_Podb._ What if she is, she don't understand a word we're saying. I want to hear all about Her, you know. _Culch._ My dear PODBURY, we shall have ample time to talk about her while we are at Nuremberg together--it will be the greatest pleasure to me to do so as long as ever you please. _Podb._ Thanks, old chap! I'd no idea you were doing all this, you know. But just tell me this, what did she _say_ about me? _Culch._ (_mystified_). About you? I really don't recollect that she mentioned _you_ particularly. _Podb._ (_puzzled_). But I thought you said you'd been speaking up for me! What _did_ you talk about then? _Culch._ Well, about myself--naturally. [_He settles his collar with a vague satisfaction._ _Podb._ (_blankly_). Oh! Then you haven't been arranging to meet her again on _my_ account? _Culch._ Good Heavens, no--what a very grotesque idea of yours, my dear fellow! [_He laughs gently._ _Podb._ Is it? You always gave out that she wasn't your style at all, and you only regarded her as a "study," and rot like that. How could _I_ tell you would go and cut me out? _Culch._ I don't deny that she occasionally--er--jarred. She is a little deficient in surface refinement--but that will come, that will come. And as to "cutting you out," why, you must allow you never had the remotest-- _Podb._ I don't allow anything of the sort. She liked me well enough till--till you came in and set her against me, and you may think it friendly if you like, but I call it shabby--confoundedly shabby. _Culch._ Don't talk so loud, I'm sure I saw that woman smile! _Podb._ She may smile her head off for all I care. (_The train stops; the Cripple and all but the Pale-haired Lady get out_.) Here we are at Nuremberg. What hotel did you say you are going to? _Culch._ The Bayrischer-Hof. Why? [_He gets his coat and sticks, &c., out of the rack._ _Podb._ Because I shall go to some other, that's all. _Culch._ (_in dismay_). My dear PODBURY. this is really too childish! There's no sense in travelling together, if we're going to stay at different hotels! _Podb._ I'm not sure I shall go any further. Anyway, while I _am_ here, I prefer to keep to myself. _Culch._ (_with a displeased laugh_). Just as you please. It's a matter of perfect indifference to _me_. I'm afraid you'll be terribly bored by yourself, though. _Podb._ That's _my_ look out. It can't be worse than going about with you and listening while you crow and drivel about her, that's one comfort! [_The Pale-haired Lady coughs in a suspicious manner_. _Culch._ You don't even know if there _is_ another hotel. _Podb._ I don't care. I can find a pot-house somewhere, I daresay. _The Pale-haired Lady_ (_in excellent English, to PODBURY as he passes out_). Pardon me, you will find close to the Bahnhof a very goot hotel--the Wurtemburger. [_PODBURY thanks her and alights in some confusion; the Lady sinks back, smiling_.