This soap is worth anywhere at this moment eleven dollars and seventy-five cents a case.

What am I bid?
What am I bid?
What am I bid ?" He was talking fast in the usual style of auctioneers, with much unnecessary emphasis; but Cowperwood was not unduly impressed.

He was already rapidly calculating for himself.

Seven cases at eleven dollars and seventy-five cents would be worth just eighty-two dollars and twenty-five cents; and if it went at half--if it went at half-- "Twelve dollars," commented one bidder.
"Fifteen," bid another.
"Twenty," called a third.
"Twenty-five," a fourth.
Then it came to dollar raises, for Castile soap was not such a vital commodity.

"Twenty-six." "Twenty-seven." "Twenty-eight." "Twenty-nine." There was a pause.