Now then, Burton, you blithering idiot," he muttered savagely under his breath, "if you can't hold your tongue I'll kick you out of your seat Thirty pounds shall we say ?" he continued, leaning forward persuasively.
"Twenty pounds, then?
The price makes no difference to me, only do let's get on." The suite in question was knocked down at eight pounds ten.

The sale proceeded, but bidders were few.

A spirit of distrust seemed to be in the air.

Most of the lots were knocked down to dummy bidders, which meant that they were returned to the manufacturers on the following day.
The frown on Mr.Waddington's face deepened.
"See what you've done, you silly jackass!" he whispered to his assistant, during a momentary pause in the proceedings.

"There's another little knot of people left.