The man shook his head with a sigh. "I'm done," he said. "Such goods
are for my betters," a sentiment that seemed to be shared by his rivals,
since they also stopped bidding.
"Well, friend Saturius," said the auctioneer, "have you gone to sleep,
or have you anything to say? Only in hundreds, now, gentlemen, mind,
only in hundreds, unless I give the word. Thank you, I have nine
hundred," and he looked round rather carelessly, expecting at heart that
this bid would be the last.
Then the merchant from Alexandria stepped forward and held up his
finger.
"A thousand, by the Gods!"
Saturius looked at the man indignantly. Who was this that dared to bid
against Domitian, the third dignitary in all the Roman empire, Caesar's
son, Caesar's brother, who might himself be Caesar? Still he answered with
another bid of eleven hundred.
Once more the finger of Domitian went up.
"Twelve. Twelve hundred!" said the auctioneer, in a voice of suppressed
excitement, while the audience gasped, for such prices had not been
heard of.
"Thirteen," said the Chamberlain.
Again the finger went up.
"Fourteen hundred. I have fourteen hundred. Against you, worthy
Saturius. Come, come, I must knock the lot down, which perhaps would not
please some whom I could mention.
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