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542 J A M E S [ 1922-1923that it was more advisable that nothing concerning me or the other beprinted in any paper here for some time to come.' After perusing MissBeach's angry letter, i gazed at the buttons of the Swiss concierge,' Joycewrote Miss Weaver, catching, as he often managed to do for her, thecomic possibilities of his misadventures, 'until I had discovered the answersof the various questions and then with a deep sigh stood up amongmy multicoloured multitudinous valises and farefd] forth once more overthe widewayed earth.' 67He pointed out that the second edition was properlyidentified in two places, and showed Sylvia Beach a letter from Darantiereassuring him that no law had been violated. Miss Beach wascalmed, but the ground was prepared for later quarrels. Joyce wrote toMiss Weaver, 'Possibly the fault is partly mine. I, my eye, my needs andmy troublesome book are always there. There is no feast or celebrationor meeting of shareholders but at the fatal hour I appear at the door indubious habiliments, with impedimenta of baggage, a mute expectantfamily, a patch over one eye howling dismally for aid.' 68The quarrel with Budgen was brought on by Joyce himself. Duringthe last two years in Paris, Budgen had occasionally visited him, and,though he felt a little out of place with Joyce's new friends, he was gladto findthat Joyce clung tightly to their friendship. Joyce continued towrite to him with his old frankness, and in one of his letters sent himthe original or a copy of Harriet Weaver's letter of June 1921 reprovinghim for drunkenness. Joyce asked Budgen what he ought to do, andreferred slightingly to her attitude. 69He had scarcely sent the letter whenhe wished it unsent as compromising. In a burst of gratuitous mistrust ofBudgen, he resolved to get it back. He therefore asked Budgen to bringit along hecause he wished to see what he had said. Budgen did so, andJoyce entertained him that night in a grand drinking-bout, ordering andreordering the glasses with such rapidity that Budgen was several timesinclined to protest. At the end of the evening Budgen was quite drunk,and, deposited by Joyce at a bus stop, got back to his hotel with somedifficulty. In the morning he was awakened by a special messenger bringinghis wallet and a note from Joyce saying that, in view of Budgen'scondition, he had thought it prudent to safeguard his friend's property forhim. Budgen looked into the wallet: his money was there and so, to hisembarrassment, were some bills, but the compromising letter had beenlifted. The game was finelyplayed, too finelyfor Budgen's taste; he wasdeeply hurt and for three years was estranged from Joyce. 70But Joyce,thinking of Cosgrave and others, had too little faith to allow even Budgento possess a compromising letter.*The dental operations scheduled for January 1923 filledJoyce withuneasiness, and he was not sorry to have to postpone them with Dr.4Joyce repaired the friendship by asking Budgen, who he had heard was in Paris, to call.After a pleasant evening Joyce said just before they parted, 'I hope you'll always believethat I'm a good friend, Budgen.'