were very glib with names and places that had always seemed mythical and glamorous.

“Oh, yes, Mr. Tannenbaum and I went to India last year, and Persia and around. Real interesting. My, but they’re dirty, those towns. We used to kick about Des Moines, now that they use so much soft coal, and all the manufacturing and all. But my land, it’s paradise compared to those places. And the food! Only decent meals we had in Egypt was a place in Cairo called Pardee’s, run by a woman whose husband’s left her or died, or something. Real home-loving woman she was. Such cooking� . Why, that’s so! Your name’s Pardee, too, isn’t it! Well, I always say to Mr. Tannenbaum, it’s a small world, after all. No relation, of course?”

“Of course not.