"I am ashamed to say it, but all my crowd have got so accustomed to hear me--er--exaggerate, that they disbelieve everything I say as a matter of habit.

I tell them now that the goods I am offering are not what they should be, because I can't help it, and they think it's because I have some deep game up my sleeve, or because I do not want to part.

I give them a week or so at the most, Burton--no more." "Don't you think," Burton suggested doubtfully, "that there might be an opening in the profession for an auctioneer who told the truth ?" Mr.Waddington smiled sadly.
"That's absurd, Burton," he replied, "and you know it." Burton considered the subject thoughtfully.
"There must be occupations," he murmured, "where instinctive truthfulness would be an advantage." "I can't think of one," Mr.Waddington answered, gloomily.

"Besides, I am too old for anything absolutely new." "How on earth did you succeed in letting Idlemay House ?" Burton asked suddenly.
"Most remarkable incident," his host declared.

"Reminds me of my last two sales of antique furniture.