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touches her。＇
CHARLES。 Chloe； aren't you well？
＇In the start which she gives； her face is fully revealed to
the audience。＇
CHARLES。 Come along； out of the way of these people。
＇He jerks his head towards the HILLCRISTS。 CHLOE gives a swift
look down to the stage Right of the audience。＇
CHLOE。 No； I'm all right； it's hotter there。
CHARLES。 ＇To ROLF＇ Well； look after herI must go back。
＇ROLF node。 CHARLES； slides bank to the door； with a glance at
the HILLCRISTS； of whom MRS。 HILLCRIST has been watching like a
lynx。 He goes out； just as the SOLICITOR； finishing； sits
down。＇
AUCTIONEER。 ＇Rising and tapping＇ Now； gen'lemen； it's not often a
piece of land like this comes into the market。 What's that？ ＇To a
friend in front of him＇ No better land in Deepwaterthat's right；
Mr。 Spicer。 I know the village well； and a charming place it is；
perfect locality； to be sure。 Now I don't want to wirry you by
singing the praises of this property； there it iswell…watered；
nicely timberedno reservation of the timber； gen'lemenno tenancy
to hold you up； free to do what you like with it to…morrow。 You've
got a jewel of a site there； too； perfect position for a house。 It
lies between the Duke's and Squire Hillcrist'san emerald isle。
＇With his smile＇ No allusion to Ireland； gen'lemenperfect peace
in the Centry。 Nothing like it in the countya gen'leman's site；
and you don't get that offered you every day。 ＇He looks down
towards HORNBLOWER； stage Left＇ Carries the mineral rights； and as
you know； perhaps； there's the very valuable Deepwater clay there。
What am I to start it at？ Can I say three thousand？ Well； anything
you like to give me。 I'm sot particular。 Come now； you've got more
time than me； I expect。 Two hundred acres of first…rate grazin' and
cornland； with a site for a residence unequalled in the county； and
all the possibilities！ Well； what shall I say？
＇Bid from SPICER。＇
Two thousand？ ＇With his smile＇ That won't hurt you； Mr。 Spicer。
Why； it's worth that to overlook the Duke。 For two thousand？
＇Bid from HORNBLOWER； stage Left。＇
And five。 Thank you； sir。 Two thousand five hundred bid。
＇To a friend just below him。＇
Come； Mr。 Sandy； don't scratch your head over it。
＇Bid from DAWKER； Stage Right。＇
And five。 Three thousand bid for this desirable property。 Why；
you'd think it wasn't desirable。 Come along； gen'lemen。 A little
spirit。
＇A alight pause。＇
JILL。 Why can't I see the bids； Dodo？
HILLCRIST。 The last was Dawker's。
AUCTIONEER。 For three thousand。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ Three thousand five
hundred？ May I sayfour？ ＇A bid from the centre＇ No； I'm not
particular； I'll take hundreds。 Three thousand six hundred bid。
＇HORNBLOWER＇ And seven。 Three thousand seven hundred； and
＇He pauses； quartering the audience。＇
JILL。 Who was that； Dodo？
HILLCRIST。 Hornblower。 It's the Duke in the centre。
AUCTIONEER。 Come； gen'lemen； don't keep me all day。 Four thousand
may I say？ ＇DAWKER＇ Thank you。 We're beginning。 And one？ ＇A bid
from the centre＇ Four thousand one hundred。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ Four
thousand two hundred。 May I have yours； sir？ ＇To DAWKER＇ And
three。 Four thousand three hundred bid。 No such site in the
county； gen'lemen。 I'm going to sell this land for what it's worth。
You can't bid too much for me。 ＇He smiles＇ ＇HORNBLOWER＇ Four
thousand five hundred bid。 ＇Bid from the centre＇ And six。 ＇DAWKER＇
And seven。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ And eight。 Nine； may I say？ ＇But the
centre has dried up＇ ＇DAWKER＇ And nine。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ Five
thousand。 Five thousand bid。 That's better； there's some spirit in
it。 For five thousand。
＇He pauses while he speak& to the SOLICITOR＇
HILLCRIST。 It's a duel now。
AUCTIONEER。 Now； gen'lemen； I'm not going to give this property
away。 Five thousand bid。 ＇DAWKER＇ And one。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ And two。
＇DAWKER＇ And three。 Five thousand three hundred bid。 And five；
did you say； sir？ ＇HORNBLOWER＇ Five thousand five hundred bid。
＇He looks at hip particulars。＇
JILL。 ＇Rather agonised＇ Enemy； Dodo。
AUCTIONEER。 This chance may never come again。
〃How you'll regret it
If you don't get it；〃
as the poet says。 May；I say five thousand six hundred； sir？
＇DAWKER＇ Five thousand six hundred bid。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ And seven。
＇DAWKER＇ And eight。 For five thousand eight hundred pounds。 We're
gettin' on； but we haven't got the value yet。
A slight pause； while he wipes his brow at the suttees of his own
efforts。
JILL。 Us； Dodo？
＇HILLCRIST nods。 JILL looks over at ROLF； whose face is
grimly set。 CHLOE has never moved。 MRS。 HILLCRIST whispers to
her husband。＇
AUCTIONEER。 Five thousand eight hundred bid。 For five thousand
eight hundred。 Come along； gen'lemen； come along。 We're not
beaten。 Thank you； sir。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ Five thousand nine hundred。
And？ ＇DAWKER＇ Six thousand。 Six thousand bid。 Six thousand
bid。 For six thousand！ The Centrymost desirable spot in the
countygoing for the low price of six thousand。
HILLCRIST。 ＇Muttering＇ Low！ Heavens！
AUCTIONEER。 Any advance on six thousand？ Come； gen'lemen； we
haven't dried up？ A little spirit。 Six thousand？ For six
thousand？ For six thousand pounds？ Very well； I'm selling。 For
six thousand once＇He taps＇ For six thousand twice＇He taps＇。
JILL。 ＇Low＇ Oh！ we've got it！
AUCTIONEER。 And one； sir？ ＇HORNBLOWER＇ Six thousand one hundred
bid。
＇The SOLICITOR touches his arm and says something； to which the
AUCTIONEER responds with a nod。＇
MRS。 H。 Blow your nose； Jack。
＇HILLCRIST blows his nose。＇
AUCTIONEER。 For six thousand one hundred。 ＇DAWKER＇ And two。
Thank you。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ And three。 For six thousand three
hundred。 ＇DAWKER＇ And four。 For six thousand four hundred pounds。
This coveted property。 For six thousand four hundred pounds。 Why；
it's giving it away； gen'lemen。 ＇A pause。＇
MRS。 H。 Giving！
AUCTIONEER。 Six thousand four hundred bid。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ And five。
＇DAWKER＇ And six。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ And seven。 ＇DAWKER＇ And eight。
＇A pause； during which； through the door Left； someone beckons
to the SOLICITOR； who rises and confers。＇
HILLCRIST。 ＇Muttering＇ I've done if that doesn't get it。
AUCTIONEER。 For six thousand eight hundred。 For six thousand eight
hundred…once＇He taps＇ twice＇He tape＇ For the last time。 This
dominating site。 ＇HORNBLOWER＇ And nine。 Thank you。 For six
thousand nine hundred。
＇HILLCRIST has taken out his handkerchief。＇
JILL。 Oh！ Dodo！
MRS。 H。 ＇Quivering＇ Don't give in！
AUCTIONEER。 Seven thousand may I say？ ＇DAWKER＇ Seven thousand。
MRS。 H。 ＇Whispers＇ Keep it down； don't show him。
AUCTIONEER。 For seven…thousandgoing for seven thousandonce
＇Taps＇ twice ＇Taps＇ ＇HORNBLOWER＇ And one。 Thank you； sir。
＇HILLCRIST blows his nose。 JILL； with a choke； leans back in
her seat and folds her arms tightly on her chest。 MRS。
HILLCRIST passes her handkerchief over her lips； sitting
perfectly still。 HILLCRIST； too； is motionless。＇