Bob.  I beg your pardon, ’PATIA, really, but we’ve had rather a long day of it, you know!

Mr. T. Well, now, I declare I sort of recognised those voices! (Heartily.) Why, how are you getting along in Vernis? We’re gettin’ along fust-rate.  Say, MAUD, here’s your friend alongside!

    [Miss P. preserves a stony silence.

Miss T. (in an undertone).  I don’t see how you can act so, Poppa—­when you know she’s just as mad with me!

Mr. T. There!  Electrocuted if I didn’t clean forget you were out!  But, see here, now—­why cann’t we let bygones be bygones?

Bob. (impulsively).  Just what I think, Mr. TROTTER, and I’m sure my sister will—­

Miss P. BOB, will you kindly not make the situation more awkward than it is?  If I desired a reconciliation, I think I am quite capable of saying so!

Miss T. (in confidence to the Moon).  This Ark isn’t proposing to send out any old dove, either—­we’ve no use for an olive-branch. (To Mr. T.) That’s “Santa Lucia” they’re singing now, Poppa.

Mr. T. They don’t appear to me to get the twist on it they did at Bellagio!

Miss T. You mean that night CHARLEY took us out on the Lake?  Poor CHARLEY! he’d just love to be here—­he’s ever so much artistic feeling!

Mr. T. Well, I don’t see why he couldn’t have come along if he’d wanted.

Miss T. (with a glance at her neighbour).  I presume he’d reasons enough.  He’s a vurry cautious man.  Likely he was afraid he’d get bitten.

Miss P. (after a swift scrutiny of Miss T.’s features).  Oh, BOB, remind me to get some more of that mosquito stuff.  I should so hate to be bitten—­such a dreadful disfigurement!

Miss T. (to the Moon).  I declare if I don’t believe I can feel some creature trying to sting me now!

Miss P. Some people are hardly recognisable, BOB, and they say the marks never quite disappear!

Miss T. Poppa, don’t you wonder what CHARLEY’s doing just now?  I’d like to know if he’s found anyone yet to feel an interest in the great Amurrcan Novel.  It’s curious how interested people do get in that novel, considering it’s none of it written, and never will be.  I guess sometimes he makes them believe he means something by it.  They don’t understand it’s only CHARLEY’s way!

Miss P. The crush isn’t quite so bad now.  Mr. PODBURY, if you will kindly ask your friend not to hold on to our gondola, we should probably be better able to turn. (CULCHARD, who had fondly imagined himself undetected, takes his hand away as if it were scorched.) Now we can get away. (To Gondolier.) Voltiamo, se vi piace, prestissimo!

    [The gondola turns and departs.