A Confederacy of Dunces

Ignatius awakes in a hospital to the sound of his mother’s voice. She throws a newspaper at him angrily. On the front page are pictures of Darlene and her bird; Mancuso arresting Lana and the three women from the party; and Jones standing over Ignatius’s large unconscious figure. The article speaks of Mancuso’s efforts to break up a “citywide high school pornography distribution syndicate” (290). Mrs. Reilly reveals that it was she who tipped off Mancuso to Ignatius’s potentially “communiss” behavior (291). Ignatius complains about his health and realizes that “an erection had been bothering him ever since he awakened” (291). He asks his mother to leave for five minutes. She refuses and eventually hands back Ignatius’s book, retrieved from the crime scene. The hospital wants $20 for the treatment, and she reveals that Robichaux has offered to pay the bill. Ignatius notices that his mother is wearing her bowling shows and is scandalized. She does not rise to his challenge.

At Paradise Vendors, Incorporated, “Mr. Clyde looked at the morning paper and fired Reilly” (293). He tries to phone the Reilly household but there is no answer.

Dr. Talc is miserable. The students have discovered one of the threats posted to him by ZORRO, and he has become a joke on campus.