Hatheby's of Earth and Cis-Lunar," said Data, "quite a venerable firm, actually.

During the 1950's, Henry W. Reed served as a senior associate at the venerable firm of Lehman Brothers in Manhattan.

"Ah, yes, the venerable old firm."

There would be a battle such as the venerable firm of Fraser, DeWitt, Berg had never seen before.

At the high end was one made by the venerable English firm Barber Wilsons ($1,130), whose faucets are used in Buckingham Palace.

Almost immediately, they offered Hillary a job as the first female associate at what Mrs. Clinton calls "the most venerable firm in Arkansas."

Lun On, 771 Sacramento Street, is one of Chinatown's most venerable firms, specializing in custom-made bamboo shades for almost 80 years.

That purchase price, about three times book value, is not expected to be matched in a deal with the venerable British firm.

The venerable firm will receive "standard investment banking fees" for its role in the transaction, he said, declining to elaborate.

Indeed, some of Wall Street's most venerable firms have been shrinking their payrolls.