[She and BOB P. pass on, laughing.

Culch. (following).  She only affects this vulgar flippancy to torment me.  If I didn’t know that—­There, I’ve left that infernal pot behind now!

    [Goes back for it, wrathfully.

    In the Amphitheatre; Miss PRENDERGAST, PODBURY, and VAN
    BOODELER, are seated on an upper tier.

Podb. (meditatively).  I suppose they charged highest for the lowest seats.  Wonder whether a lion ever nipped up and helped himself to some fat old buffer in the Stalls when the martyrs turned out a leaner lot than usual!

Van.  B. There’s an ingenuous modernity about our friend’s historical speculations that is highly refreshing.

Miss P. There is, indeed—­though he might have spared himself and us the trouble of them if he had only remembered that the podium was invariably protected by a railing, and occasionally by euripi, or trenches.  You surely learnt that at school.  Mr. PODBURY?

Podb. I—­I daresay.  Forgotten all I learnt at school, you know!

Van.  B. I should infer now, from that statement, that you enjoyed the advantages of a pretty liberal education?

Podb. If that’s meant to be cutting.  I should save it up for that novel of yours; it may seem smart—­there!

Miss P. Really, Mr. PODBURY, if you choose to resent a playful remark in that manner, you had better go away.

Podb. Perhaps I had. (Rises, and moves off huffily).  D——­ his playfulness!  ’Pon my word, poor old CULCHARD was nothing to that beggar!  And she backs him up!  But there—­it’s all part of my probation! (Here CULCHARD suddenly appears, laden with burdens.) Hullo! are you moving, or what?

Culch. I am merely carrying a few things for Miss TROTTER. (Drops the copper pot, which bounds down into the arena.) Dash the thing!... (Returning with it.) It’s natural that, in my position, I should have these—­er—­privileges. (He trips over a blanket.) Conf—­Have you happened to see Miss TROTTER about, by the way?

Podb. Fancy I saw her down below just now—­with BOB.  I expect they’re walking round under the arches.

Culch. Just so.  Do you know, PODBURY, I almost think I’ll go down and find her.  I—­I’m curious to hear what her impressions of a place like this are.  Such a scene, you know,—­so full of associations with—­er—­the splendours and cruelties of a corrupt past—­must produce a powerful effect upon the fresh untutored mind of an American girl, eh?

Miss T.’s voice (distinctly from arena).  I’d like ever so much to see Buffalo BILL run his Show in here—­he’d just make this old circus hum!

Miss P.’s voice (indistinctly from topmost tier).  Almost fancy it all....  Senators—­equites—­populus—­pullati... yellow sunlight striking down through vellarium ... crimsoned sand ... mirmillo fleeing before secutor ...  DIOCLETIAN himself, perhaps, lolling over there on cubiculum ... &c., &c., &c.