_Culch._ Is that so? Then I will make a point of asking for it--if I want raw beefsteak. [_Attempts to turn to_ Miss T. _His N._ That's what _I_ did when I was at Venice. I sent for the Manager. He came. I said to him. "Look here, I'm an Englishman. My name's BELLERBY. (CULCHARD _bows in patient boredom._) I've heard of your Venetian tunny. I wish to taste it. _Bring_ me some!" _Culch._ (_crushingly_). A most excellent method of obtaining it, no doubt. (_To_ Waiter.) _Numéro vingt-sept, demi bouteille de Chianti, et siphon!_ _His N._ You don't wait till I've _done_, Sir! I _didn't_ obtain it--not at first. The man made excuses. I was prepared for _that_. I told him plainly, "I know what _you_'re thinking--it's a cheap fish, and you fancy I'm ordering it out of economy!" _Culch._ (_raising his eyebrows for_ Miss T.'s _benefit_). Of course, he naturally _would_ think so. And _that_ is how you got your tunny? I see. [Mr. BELLERBY _stares at him suspiciously, and decides to suppress the remainder of his tunny._ _Miss T._ This hotel seems to be thinning some. We've three ghosts right in front of us this evening. _Culch._ (_turning with effusion_). So we have! My friend is one, and he'll be here presently, but I much prefer myself to see every seat occupied. There is something so depressing about a vacant chair, don't you think? _Miss T._ It's calculated to put one in mind of _Macbeth's_ little dinner-party, certainly. But you can cheer up, Mr. CULCHARD, here comes a couple of belated _Banquos._ My gracious; I _do_ like that girl's face--she has such a perfectly lovely expression, and looks real superior too! _Culch._ (_who has just dropped his glasses into his soup_). I--ah--which lady are you referring too? (_He cleans and adjusts his glasses--to discover that he is face to face with_ Miss HYPATIA PRENDERGAST.) Oh ... I--I see--precisely, quite so! (_He turns to_ BELLERBY _to cover his confusion and avoid meeting_ Miss PRENDERGAST'S _eye_.) I _beg_ your pardon, you were describing how you caught a tunny? Pray continue. _Mr. Bellerby_ (_stiffly_). Excuse me, I don't seem fortunate enough to have secured your undivided attention. _Culch._ (_with intense interest_). Quite the contrary, I assure you! You were saying you always ordered it out of economy? _Mr. B._ Pardon _me_--I was saying nothing of the sort. I was saying that I told the Manager I knew that was why he _thought_ I ordered it--a rather different thing! "You're quite wrong," I said. "You may pay twopence-halfpenny a pound for it, and charge me half-a-crown, if you like, but I mean to _taste_ that tunny!" I was determined not to be done out of my tunny, Sir! _Culch._ (_breathlessly_). And what did the tunny--I mean the Manager--say to _that_?