Throwaway in James Joyce's Ulysses.

The following is the conversation between Bloom and Bantam Lyons in the "Lotus Eaters" episode of Ulysses that led Lyons to believe that Bloom was giving him the tip to bet on "Throwaway" in the horse race. The odds on Throwaway were twenty to one, but he won nonetheless. Lyons is looking at Bloom's newspaper.

***

"-- I want to see about that French horse that's running today, Bantam Lyons said. Where the bugger is it?
He rustled the pleated pages, jerking his chin on his high collar.
Barber's itch. Tight collar he'll lose his hair. Better leave him the
paper and get shut of him.
-- You can keep it, Mr Bloom said.
-- Ascot. Gold cup. Wait, Bantam Lyons muttered. Half a mo.

Maximum the second.
-- I was just going to throw it away, Mr Bloom said.
Bantam Lyons raised his eyes suddenly and leered weakly.
-- What's that? his sharp voice said.
-- I say you can keep it, Mr Bloom answered. I was going to throw
it away that moment.

Bantam Lyons doubted an instant, leering: then thrust the

outspread sheets back on Mr Bloom's arms.

-- I'll risk it, he said. Here, thanks.
He sped off towards Conway's corner. God speed scut."

***

At the 5 PM hour in Barney Kiernan's pub the horse race and its long shot winner, Throwaway, are much talked about.

In leaving the Pub to find Martin Cunningham, Bloom says, "I must go now, says he to John Wyse. Just round to the court a moment to see if Martin is there. If he comes just say I'll be back in a second. Just a moment."

Shortly thereafter this conversation takes place among Lenehan, the narrator, the citizen,Hynes and Terry:

"-- I know where he's gone, says Lenehan, cracking his fingers.

-- Who? says I.
-- Bloom, says he. The courthouse is a blind. He had a few bob on
THROWAWAY and he's gone to gather in the shekels.
-- Is it that whiteeyed kaffir? says the citizen, that never backed a
horse in anger in his life?
-- That's where he's gone, says Lenehan. I met Bantam Lyons going
to back that horse only I put him off it and he told me Bloom gave
him the tip. Bet you what you like he has a hundred shillings to five
on. He's the only man in Dublin has it. A dark horse.
-- He's a bloody dark horse himself, says Joe.
-- Mind, Joe, says I. Show us the entrance out.
-- There you are, says Terry."

Stuart Gilbert in James Joyce's Ulysses, describes the situation at Barney Kiernan's after Bloom returns; the "omen" referred to is Bloom's original remark in the "Lotus Eaters," episode.

"The unconscious utterance of this omen by Mr. Bloom and Lyons' manner of retelling it spell trouble for the former on his return to Barney Kiernan's (where, meanwhile, Martin Cunningham has arrived). To drunkenness and chauvinism, the third ingredient of a perfect pogrom---a mistake of fact---is now added. The thirsty patriots expect that Mr Bloom will pay a winner's tribute---drinks all round. But Mr Bloom cannot understand their hints" (265).