affected,
and went on imperturbably filling his pipe.
"At sixty-five!" cried the Auctioneer, leaning towards Grimes with his
hammer poised, "at sixty-five--Will you make it another pound,
sir!--come,--what do you say?"
"I say--no sir!" returned the Corn-chandler, slowly, and impressively,
"I say no, sir,--I say--make it another--twenty pound, sir!" Hereupon
heads were shaken, or nodded, and there rose the sudden shuffle of feet
as the crowd closed in nearer.
"I get eighty-five! any advance on eighty-five?"
"Eighty-six!" said Bellew, settling the tobacco in his pipe-bowl with
his thumb.
Once again the Auctioneer leaned over and appealed to the Corn-chandler,
who stood in the same attitude, jingling the money in his pocket, "Come
sir, don't let a pound or so stand between you and a side-board that
can't be matched in the length and breadth of the United Kingdom,--come,
what do you say to another ten shillings?"
"I say, sir," said Grimes, with his gaze still riveted upon Bellew, "I
say--no sir,--I say make it another--twenty pound sir!"
Again there rose the shuffle of feet, again heads were nodded, and
elbows nudged neighbouring ribs, and all eyes were focussed upon Bellew
who was in the act of lighting his pipe.
"One hundred and six pounds!" cried the Auctioneer, "at one six!--at one
six!--"
Bellew struck a match, but the wind from the open casement behind him,
extinguished it.
"I have one hundred and six pounds! is there any advance, yes or
no?--going at one hundred and six!"
Adam who, up till now, had enjoyed the struggle to the utmost,
experienced a sudden qualm of fear.
Bellew struck another match.
"At one hundred and six pounds!--at one six,--going at one hundred and
six pounds--!"
A cold moisture started out on Adam's brow, he clenched his hands, and
muttered between his teeth. Supposing the money were all gone, like his
own share, supposing they had to lose this famous old side-board,--and
to Grimes of all people! This, and much more, was in Adam's mind while
the Auctioneer held his hammer poised, and Bellew went on lighting
his pipe.
"Going at one hundred and six!--going!--going!--"
"Fifty up!" said Bellew. His pipe was well alight at last, and he was
nodding to the Auctioneer through a fragrant cloud.
"What!" cried Grimes, "'ow much?"
"Gent in the corner gives me one hundred and fifty six pounds," said the
Auctioneer, with a jovial eye upon the Corn-chandler's lowering v
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