Finally, he took up his hammer again and sighed.
"Very well, then," he consented, in a resigned tone, "we'll start it at fifty, then.

I don't know what's the matter with every one to-day, but I'm giving you a turn, Mr.Sherwell, and I shall knock it down quick.
Fifty guineas is bid for lot number 85.

Going at fifty guineas!" Burton rose once more to his feet.
"Does Mr.Sherwell understand," he asked, "that the remainder of the suite is different entirely from the table ?" Mr.Sherwell stared at the speaker, shifted his feet a little unsteadily and gripped the table.
"Certainly I don't," he replied,--"don't understand anything of the sort! Where is the rest of the suite, young man ?" "Just behind you, sir," Burton pointed out, "up against the wall." Mr.Sherwell turned and looked at a miserable collection of gimcrack articles piled up against the wall behind him.

Then he consulted the catalogue.
"One mahogany dining-table, two sideboards, one butler's tray, twelve chairs.

These the chairs ?" he asked, lifting one up.
"Those are the chairs, sir," Burton admitted.