It was red and broad and flustered and (I thought) false.

The whole man looked sick with some unknown anxiety; and as he stood there, unconscious of my observation, he tore at his nails, scowled on the floor, or glanced suddenly, sharply, and fearfully at passers-by.

I was still gazing at the man in a kind of fascination, when the sale began.
Some preliminaries were rattled through, to the irreverent, uninterrupted gambolling of the boys; and then, amid a trifle more attention, the auctioneer sounded for some two or three minutes the pipe of the charmer.

Fine brig--new copper--valuable fittings--three fine boats--remarkably choice cargo--what the auctioneer would call a perfectly safe investment; nay, gentlemen, he would go further, he would put a figure on it: he had no hesitation (had that bold auctioneer) in putting it in figures; and in his view, what with this and that, and one thing and another, the purchaser might expect to clear a sum equal to the entire estimated value of the cargo; or, gentlemen, in other words, a sum of ten thousand dollars.

At this modest computation the roof immediately above the speaker's head (I suppose, through the intervention of a spectator of ventriloquial tastes) uttered a clear "Cock-a-doodle-doo!"-- whereat all laughed, the auctioneer himself obligingly joining.
"Now, gentlemen, what shall we say ?" resumed that gentleman, plainly ogling Pinkerton,--"what shall we say for this remarkable opportunity ?" "One hundred dollars," said Pinkerton.
"One hundred dollars from Mr.Pinkerton," went the auctioneer, "one hundred dollars.