Enter Scudder, George, Ratts, Caillou, Pete, Grace, Minnie, and all the Negroes. A large table is in the C., at back. Pointdexter mounts the table with his hammer, his Clerk sits at his feet. The Negro mounts the table from behind C. The Company sit.
Point. Now, gentlemen, we shall proceed to business. It ain't necessary for me to dilate, describe, or enumerate; Terrebonne is known to you as one of the richest bits of sile in Louisiana, and its condition reflects credit on them as had to keep it. I'll trouble you for that piece of baccy, Judge—thank you—so, gentlemen, as life is short, we'll start right off. The first lot on here is the estate in block, with its sugar-houses, stock, machines, implements, good dwelling-houses and furniture. If there is no bid for the estate and stuff, we'll sell it in smaller lots. Come, Mr. Thibodeaux, a man has a chance once in his life—here's yours.
Thib. Go on. What's the reserve bid?
Point. The first mortgagee bids forty thousand dollars.
Thib. Forty-five thousand.
Sunny. Fifty thousand.
Point. When you have done joking, gentlemen, you'll say one hundred and twenty thousand. It carried that easy on mortgage.
Lafouche. [R.] Then why don't you buy it yourself, Colonel?
Point. I'm waiting on your fifty thousand bid.
Caillou. Eighty thousand.