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第14章

a simpleton-第14章

小说: a simpleton 字数: 每页3500字

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confined to Mesdames Cole and Staines。  The experienced; however
wealthy; do not hunt bargains in silk and satin。

The auctioneer called 〃Lot 7。  Four saucepans; two trays; a kettle;
a bootjack; and a towel…horse。〃

These were put up at two shillings; and speedily knocked down for
five to a fat old woman in a greasy velvet jacket; blind industry
had sewed bugles on it; not artfully; but agriculturally。

〃The lady on the left!〃 said the auctioneer to his clerk。  That
meant 〃Get the money。〃

The old lady plunged a huge paw into a huge pocket; and pulled out
a huge handful of coincopper; silver; and goldand paid for the
lot; and Rosa surveyed her dirty hands and nails with innocent
dismay。  〃Oh; what a dreadful creature!〃 she whispered; 〃and what
can she want with those old rubbishy things?  I saw a hole in one
from here。〃  The broker overheard; and said; 〃She is a dealer;
ma'am; and the things were given away。  She'll sell them for a
guinea; easy。〃

〃Didn't I tell you?〃 said Mrs。 Cole。

Soon after this the superior lots came on; and six very neat
bedroom chairs were sold to all appearance for fifteen shillings。

The next lot was identical; and Rosa hazarded a bid;〃Sixteen
shillings。〃

Instantly some dealer; one of the hook…nosed that gathered round
each lot as it came to the foot of the table; cried 〃Eighteen
shillings。〃

〃Nineteen;〃 said Rosa。

〃A guinea;〃 said the dealer。

〃Don't let it go;〃 said the broker behind her。  〃Don't let it go;
ma'am。〃

She colored at the intrusion; and left off bidding directly; and
addressed herself to Mrs。 Cole。  〃Why should I give so much; when
the last were sold for fifteen shillings?〃

The real reason was that the first lot was not bid for at all;
except by the proprietor。  However; the broker gave her a very
different solution; he said; 〃The trade always run up a lady or a
gentleman。  Let me bid for you; they won't run me up; they know
better。〃

Rosa did not reply; but looked at Mrs。 Cole。

〃Yes; dear;〃 said that lady; 〃you had much better let him bid for
you。〃

〃Very well;〃 said Rosa; 〃you can bid for this chest of drawerslot
25。〃

When lot 25 came on; the broker bid in the silliest possible way;
if his object had been to get a bargain。  He began to bid early and
ostentatiously; the article was protected by somebody or other
there present; who now of course saw his way clear; he ran it up
audaciously; and it was purchased for Rosa at about the price it
could have been bought for at a shop。

The next thing she wanted was a set of oak chairs。

They went up to twenty…eight pounds; then she said; 〃I shall give
no more; sir。〃

〃Better not lose them;〃 said the agent; 〃they are a great bargain;〃
and bid another pound for her on his own responsibility。

They were still run up; and Rosa peremptorily refused to give any
more。  She lost them; accordingly; by good luck。  Her faithful
broker looked blank; so did the proprietor。

But; as the sale proceeded; she being young; the competition;
though most of it sham; being artful and exciting; and the traitor
she employed constantly puffing every article; she was drawn in to
wishing for things; and bidding by her feelings。

Then her traitor played a game that has been played a hundred
times; and the perpetrators never once lynched; as they ought to
be; on the spot。  He signalled a confederate with a hooked nose;
the Jew rascal bid against the Christian scoundrel; and so they ran
up the more enticing things to twice their value under the hammer。

Rosa got flushed; and her eye gleamed like a gambler's; and she
bought away like wildfire。  In which sport she caught sight of an
old gentleman; with little black eyes that kept twinkling at her。

She complained of these eyes to Mrs。 Cole。  〃Why does he twinkle
so?  I can see it is at me。  I am doing something foolishI know I
am。〃

Mrs。 Cole turned; and fixed a haughty stare on the old gentleman。
Would you believe it? instead of sinking through the floor; he sat
his ground; and retorted with a cold; clear grin。

But now; whenever Rosa's agent bid for her; and the other man of
straw against him; the black eyes twinkled; and Rosa's courage
began to ooze away。  At last she said; 〃That is enough for one day。
I shall go。  Who could bear those eyes?〃

The broker took her address; so did the auctioneer's clerk。  The
auctioneer asked her for no deposit; her beautiful; innocent; and
high…bred face was enough for a man who was always reading faces;
and interpreting them。

And so they retired。

But this charming sex is like that same auctioneer's hammer; it
cannot go abruptly。  It is always goinggoinggoinga long time
before it is gone。  I think it would perhaps loiter at the door of
a jail; with the order of release in its hand; after six years'
confinement。  Getting up to go quenches in it the desire to go。  So
these ladies having got up to go; turned and lingered; and hung
fire so long; that at last another set of oak chairs came up。  〃Oh!
I must see what these go for;〃 said Rosa; at the door。

The bidding was mighty languid now Rosa's broker was not
stimulating it; and the auctioneer was just knocking down twelve
chairsoak and leatherand two arm…chairs; for twenty pounds;
when; casting his eyes around; he caught sight of Rosa looking at
him rather excited。  He looked inquiringly at her。  She nodded
slightly; he knocked them down to her at twenty guineas; and they
were really a great bargain。

〃Twenty…two;〃 cried the dealer。

〃Too late;〃 said the auctioneer。

〃I spoke with the hammer; sir。〃

〃After the hammer; Isaacs。〃

〃Shelp me God; we was together。〃

One or two more of his tribe confirmed this pious falsehood; and
clamored to have them put up again。

〃Call the next lot;〃 said the auctioneer; peremptorily。  〃Make up
your mind a little quicker next time; Mr。 Isaacs; you have been
long enough at it to know the value of oak and moroccar。〃

Mrs。 Staines and her friend now started for Morley's Hotel; but
went round by Regent Street; whereby they got glued at Peter
Robinson's window; and nine other windows; and it was nearly five
o'clock when they reached Morley's。  As they came near the door of
their sitting…room; Mrs。 Staines heard somebody laughing and
talking to her husband。  The laugh; to her subtle ears; did not
sound musical and genial; but keen; satirical; unpleasant; so it
was with some timidity she opened the door; and there sat the old
chap with the twinkling eyes。  Both parties stared at each other a
moment。

〃Why; it is them;〃 cried the old gentleman。  〃Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!〃

Rosa colored all over; and felt guilty somehow; and looked
miserable。

〃Rosa dear;〃 said Dr。 Staines; 〃this is our Uncle Philip。〃

〃Oh!〃 said Rosa; and turned red and pale by turns; for she had a
great desire to propitiate Uncle Philip。

〃You were in the auction…room; sir?〃 said Mrs。 Cole; severely。

〃I was; madam。  He! he!〃

〃Furnishing a house?〃

〃No; ma'am。  I go to a dozen sales a week; but it is not to buyI
enjoy the humors。  Did you ever hear of Robert Burton; ma'am?〃

〃No。  Yes; a great traveller; isn't he?  Discovered the Nileor
the Nigeror SOMETHING?〃

This majestic vagueness staggered old Crusty at first; but he
recovered his equilibrium; and said; 〃Why; yes; now I think of it;
you are right; he has travelled farther than most of us; for about
two centuries ago he visited that bourn whence no traveller
returns。  Well; when he was alivehe was a student of
Christchurchhe used to go down to a certain bridge over the Isis
and enjoy the chaff of the bargemen。  Now there are no bargemen
left to speak of; the mantle of Bobby Burton's bargees has fallen
on the Jews and demi…semi…Christians that buy and sell furniture at
the weekly auctions; thither I repair to hear what little coarse
wit is left us。  Used to go to the House of Commons; but they are
getting too civil by half for my money。  Besides; characters come
out in an auction。  For instance; only this very day I saw two
ladies enter; in gorgeous attire; like heifers decked for
sacrifice; and reduce their spoliation to a certainty by employing
a broker to bid。  Now; what is a broker?  A fellow who is to be
paid a shilling in the pound for all articles purchased。  What is
his interest; then?  To buy cheap?  Clearly not。  He is paid in
proportion to the dearness of the article。〃

Rosa's face began to work piteously。

〃Accordingly; what did the broker in question do?  He winked to
another broker; and these two bid against one another; over their
victim's head; and ran everything she wanted up at least a hundred
per cent above the value。  So open and transparent a swindle I have
seldom seen; even in an auction…room。  Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!〃

His mirth was interrupted by Rosa going to her husband; hiding her
head on his shoulder; and meekly crying。

Christopher comforted her like a man。  〃Don't you cry; darling;〃
said he; 〃how should a pure creature like you know the badness of
the world all in a moment?  If it is my wife you are laughing at;
Uncle Philip; let me tell you this is the wrong place。  I'd rather
a thousand times have her as she is; than armed with the cunning
and suspicions of a hardened old worldling like you。〃

〃With all my heart;〃 said Uncle Philip; who; to do him justice;
could take blows as well as give them; 〃but why employ a broker?
Why pay a scoundrel five per cent to make you pay a hundred per
cent?  Why pay a noisy fool a farthing to open his mouth for you
when you have taken the trouble to be there yourself; and have got
a mouth of your own to bid discreetly with?  Was ever such an
absurdity?〃  He began to get angry。

〃Do you want to quarrel with me; Uncle Philip?〃 said Christopher;
firing up; 〃because sneering at my Rosa is the way; and the only
way; and the sure way。〃

〃Oh; no;〃 said Rosa; interposing。  〃Uncle Philip was right。  I am
very foolish and inexperienced; but I am not so vain as to turn
from good advice。  I will never employ a broker again; sir。〃

Uncle Philip smiled and looked pleased。

Mrs。 Cole caused a diversion by taking leave; and Rosa followed her
down…stairs。  On her return she found Christopher telling his uncle
all about the Bijou; and how he had taken it for a hundred and
thirty pounds a year and a hundred pounds premium; and Uncle Philip
staring fearfully。

At last he found his tongue。  〃The Bijou!〃 said he。  〃Why; that is
a name they gave to a little den in Dear Street; Mayfair。  You
haven't ever been and taken THAT!  Built over a mews。〃

Christopher groaned。  〃That is the place; I fear。〃

〃Why the owner is a friend of mine; an old patient。  Stables stunk
him out。  Let it to a man; I forget his name。  Stables stunk HIM
out。  He said; 'I shall go。'  'You can't;' said my friend; 'you
have taken a lease。'  'Lease be dd;' said the other; 'I never
took YOUR house; here's quite a large stench not specified in your
description of the propertyIT CAN'T BE THE SAME PLACE;' flung the
lease at his head; and cut like the wind to foreign parts less
odoriferous。  I'd have got you the hole for ninety; but you are
like your wifeyou must go to an agent。  What! don't you know that
an agent is a man acting for you with an interest opposed

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