I listened--two men were talking; subject, apparently, the great inundation.

I looked out through the open transom.

The two men were eating a late breakfast; sitting opposite each other; nobody else around.

They closed up the inundation with a few words--having used it, evidently, as a mere ice-breaker and acquaintanceship-breeder--then they dropped into business.

It soon transpired that they were drummers--one belonging in Cincinnati, the other in New Orleans.