108 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 

 the i l Birds of America. ' ' c Sir, 7 he said, 

 1 1 never sign my name to any subscrip- 

 tion list, but you may send in your work 

 and I will pay for a copy of it. Gentle- 

 men, I am busy. I wish you good morn- 

 ing. J We were busy men, too, and so 

 bowing respectfully, we retired, pretty 

 well satisfied with the small slice of his 

 opulence which our labour was likely to 

 obtain. 



"A few days afterwards I sent the 

 first volume of my work half bound, and 

 all the numbers besides, then published. 

 On seeing them we were told that he 

 ordered the bearer to take them to his 

 house, which was done directly. Num- 

 ber after number was sent and delivered 

 to the Baron, and after eight or ten 

 months my son made out his account and 

 sent it by Mr. Havell, my engraver, to 

 his banking-house. The Baron looked 

 at it with amazement, and cried out, 

 'What, a hundred pounds for birds! 

 Why, sir, I will give you five pounds 



