“Fourteen, fifteen,” went the bids.
“Fifteen!—once!” said the auctioneer.
“Twenty guilders!” shouted a voice which rang out above all the noise.
“A fine bid,” murmured Grenits.
“Twenty guilders, once—Twenty, twice—Twenty for the third and last time!”
Bang! down came the hammer.
“Who is the buyer?” asked the clerk.
“I am,” replied an officer. He was an elderly man—a first Lieutenant of Infantry.
“Who is I?” asked the auctioneer from his perch.
“I, Langeveld, first Lieutenant of Infantry.”