'You will find, Alec, that my stage experiences will not go for nothing. Why, even if I was a poor actress, I did learn the whole business of stage management. I am going to transfer that business from the stage to the drawing-room, which shall be, at first, this room. We shall play our little comedy together, you and I.' She sprang to her feet, and began to act as if she was on the stage--'It will be a duologue. Your _rôle_ will still be that of the Universal Genius; mine will be that of the supposed extinct Lady--the Lady of the Salon--I shall be at home one evening a week--say on Sunday. And it shall be an evening remembered and expected. We shall both take Art seriously: you as the Master, I as the sympathetic and intelligent worshipper of Art. We shall attract to our rooms artists of every kind and those who hang about artistic circles: our furniture shall show the latest artistic craze: foreigners shall come here as to the art centre of London--we will cultivate the foreign element: young people shall come for advice, for encouragement, for introduction: reputations shall be made and marred in this room: you shall be the Leader and Chief of the World of Art. If there is here and there one who knows that you are a humbug, what matters? Alec'--she struck a most effective attitude--'rise to the prospect! Have a little imagination! I see before me the most splendid future--oh! the most splendid future!' 'All very well. But there's the present staring us in the face. How and where are we to find the--the successors to Lady Frances and Effie and----' 'Where to find ghosts? Leave that to me. I know where there are plenty only too glad to be employed. They can be had very cheap, my dear Alec, I can assure you. Oh! I have not been so low down in the social levels for nothing. You paid a ridiculous price for your ghosts--quite ridiculous. I will find you ghosts enough, never fear.' 'Where are they?' 'When one goes about the country with a travelling company one hears strange things. I have heard of painters--good painters--who once promised to become Royal Academicians, and anything you please, but took to ways--downward ways, you know--and now sit in public-houses and sell their work for fifteen shillings a picture. I will find you such a genius, and will make him take pains and produce a picture worthy of his better days, and you shall have it for a guinea and a pint of champagne.' Alec Feilding gasped. The vista before him was too splendid.