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Dresses, cashmeres, jewels, were sold with incredible rapidity There

was nothing that I cared for, and I still waited All at once I heard:

"A volued, entitled Manon Lescaut There

is soe Ten francs"

"Twelve," said a voice after a longish silence

"Fifteen," I said

Why? I did not know Doubtless for the so written

"Fifteen," repeated the auctioneer

"Thirty," said the first bidder in a tone which seegle "Thirty-five," I cried in the same tone

"Forty"

"Fifty"

"Sixty"

"A hundred"

If I had wished to make a sensation I should certainly have succeeded,

for a profound silence had ensued, and people gazed at me as if to see

what sort of a person it ho seemed to be so deteriven to my last word seemed to convince my

adversary; he preferred to abandon a conflict which could only have

resulted in, he said very gracefully, though indeed a little late: "I give way, sir"

Nothing ned to me

As I was afraid of soht have sustained somewhat better than my purse, I wrote down my

naiven

considerable food for reflection to the witnesses of this scene, who