arfnarf! Going at two
and a half! Gone!!"

And the grave divine, pausing, beheld a doorway, over which waved a
little red flag. Within, a company of eager bidders thronged around an
auctioneer's stand; and the auctioneer himself, a well-dressed man with
a highly respectable look, was just handing over to the delighted
purchaser a gold watch.

"It would be cheap at one hundred dollars," said he, in a despondent
tone. "It's mere robbery to sell it for that price. I'd buy it myself if
'twas legal."

And while the others, with exclamations of surprise and congratulation,
crowded to see this famous purchase, and the buyer exhibited it with a
joyful countenance close by the door, the divine, just out of curiosity,
stepped in. He owned no watch; he was a country clergyman, and poor in
this world's goods; so poor that, to use a familiar phrase, "if
steamboats were selling at a dime a piece, he would hardly be able to
buy a gang-plank." But what if he could, by good luck, buy a good gold
watch for two dollars and a half in this wonderful city!

Somehow, that watch was snapped open and closed again right under his
ministerial nose about six times. The auctioneer held up another of
exactly the same kind, and began to chatter again.

"Now gentlemen, what 'moffered f'this first-class M. I. Tobias gold
English lever watch--full jeweled, compensation-balance,
anchor-escapement, hunting case? One, did I hear? Say two cents, wont
yer? Two and a half! narfnarfnarfnarfnarf and a half! Two and a half,
and three quarters. Thank you, Sir," to a sailor-like man in the corner.

"Three," said a tall and well-dressed young gentleman with short hair,
near the clergyman, adding, in an undertone, "I can sell it for fifty
this afternoon."

"Three I am offered," says Mr. Auctioneer, and chattered on as before:
"And a half, did you say, Sir? Thank you, Sir. And a halfnarfnarf!"

The reverend divine had said, "And a half." The Peter Funks had got him!
But he didn't find it out quite yet. The bidding was run up to four
dollars; the clergyman took the watch, opened and examined it; was
convinced, handed it back, ventured another half, and the watch was
knocked down to him. The auctioneer fumbled in some papers, and, in a
moment, handed him his bargain neatly done up.

"This way to the clerk's office if you please, Sir," he added, with a
civil bow. The clergyman passed a little further in; and while the sales
proceeded behind him, the clerk mad