By and by, two giggling young women near by made comments on his looks and dress.
Fragments of their talk he overheard.

It was not quite pleasant.

"Law! ain't he got curly hair, and ain't he just like a girl doll," and so on in the lawless freedom of democratic feminine speech.

The flat Morocco cap and large visor of the French schoolboy and the dark blue cloak with the silver clasp were subjects of comment.

One of them offered peanuts or sugar-plums, which he declined with "Much obliged, but I never take them." Now and then he consulted his watch or felt in his pocket to be certain that his baggage-check was secure, or looked to see if the little bag of toilet articles at his feet was safe.