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 dare say. 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. CULCH. The place appears to excite Miss Prendergast's enthusiasm, at all events! [_Sighs._ PODB. Rath-er! But then she's no end of a classical swell, you know! [_Sighs._