"I tell you you can't travel in this car."
"I am sorry, for once, that I am not coloured," I said to him; "it is much the cleanest of your carriages."
Going to the end of the last carriage, I found myself just in front of the apple, banana, jujubes, book, and cap store.
From my seat I was able to contemplate the activity of the commercial gentleman at the head of this department.
During the fifty minutes' ride, he was going and coming continually.
When his last tour of the train had been made, he put all the merchandise which he had not sold in place, took off his uniform, put on a black coat and hat, and fastened into his cravat a huge diamond pin. I looked on at the rapid metamorphosis with great interest. When his toilet was completed, he turned round and, seeing that I was looking at him, he threw me a patronising glance, eyeing me from head to foot. I thought he was about to say:
"What is it you want?"
"Well, business is looking up, eh?" I hazarded.
"Mind your own d—— business," he replied; and, turning on his heels, he departed.