"Yes, old chum, there's more in our trade than what most fat-headed passengers thinks. As long as an accident don't occur they don't know what trouble we've been to avoiding of it. I've a good mind to give 'em a smash-up now and again just to teach 'em gratitood. F'instance, me and me mate was running a local down Ilfracombe way last week when what d'you think we runned into?"
"Ilfracombe?" I hazarded sleepily.
"An old cow! Now what d' you think of that?"
"It was so much the worse for the coo," I quoted.
"What say?"
"It was so much the worse for the cow."
"Worse for the cow?"
"So George Stephenson said, and he invented the locomotive and ought to know, you'll admit."
The little man stared at me, his mouth open; for once he seemed bereft of words. We had slowed to a momentary stop, in a small station and pulled out again before he regained control of his tongue, then he broke loose.
"No, I don't admit it neither. I don't care if your friend George invented the moon, he talks like a fool, and you can tell him so from me."