_Culch._ (_losing patience_). Then I must really leave it to you to
make a suggestion!

_Miss T._ Well, I believe I'll have a good look round the curiosity
stores. There's ever such a cunning little shop back of the Clock
Tower on the Pi-azza, where I saw some brocades that were just too
sweet! So I'll take Poppa along bargain-hunting. Don't _you_ come if
you'd rather poke around your old churches and things!

_Culch._ I don't feel disposed to--er--"poke around" alone; so, if you
will allow me to accompany you,--

_Miss T._ Oh, I'll allow you to escort me. It's handy having someone
around to carry parcels. And Poppa's bound to drop the balance every
time!

_Culch._ (_to himself_). That's all I am to her. A beast of
burden! And a whole precious morning squandered on this confounded
shopping--when I might have been--ah, well! [_Follows, under protest._

_On the Grand Canal. 9 P.M. A brilliant moonlight night; a
music-barge, hung with coloured lanterns, is moving slowly up towards
the Rialto, surrounded and followed by a fleet of gondolas, amongst
which is one containing the TROTTERS and CULCHARD. CULCHARD has
just discovered--with an embarrassment not wholly devoid of a certain
excitement--that they are drawing up to a gondola occupied by the
PRENDERGASTS and PODBURY._

_Mr. Trotter_ (_meditatively_). It's real romantic. That's the third