Chapter II.

Jeff had long since persuaded himself that slow horses were meant to provide sport for fools, while slow trains were intended for the transport of slow horses.

On one occasion, Jeff had posted a letter on a slow train, and six months later, it came back to him from the dead letter office.

As a result of this marathonic experience, Jeff was never able to witness a man purchasing a ticket for the purpose of travelling in a slow train, without becoming involved in a host of morbid speculations as to the man's ultimate destination.