Free And Berry Came Too by Dornford Yates Page B

glanced at the rostrum.
    “ And ten, thank you. Twenty… Thirty …”
    “Who’s against me?” hissed Berry. “You must be able to see.”
    Subduing an impulse to scream, I sought for some tell-tale gesture, and sought in vain.
    A note was thrust into my hand.

    Stench’s man is not bidding – J.

    When I offered the note to Berry, he pushed it away.
    “Can’t you see who’s taking me up?”
    “It isn’t Stench.”
    “That,” said Berry, “is what I wanted to know.”
    “ Nine hundred pounds .”
    The auctioneer was looking at Berry.
    As the latter lifted his chin—
    “ And ten… Twenty .”
    “Damn the fellow,” breathed Berry, and nodded again.
    “ Thirty… Forty .”
    An oppressive silence followed. Then Berry inclined his head.
    “ Fifty … Sixty.”
    Berry raised his eyebrows – and lifted his chin.
    “ Seventy… Eighty .”
    “Make it a thousand,” said Berry.
    “ One thousand pounds, thank you .”
    A sudden buzz of excitement rose and fell. As it died down—
    “ And ten ,” said the auctioneer.
    To my amazement, Berry sat back in his chair.
    “Well, that’s that,” he murmured.
    I could hardly believe my ears.
    “You’re not going to stop?”
    “Of course I am,” said Berry. “Our limit is reached.”
    “ One thousand and ten pounds .”
    “But we’ve still got three—”
    “That’s all washed out. I’m not going to blue our own money on something that Stench won’t touch.”
    “ One thousand and ten pounds .”
    Looking up, I met Daphne’s gaze. Her agonized look of inquiry showed that she did not know whether the last of the bids was Berry’s or not. Her doubts were rudely dispersed.
    “ It’s against you, sir .”
    My brother-in-law shook his head.
    The auctioneer raised his hammer.
    “ For the last time, one thousand and ten pounds .”
    As the hammer was falling, I nodded my head.
    “ Twenty, thank you. Thirty… Forty… Fifty .”
    “Are you doing this?” said Berry.
    “Some of it,” said I, and nodded again.
    “ Sixty… Seventy… Eighty …”
    “You’re out of your mind,” breathed Berry. “No table on earth is worth it. Besides, if—”
    “ Eleven hundred… And ten …”
    “I won’t come in,” said Berry. “I warn you, I won’t come in. You’ve had the straightest of tips and you’re flying bung in its face.”
    “So did you,” I retorted, and nodded again. “You knew that Stench—”
    “We had a thousand to play with. If we chose to—”
    “ Twelve hundred pounds .”
    The auctioneer was looking at me.
    Once again I nodded.
    “ Twelve hundred and ten… Twenty …”
    As I nodded again, I saw Berry start and stare – at the end of the room. Then he turned and caught at my arm.
    “Perhaps this’ll stop you,” he hissed. “It’s Daphne that’s bidding against you. I saw her nod.”
    “Good God,” said I, weakly.
    “ Twelve hundred and forty pounds .”
    “Can you beat it?” said Berry grimly. “Baboon eating baboon.”
    “ Twelve hundred and forty pounds .”
    I got to my feet.
    “How long—”
    “Who knows?” said Berry, rising. “She probably took me up.”
    “ It’s against you, sir .”
    I shook my head…
    As the hammer fell, I made my way out of the press.

    Standing at the back of the room, my sister and I regarded one another.
    “I suppose,” said I, “you came in when Berry stopped.”
    “As you did,” said Daphne. “It’s really all his fault for not going on.”
    “It’s a mercy he saw you,” said I. “I tremble to think—”
    “Don’t talk about it,” said Daphne. “When Jonah came and told me, I nearly died.”
    I slid my arm through hers.
    “Well, come and claim it, my darling. At least, you had the last word.”
    My sister frowned.
    “Twelve forty, he said.”
    “I know. I bid twelve thirty, and you put me up.”
    “But I didn’t,” cried Daphne. “The moment Jonah told me, I turned away.”
    “Yes, but that was after twelve forty.”
    “I bid twelve twenty,”