Троє в човні крім собаки

           WegottoWaterlooateleven,andaskedwheretheeleven-fivestartedfrom. Ofcoursenobodyknew;nobodyatWaterlooeverdoesknowwhereatrainisgoingtostartfrom,orwhereatrainwhenitdoesstartisgoingto,oranythingaboutit. Theporterwhotookourthingsthoughtitwouldgofromnumbertwoplatform,whileanotherporter,withwhomhediscussedthequestion,hadheardarumourthatitwouldgofromnumberone. Thestation-master,ontheotherhand,wasconvinceditwouldstartfromthelocal. 

           Toputanendtothematter,wewentupstairs,andaskedthetrafficsuperintendent,andhetoldusthathehadjustmetaman,whosaidhehadseenitatnumberthreeplatform. Wewenttonumberthreeplatform,buttheauthoritiestheresaidthattheyratherthoughtthattrainwastheSouthamptonexpress,orelsetheWindsorloop. Buttheyweresureitwasn’ttheKingstontrain,thoughwhytheyweresureitwasn’ttheycouldn’tsay. 

           Thenourportersaidhethoughtthatmustbeitonthehigh-levelplatform;saidhethoughtheknewthetrain. Sowewenttothehigh-levelplatform,andsawtheengine-driver,andaskedhimifhewasgoingtoKingston. Hesaidhecouldn’tsayforcertainofcourse,butthatheratherthoughthewas. Anyhow,ifhewasn’tthe11.5forKingston,hesaidhewasprettyconfidenthewasthe9.32forVirginiaWater,orthe10a.m.expressfortheIsleofWight,orsomewhereinthatdirection,andweshouldallknowwhenwegotthere. Weslippedhalf-a-crownintohishand,andbeggedhimtobethe11.5forKingston. 

           "Nobodywilleverknow,onthisline,"wesaid,"whatyouare,orwhereyou’regoing. Youknowtheway,youslipoffquietlyandgotoKingston." 

           "Well,Idon’tknow,gents,"repliedthenoblefellow,"butIsupposesometrain’sgottogotoKingston;andI’lldoit. Gimmethehalf-crown."