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THE AUCTION

HE auction began at five o'clock. People were allowed to inspect the goods between four and five. Bender and Hippolyte were there at three, and for a whole hour they waited in the motor exhibition next door.

'I think we shall be able to buy this little car tomorrow,' said Bender. 'It is a pity there is no price on it. After all, it would be rather nice to have a car of our own.'

Hippolyte was rather depressed. Nothing would comfort him but the chairs, and as soon as the doors were opened he went into the auction-room and stood by the chairs. The auction began and the two friends stood in the fourth row to the right. Hippolyte grew very excited. He imagined that the chairs would be put up for sale at once, but they were Number 43 on the list and the usual things of no value were being sold first: a sauceboat, a silver stand, a landscape, a bead bag, a bust of Napoleon, and a new wick for a 'Primus' stove.

They had to be patient and wait, but it was very difficult for them to do so, for the chairs were there; the goal was so near that they could almost touch it.

'What an auction there would be,' thought Bender, 'if they only knew what was inside that chair!'

'A figure representing Justice!' shouted the auctioneer, 'made of bronze, in perfect condition. Five roubles. What offers? Six and a half on my right. Seven at the back of the room. Eight in the first row. Eight roubles. Eight roubles. Going! Going!

Eight roubles. Gone!'

A young woman went up to the man in the front row