Joyce begins to conceal the storyline in the initial naming of the story, "Two Gallants". Well-bred, honourable, dashing men usually fit the description of being a gallant. However, the gallants in this story are of very different qualities.
             The two men are introduced to us coming down the hill of Rutland Square. Joyce hints further into the story by incorporating the term rut, a coarse word for copulating. The appearance of Lenehan is then described to us. He wore a yachting cap, which was seen as a badge of the working class. As a result, the gallant term already becomes questionable. Joyce then moves on to describe Lenehan as rough looking. Lenehan has a "wheezing laughter" and "convulsed body". His eyes twinkle with "cunning enjoyment". The "cunning" factor hints at sneakiness and shiftiness, which are qualities the "two gallants" demonstrate in the climax of the story. Lenehan is also revealed to be past both his physical and mental prime with "scant and grey" hair and a "ravaged look". This "ravaged look" shows an insight to a difficult life that Lenehan might have had.
             His incapability to show the conduct of a gallant is shown when he "laughed noiselessly for fully half a minute" which shows a lack of reserve. After laughing, Lenehan suddenly became "serious and silent". This shows a creepy side to Lenehan; through his apparent ease to turn from humorous to humourless. We then learn that Lenehan lives off his wit; people do not like him and consider him to be "a leech".
             When Corley is introduced to us his first act is to run "his tongue swiftly along his upper lip." This is a lizard movement that immediately associates him with being cold-hearted. Corley crudely describes his female companion as a "fine tart", who is then revealed as a "slavey" at the bot...