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‘What can possibly go wrong?’ asked Cornelius

‘Well, for a start, have you considered?’ But he didn’t bother to co

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Cornelius was the first to arrive at the auction house the followingThe room was laid out with 120 chairs in neat rows of twelve, ready for the anticipated packed house that afternoon, but Cornelius thought the real dra, when only six people would be in attendance

The next person to appear, fifteen in, was Cornelius’s solicitor Frank Vintcent Observing his client deep in conversation with Mr Botts, ould be conducting the auction, he took a seat towards the back of the rooht-hand side

Cornelius’s sister Margaret was the next to ed straight up to Mr Botts and asked in a shrill voice, ‘Can I sit anywhere I like?’

‘Yes, aret immediately commandeered the centre seat in the front row, directly below the auctioneer’s podium

Cornelius gave his sister a nod before walking down the aisle and taking a chair three rows in front of Frank

Hugh and Elizabeth were the next to arrive They stood at the back for some time while they considered the layout of the room Eventually they strolled up the aisle and occupied two seats in the eighth rohich afforded thehtline to the podiuaret Openinghimself

As the hour hand of the clock on the wall behind the auctioneer’s rostrum ticked inexorably towards eleven, Cornelius was disappointed that neither Pauline nor Timothy made an appearance

Just as the auctioneer began to climb the steps to the podium, the door at the back of the room eased open and Pauline’s head peered round The rest of her body remained hidden behind the door until her eyes settled on Cornelius, who sly She stepped inside and closed the door, but showed no interest in taking a seat, retreating into a corner instead

The auctioneer beamed down at the handpicked invitees as the clock struck eleven

‘Ladies and gentlean, ‘I’ve been in the business for over thirty years, but this is the first time I’ve conducted a private sale, so this is a round rules, so that no one can be in any doubt should a dispute arise later

‘All of you present have some special association, whether as faton, whose personal effects are co under the hammer Each of you has been invited to select one item from the inventory, for which you will be allowed to bid Should you be successful you may not bid for any other lot, but if you fail on the ite for any other lot I hope that is clear,’ he said, as the door was flung open and Timothy rushed in

‘So sorry,’ he said a little breathlessly, ‘but my train was held up’ He quickly took a seat in the back row Cornelius smiled – every one of his paas now in place