SCENE--_The Piazza of St. Mark at night. The roof and part of the façade gleam a greenish silver in the moonlight. The shadow of the Campanile falls, black and broad, across the huge square, which is crowded with people listening to the Military Band, and taking coffee, &c., outside the caffés. Miss TROTTER and CULCHARD are seated at one of the little tables in front of the Quadri._ _Miss T._ I'd like ever so much to know why it is you're so anxious to see that Miss PRENDERGAST and me friendly again? After she's been treating you this long while like you were a toad--and not a popular kind of toad at that! _Culch._ (_wincing_). Of course I am only too painfully aware of--of a certain distance in her manner towards me, but I should not think of allowing myself to be influenced by any--er--merely personal considerations of that sort. _Miss T._ That's real noble! And I presume, now, you cann't imagine any reason why she's been treading you so flat. [Illustration: "A mean cuss? Me! Really--"] _Culch._ (_with a shrug_). I really haven't troubled to speculate Who can tell how one may, quite unconsciously, give offence--even to those who are--er--comparative strangers? _Miss T._ Just so. (_A pause._) Well, Mr. CULCHARD, if I wanted anything to confirm my opinion of you, I guess you've given it me! _Culch._ (_internally_). It's very unfortunate that she _will_ insist on idealising me like this! _Miss T._ Maybe, now, you can form a pretty good idea already what that opinion is? _Culch._ (_in modest deprecation_). You give me some reason for inferring that it is far higher than I deserve. _Miss T._ Well, I don't know that you've missed your guess altogether. Are you through your ice-cream yet? _Culch._ Almost. (_He finishes his ice._) It is really most refreshing! _Miss T._ Then, now you're refreshed, I'll tell you what I think about you. (_CULCHARD resigns himself to enthusiasm._) My opinion of you, Mr. CULCHARD, is that, taking you by and large, you amount to what we Amurrcans describe as "a pretty mean cuss." _Culch._ (_genuinely surprised_). A mean cuss? Me! Really, this unjustifiable language is _most_--! _Miss T._ Well, I don't just know what your dictionary term would be for a man who goes and vows exclusive devotion to one young lady, while he's waiting for his answer from another, and keeps his head close shut to each about it. Or a man who backs out of his vows by trading off the sloppiest kind of flap-doodle about not wishing to blight the hopes of his dearest friend. Or a man who has been trying his hardest to get into the good graces again of the young lady he went back on first, so he can cut out that same dearest friend of his, and leave the girl he's haff engaged to right out in the cold. And puts it all off on the high-toned-est old sentiments, too. But I don't consider the expression, "a mean cuss," too picturesque for that particular kind of hero myself!