_Culch._ I should not advise you to do so. It is possible she may have gone there with the--er--expectation of being joined by--by somebody else. [_He smiles complacently._ _Podb._ You mean she gave you a _rendezvous_ there? I don't believe it! _Culch._ I did not say so. But I am not prepared to deny that I have been waiting here with some such expectation. _Podb._ (_holding the door_). If you go, I go too--that's all. _Culch._ Don't be absurd. You will only be _de trop_, I assure you. _Podb._ _De trop_ or not, I mean going--she shall choose between us. _Culch._ (_turning pale_). I suppose you intend to enlighten her as to my--er--little flirtation (before I knew _her_) with Miss TROTTER? Do it, PODBURY, do it--if you think you'll gain any good by it! _Podb._ Telling tales is not exactly in my line. But you don't go on that balcony without me--that's all. _Culch._ Well, listen to reason, my dear fellow. What you propose is ridiculous. I--I don't mind conceding this: we'll each go, and--er tit up, as you call it, which goes first. _Podb._ Done with you! (_Produces a mark._) Sudden death. You're Eagle--I'm the other Johnny. (_Tosses._) Eagle! Confound you! But I mean to have my innings all the same. _Culch._ You're perfectly welcome--when I've had mine. I'll--er--wish you good evening. [_He stalks out triumphantly. PODBURY places himself in a position from which he can command a view of the Musik-saal, over the top of "über Land und Meer," and awaits results._ * * * * * STORICULES. VI.--BUDWELL'S REVENGE. My friend, THOMAS GIDLING, is something indefinite and authoritative in the Post Office. He is a practical man. He can do fretwork, cook a steak, clean boots, find out what's wrong with the gas, and understand Waterloo Station; in an emergency he is invaluable. This is just as well, because destiny has decided that the life of THOMAS GIDLING shall be a series of emergencies. He has comfortable bachelor quarters at the very top of Parkington Chambers, which are situated in Bloomsbury. [Illustration] One night last winter I had been dining with GIDLING at his Club; after dinner he proposed that we should go round to his flat for a talk and a smoke. GIDLING, being practical, can make coffee, which is a thing that they cannot do at GIDLING's Club, nor, indeed, at many others. So I consented.