He gathered--for they talked loudly, without regarding his presence--that they represented two Manchester firms which were rivals in the wholesale drapery business.

Very much of what they said was unintelligible to him, though the words were familiar.

He knew that 'lines' could be 'quoted,' but not apparently in the same sense in which they discussed these operations, and it puzzled him to hear of muslins being 'done at one and seven-eighths.' He sat for a time wondering at the waste of money and energy involved in sending these men to remote corners of Ireland to search for customers.

Then he left them, and made his way down the muddy street to Mr.Quinn's house.
The room into which he was shown was different from any he had ever seen.

It was lit by a single lamp with a dull glass globe and a turf fire which burnt brightly.