THE OLD MASTER.
As these things go, I reckon our sale went pretty well. Just before closing time we held a rubbish auction, with Ginger in the chair. Ginger would make an absolute Napoleon among auctioneers. He can bully, lie, despair, wheedle and take you into his confidence in one breath.
He had sold four table-centres and a pair of babies' boots for songs when Mrs. James Allen came up to his platform and explained a parcel which she handed up in agitated whispers.
Ginger accepted it with a whistle that was not without its moral effect on the mass. He released it from its wrappings reverently and, after a short scrutiny, spake out.
"We have here, ladies and gentlemen, what I have no hesitation in regarding as the gem of the sale. It has by a highly unfortunate mischance lain hidden up to five minutes ago. It is nothing less, in fact, than an indisputably genuine Van Ruiter—(sensation)—which Colonel Allen has very nobly consented to sacrifice for—for the splendid cause which has assembled us here to-day. (Applause.) This little canvas, ladies and gentlemen, apart from being an authenticated example of such an artist as Van Ruiter, is a possession which any man might be proud of. It is called 'The Two Windmills' and is, I hope, known to most of you by reputation. What shall we say for this, ladies and gentlemen?"
"Sevenpence," said a humourist.
"Mr. Archer is pleased to be amusing," said Ginger with more than his usual asperity. "Mr. Archer says seven-pence. Well, I'll say five guineas. Any advance on five guineas, ladies and gentlemen? Going, going—"
Now I shouldn't have thought there were sixteen shillings left in the bazaar grounds outside the stall boxes. But before the hammer showed any signs of descent a still small voice from the background said, "Six pounds."
It was Mrs. Newman. She is worth anything between five and six figures, and hunts the antique indiscriminately.
Ginger bowed comprehendingly and began talking again.
"Ladies and gentlemen, six pounds offered for a signed Van Ruiter. Look, you can see the signature. Is this to go at six pounds? There's no reserve. Van Ruiter's 'Two Windmills' going at six pounds. Any advance? Sir Robert, a man of your taste—"
Sir Robert Firley had been looking on waveringly. He is a man of no taste at all except it be in the matter of old brandy; but he hates Mrs. Newman and he wavered no longer.
"Six guineas," he said.
"Seven pounds," said Mrs. Newman.
"Guineas," growled Sir Robert.
"Eight pounds," said Mrs. Newman.
"Guineas," from Sir Robert.
"Ten pounds," said Mrs. Newman more shrilly.
"Guineas." Sir Robert was now well set and looked good for a century.
Mrs. Newman hesitated. Ginger gave her the right sort of look. To speak was to break the spell. She set her teeth.
"Fifteen pounds," she said through them.
"Guineas," said Sir Robert with his unfailing originality.
Amid furious but suppressed excitement the struggle went on. It was only at seventy-five pounds that Sir Robert began to feel silly and the prize fell to Mrs. Newman.
"I congratulate you, madam," said Ginger warmly. "Even as it is you have got it at a remarkable price."
She went away happy.
Afterwards I approached Ginger.
"Was that a genuine Van Ruiter, really?" I asked.
"Sure," said Ginger carelessly.
"But—er—" I asked, "who is Van Ruiter? What's his school? I don't know much about these Dutchmen."
"Van Ruiter," said Ginger severely, "is a painter in oils. His work has been known to fetch as much as seventy-five pounds. As for his school, there was a man of that name at Marlborough with me. And as the canvas of 'The Two Windmills' is dated 1912 it might be him."
Chauffeur of Large Car (who has been admonished for taking up too much of the narrow road). "Garn! If there ain't enough room for yer, put that thing on yer foot and roller-skate with it on the pavement."