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572 J A M E S [ 1923-1926 ]one of his father by Tuohy, and also a photograph of the Dublin CustomHouse with the Liffey flowingpast it.On July 8 his left eye was still not much better, and on July 21 Dr.Borsch, always eager to commit surgery, informed him the next operationwould be necessary in September, but that he might holiday where heliked in the meantime. Accordingly the Joyces departed for Fecamp inNormandy, remaining there at the Grand Hotel des Bains et de Londres,while Joyce worked out the form of the last watch of Shaun (555-90).He attended a play and found that even from the ninth row he could notsee the actors' faces. Bad weather drove them on July 28 to the Hotel dela Poste at Rouen. 82When the weather there proved to be worse, theyhurried down to the Regina Palace Hotel at Arcachon, staying a night atNiort and another at Bordeaux en route. The imagery ofThe Waste Land(dampened by that of Blake's The French Revolution) suited Joyce's mood,and he sent Miss Weaver a parody:Rouen is the rainiest place gettingInside all impermeables, wettingDamp marrow in drenched bones.Midwinter soused us coming over Le MansOur inn at Niort was the Grape of BurgundyBut the winepress of the Lord thundered over thatgrape of BurgundyAnd we left it in a hurgundy.(Hurry up, Joyce, it's time!)I heard mosquitoes swarm in old BordeauxSo many!I had not thought the earth contained so many(Hurry up, Joyce, it's time)Mr Anthologos, the local gardener,Greycapped, with politeness full of cunningHas made wine these fifty yearsAnd told me in his southern FrenchLe petit vin is the surest drink to buyFor if 'tis badVous ne Favez pas pave(Hurry up, hurry up, now, now, now!)But we shall have great times,When we return to Clinic, that waste landO Esculapios!(Shan't we? Shan't we? Shan't we?) 83At Arcachon Joyce tried to walk down the beach only to realize thathis sight was too poor. A new eye attack seemed imminent, but he managedto stay out his term in Arcachon, returning to Paris on September