'Sometimes it overflows on to that meadow deep enough to drown a man.' 'Are you quite sure of that?' 'Everybody knows that. Those gaps in the hill have been scooped out by the water.' 'The bridge will have to be sixty feet high.' 'Certainly,' said the elder of the two men. 'Can you let us have some milk, gospodarz?' 'My wife is getting it ready, if it pleases the gentlemen to come.' The whole party turned towards the cottage, for the drinking of milk by such distinguished gentlemen was an important event; it was decided to stop harvesting for the day. Chairs and the cherrywood table had been placed in front of the cottage. A rye loaf, butter, white cheese with caraway seeds, and a bowl of buttermilk were in readiness. 'Well,' said the men, looking at each other in surprise, 'a nobleman could not have received us better.' They ate heartily, praised everything, and finally asked Slimakowa what they owed her. 'May it be to the gentlemen's health!' 'But we cannot fleece you like this, gospodyni.' 'We don't take money for hospitality. Besides, you have already given my boy as much as if he had been harvesting a whole day.' 'There!' whispered the younger man to the elder, 'isn't that like Polish peasants?' To Slimak they said: 'After such a reception we will promise to build the station quite near to you.' 'I don't know what you mean?' 'We are going to build a railway.' Slimak scratched his head. 'What makes you so doubtful?' asked the men. 'I'm thinking that this will turn out badly for us,' Slimak replied; 'I shan't earn anything by driving.' The men laughed. 'Don't be afraid, my friend, it will be a very good thing for everybody, especially for you, as you will be near the station. And first of all you will sell us your produce and drive us. Let us begin at once, what do you want for your fowls?' 'I leave it to you, sir.' 'Twenty-five kopeks, then.' Slimakowa looked at her husband. This was double the amount they had usually taken. 'You can have them, sir,' she cried. 'That scoundrel of a Jew charged us fifty,' murmured the younger man. They agreed to buy butter, cheese, crayfish, cucumber, and bread; the younger man expressing surprise at the cheapness of everything, and the elder boasting that he always knew how to drive a good bargain. When they left, they paid Slimakowa sixteen paper roubles and half a silver rouble, asking her if she was sure that she was not cheating herself. 'God forbid,' she replied. 'I wish I could sell every day at that price.' 'You will, when we have built the railway.' 'May God bless you!' She made the sign of the cross over them, the farm labourer knelt down, and Slimak took off his cap. They all accompanied their guests as far as the ravines. When they returned, Slimak set everyone to work in feverish haste.