I am a reporter sent by the _Twentieth Century_ to do this journey." "Going all the way to Pekin ?" "To Pekin." "So am I," replied the Yankee.
And that was what I was afraid of.
"Same trade ?" said I indifferently.
"No.

You need not excite yourself.

We don't sell the same stuff, sir." "Claudius Bombarnac, of Bordeaux, is delighted to be on the same road as--" "Fulk Ephrinell, of the firm of Strong, Bulbul & Co., of New York City, New York, U.S.A." And he really added U.S.A.
We were mutually introduced.

I a traveler in news, and he a traveler in--In what?
That I had to find out.
The conversation continues.

Ephrinell, as may be supposed, has been everywhere--and even farther, as he observes.