Thentheroarandrattleofthewheelsshiveredthequietintolittlebits。Irosetogoaway，buttwomeninwhiteclothesstoodinfrontofme。Thefirstonesaid，\"It’shim！\"Thesecondsaid，\"Soitis！\"
Andtheybothlaughedalmostasloudlyasthemachineryroared，andmoppedtheirforeheads。\"Weseedtherewasalightburningacrosstheroad，andweweresleepinginthatditchthereforcoolness，andIsaidtomyfriendhere，’Theofficeisopen。Let’scomealongandspeaktohimasturnedusbackfromDegumberState，’\"saidthesmallerofthetwo。HewasthemanIhadmetintheMhowtrain，andhisfellowwasthered-beardedmanofMarwarJunction。Therewasnomistakingtheeyebrowsoftheoneorthebeardoftheother。
Iwasnotpleased，becauseIwishedtogotosleep，nottosquabblewithloafers。\"Whatdoyouwant？\"Iasked。
\"Halfanhour’stalkwithyou，coolandcomfortable，intheoffice，\"
saidthered-beardedman。\"We’dlikesomedrink，——theContrackdoesn’tbeginyet，Peachey，soyouneedn’tlook，——butwhatwereallywantisadvice。Wedon’twantmoney。Weaskyouasafavour，becausewefoundoutyoudidusabadturnaboutDegumberState。\"