The little old gentleman sniffed.
"You needn't insult me, young fellow," he declared.

"I've a friend or two here and I'll set about letting them know the truth." He was as good as his word.

The woman who had departed had also found her sympathizers.

Mr.Waddington watched the departure of a little stream of people with a puzzled frown.
"What's the matter with them all ?" he muttered.

"Come here, Burton." Burton, who had been standing a little in the background, endeavoring to escape further observation until the commencement of the sale, obeyed his master's summons promptly.
"Can't reckon things up at all," Mr.Waddington confided.