Two black leads which I am advised can be separated off at
the proper time. Now, what bids for the 'Odontoglossum Pavo.' Ah! I
wonder who will have the honour of becoming the owner of this perfect,
this unmatched production of Nature. Thank you, sir--three hundred.
Four. Five. Six. Seven in three places. Eight. Nine. Ten. Oh!
gentlemen, let us get on a little faster. Thank you, sir--fifteen.
Sixteen. It is against you, Mr Woodden. Ah! thank you, seventeen."
There came a pause in the fierce race for "O. Pavo," which I occupied
in reducing seventeen hundred shillings to pounds sterling.
My word! I thought to myself, ?85 is a goodish price to pay for one
plant, however rare. Woodden is acting up to his instructions with a
vengeance.
The pleading voice of Mr. Primrose broke in upon my meditations.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen!" he said, "surely you are not going to allow
the most wondrous production of the floral world, on which I repeat
there is no reserve, to be knocked down at this miserable figure.
Come, come.
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