Ye've varicose veins and a bad heart," they said.
So I says, "Good mornin', gen'lmen.

Don't blame me if the country's ru'ned".

That's what I said.' I had by this time occupied the only remaining space left on the floor.
With the philosophy of their race the men had accepted my presence, and were turning again to their own talk.

The train had got up speed, and as I judged it to be a special of some kind I looked for few stoppings.
Moreover it was not a corridor carriage, but one of the old-fashioned kind, so I was safe for a time from the unwelcome attention of conductors.

I stretched my legs below the seat, rested my head against the knees of a brawny gunner, and settled down to make the best of it.
My reflections were not pleasant.