Going behind an old Spanish leather screen, he listened. He looked through the aperture, and beheld two men, well-known in the world of finance. One was John T. Sterling; the other was James Thatcher, the celebrated collector.
Mr. Foster was not there. It was early in the morning, and perhaps he had not completed his toilet.
"Hello!—You here?" said one voice.
"Check-mated!" exclaimed the other.
"Damn it! I never expected to see you."
"Of course not. I know your mission. We had better see Foster together."
"No, I came first. I claim the privilege of the first interview!"
"No! I shall speak out. There is no use for us to bid against each other. It would spoil the market! I'm sure we can come to some agreement."
"No! I own the Appleton vase, and by right I should possess the other. It would make the finest pair of vases in the world! It will look magnificent in my house on Fifth Avenue."
"Don't be a hog—Foster does not know its value. He was offered five thousand dollars for it after the Mary J. Morgan sale in 1886. If we offer him fifteen thousand he will think it a gold mine. You know he needs the money. If you offer more he will become suspicious."