A magnificent codex of the "Guerre des Juifs" revived attention. It
was long disputed for. "Five thousand francs! five thousand!" called
the crier, while the bric-a-brac dealers remained silent with
admiration. Then seven or eight antiphonaries brought us back again
to low prices. A fat old woman, in a loose gown, bareheaded--a
dealer in second-hand goods--encouraged by the size of the books and
the low prices bidden, had one of the antiphonaries knocked down to
her for thirty francs.

At last the expert Polizzi announced No. 42: "The 'Golden Legend';
French MS.; unpublished; two superb miniatures, with a starting bid
of three thousand francs."

"Three thousand! three thousand bid!" yelled the crier.

"Three thousand!" dryly repeated the auctioneer.

There was a buzzing in my head, and, as through a cloud, I saw a host
of curious faces all turning towards the manuscript, which a boy was
carrying open through the audience.

"Three thousand and fifty!" I said.

I was frightened by the sound of my own voice, and further confused
by seeing, or thinking that I saw, all eyes turned on me.

"Three thousand and fifty on the right!" called the crier, taking
up my bid.