Friend Saturius, I have two thousand sestertia, and it is against
you."
"Against me it must remain, then," replied the little man in a fury. "Do
all the kings in the world want this girl? Already I have exceeded my
limit by five hundred sestertia. I dare do no more. Let her go."
"Don't vex yourself, Saturius," said the auctioneer, "bidding is one
thing, paying another. At present I have a bona-fide bid of fifteen
hundred from you. Unless this liberal but unknown lady is prepared with
the cash I shall close on that. Do you understand, madam?"
"Perfectly," answered the veiled old woman. "Being a stranger to Rome I
thought it well to bring the gold with me, since strangers cannot expect
credit."
"To bring the gold with you!" gasped the auctioneer. "To bring two
thousand sestertia with you! Where is it then?"
"Where? Oh! in my servant's and my own baskets, and something more as
well. Come, good sir, I have made my bid. Does the worthy gentleman
advance?"
"No," shouted Saturius. "You are being fooled, she has not got the
money."
"If he does not advance and no other worthy gentleman wishes to bid,
then will you knock the lot down?" said the old woman. "Pardon me if
I press you, noble seller of slaves, but I must ride far from Rome
to-night, to Centum Cellae, indeed, where my ship waits; therefore, I
have no time to lose.
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