the famous here as well as they do on earth."

"You'd run a sort of Social Zoo?" suggested Elizabeth.

"Precisely; and provide entertainment for private residences too. An
advertisement in Boswell's paper, which everybody buys--"

"And which nobody reads," said Portia.

"They read the advertisements," retorted Madame Recamier. "As I was
saying, an advertisement could be placed in Boswell's paper as
follows: 'Are you giving a Function? Do you want Talent? Get your
Genius at the Recamier Salon (Limited).' It would be simply
magnificent as a business enterprise. The common herd would be
tickled to death if they could get great people at their homes, even
if they had to pay roundly for them."

"It would look well in the society notes, wouldn't it, if Mr. John
Boggs gave a reception, and at the close of the account it said, 'The
supper was furnished by Calizetti, and the genius by the Recamier
Salon (Limited)'?" suggested Elizabeth, scornfully.

"I must admit," replied the French lady, "that you call up an
unpleasant possibility, but I don't really see what else we can do if
we want to preserve the salon idea. Somebody has told these talented
people that they have a commercial value, and they are availing
themselves of the demand."

"It is a sad age!" sighed Elizabeth.