The humor of the auctioneer's position appealed to him immensely.
"I am making money fast," Mr.Waddington admitted, without enthusiasm.
"Another year or two of this and I could retire comfortably." "Then what," Burton asked, "is the worry ?" Mr.Waddington smoked vigorously for a moment.

"Has it ever occurred to you, Burton," he inquired, "to ask yourself whether this peculiar state, in which you and I find ourselves, may be wholly permanent ?" Burton was genuinely startled.

He sat looking at his visitor like one turned to stone.

The prospect called up by that simple question was appalling.

His cigarette burned idly away between his fingers.