaver to suggest to Eliot that he review the book in the Times LiterarySupplement, but Eliot sadly told her no hope lay in that quarter. 37 ToMiss Weaver, Joyce proposed more and more elaborate advertising plans,then half apologized with the words, i am sure all this will seem verydisingenuous to you but alas you must speak Helvetian to a Swiss is theexperience of this voyageur malgre /ui.' 38The notion of taking a trip was not so uncongenial now. Joyce wasobliged to quit restaurants he was in the habit of frequenting becausepeople crowded to look at him. 39He would have gone somewhere inMarch if there had not been new difficulties with Darantiere, and newpossibilities, unfortunately not realized, of finding a flat.To McAlmon,who urged him to come down to the Riviera where he was staying, Joycehad to say no, but asked if McAlmon could spare him a necktie t forconsolation. 41McAlmon made a special trip to Cannes, bought severalties and a ring, and mailed them to Joyce, who replied in pleased embarrassment,I don't mean you to go to Cannes to buy ties for me! God forbid. I thoughtyou always travelled with a trunk full of them and threw out a few dozena week but evidently I was misled by rumour.The press and the public misled meSo brand it as slander and liesThat I am the bloke with the watches +And that you are the chap with the ties.The ring is very nice and episcopal. 42•Joyce had visited Murry and Katherine Mansfield at the end of March 1922. She wroteto Violet Schiff, '. . . Joyce was rather . . . difficile. I had no idea until then of hisview of Ulysses—no idea how closely it was modelled on the Greek story, how absolutelynecessary it was to know the one through and through to be able to discuss the other.I've read the Odyssey and am more or less familiar with it but Murry and Joyce simplysailed away out of my depth. I felt almost stupefied. It's absolutely impossible that otherpeople should understand Ulysses as Joyce understands it. It's almost revolting to hearhim discuss its difficulties. It contains code words that must be picked up in each paragraphand so on. The Question and Answer part can be read astronomically or from thegeologic standpoint or—oh, I don't know! And in the midst of this he told us that hislatest admirer was Jack Dempsey.' 32But Katherine Mansfield underestimated herself. Joyce told the Schiffs on April 3 that'Mrs. Murry understood the book better than her husband.' 33t Joyce formed a large collection of ties in Paris, and came to pay almost dandiacalattention to his clothes. 40t See p. 510.