“Well。”saidhe，“itmightbebetter，anditmightbeworse。
　　ThisCaptainTrentisaremarkablyhonestfellow——oneoutofathousand。AssoonasheknewIwasinthemarket，heownedupaboutthericeinsomanywords。Byhiscalculation，ifthere’sthirtymatsofitsaved，it’sanoutsidefigure。However，themanifestwascheerier。There’saboutfivethousanddollarsofthewholevalueinsilksandteasandnut-oilsandthat，allinthelazarette，andassafeasifitwasinKearneyStreet。Thebrigwasnewcopperedayearago。There’supwardsofahundredandfiftyfathomaway-upchain。It’snotabonanza，butthere’sboodleinit；andwe’lltryiton。”
　　Itwasbythattimehardonteno’clock，andweturnedatonceintotheplaceofsale。TheFlyingScud，althoughsoimportanttoourselves，appearedtoattractaveryhumbleshareofpopularattention。Theauctioneerwassurroundedbyperhapsascoreoflookers-on，bigfellows，forthemostpart，ofthetrueWesternbuild，longintheleg，broadintheshoulder，andadornedtoaplainman’stastewithneedlessfinery。Ajaunty，ostentatiouscomradeshipprevailed。Betswereflying，andnicknames。
　　“Theboys“astheywouldhavecalledthemselveswereveryboyish；anditwasplaintheywerehereinmirth，andnotonbusiness。Behind，andcertainlyinstrongcontrasttothesegentlemen，IcoulddetectthefigureofmyfriendCaptainTrent，comeasIcouldverywellimaginethatacaptainwouldtohearthelastofhisoldvessel。Sinceyesterday，hehadriggedhimselfanewinready-madeblackclothes，notveryaptlyfitted；
　　theupperleft-handpocketshowingacornerofsilkhandkerchief，thelower，ontheotherside，bulgingwithpapers。
　　Pinkertonhadjustgiventhismanahighcharacter。Certainlyheseemedtohavebeenveryfrank，andIlookedathimagaintotraceifpossiblethatvirtueinhisface。ItwasredandbroadandflusteredandIthoughtfalse。Thewholemanlookedsickwithsomeunknownanxiety；andashestoodthere，unconsciousofmyobservation，hetoreathisnails，scowledonthefloor，orglancedsuddenly，sharply，andfearfullyatpassers-by。Iwasstillgazingatthemaninakindoffascination，whenthesalebegan。
　　Somepreliminarieswererattledthrough，totheirreverent，uninterruptedgambollingoftheboys；andthen，amidatriflemoreattention，theauctioneersoundedforsometwoorthreeminutesthepipeofthecharmer。Finebrig——newcopper——
　　valuablefittings——threefineboats——remarkablychoicecargo——
　　whattheauctioneerwouldcallaperfectlysafeinvestment；nay，gentlemen，hewouldgofurther，hewouldputafigureonit：hehadnohesitationhadthatboldauctioneerinputtingitinfigures；andinhisview，whatwiththisandthat，andonethingandanother，thepurchasermightexpecttoclearasumequaltotheentireestimatedvalueofthecargo；or，gentlemen，inotherwords，asumoftenthousanddollars。Atthismodestcomputationtheroofimmediatelyabovethespeaker’sheadI
　　suppose，throughtheinterventionofaspectatorofventriloquialtastesutteredaclear“Cock-a-doodle-doo！”——whereatalllaughed，theauctioneerhimselfobliginglyjoining。
　　“Now，gentlemen，whatshallwesay？”resumedthatgentleman，plainlyoglingPinkerton，——“whatshallwesayforthisremarkableopportunity？”
　　“Onehundreddollars。”saidPinkerton。
　　“OnehundreddollarsfromMr。Pinkerton。”wenttheauctioneer，“onehundreddollars。Noothergentlemaninclinedtomakeanyadvance？Onehundreddollars，onlyonehundreddollars——“
　　Theauctioneerwasdroningontosomesuchtuneasthis，andI，onmypart，waswatchingwithsomethingbetweensympathyandamazementtheundisguisedemotionofCaptainTrent，whenwewereallstartledbytheinterjectionofabid。
　　“Andfifty。”saidasharpvoice。
　　Pinkerton，theauctioneer，andtheboys，whowereallequallyintheopensecretofthering，werenowallequallyandsimultaneouslytakenaback。
　　“Ibegyourpardon。”saidtheauctioneer。“Anybodybid？”
　　“Andfifty。”reiteratedthevoice，whichIwasnowabletotracetoitsorigin，onthelipsofasmall，unseemlyragofhuman-
　　kind。Thespeaker’sskinwasgrayandblotched；hespokeinakindofbrokensong，withmuchvarietyofkey；hisgesturesseemedasinthediseasecalledSaintVitus’sdancetobeimperfectlyundercontrol；hewasbadlydressed；hecarriedhimselfwithanairofshrinkingassumption，asthoughhewereproudtobewherehewasandtodowhathewasdoing，andyethalfexpectedtobecalledinquestionandkickedout。IthinkI
　　neversawamanmoreofapiece；andthetypewasnewtome；
　　Ihadneverbeforeseteyesuponhisparallel，andIthoughtinstinctivelyofBalzacandthelowerregionsofthe_ComedieHumaine_。
　　Pinkertonstaredamomentontheintruderwithnofriendlyeye，torealeaffromhisnote-book，andscribbledalineinpencil，turned，beckonedamessengerboy，andwhispered，“ToLonghurst。”Nextmomenttheboyhadspeduponhiserrand，andPinkertonwasagainfacingtheauctioneer。
　　“Twohundreddollars。”saidJim。
　　“Andfifty。”saidtheenemy。
　　“Thislookslively。”whisperedItoPinkerton。
　　“Yes；thelittlebeastmeanscolddrawnbiz。”returnedmyfriend。“Well，he’llhavetohavealesson。WaittillIseeLonghurst。Threehundred。”headdedaloud。
　　“Andfifty。”cametheecho。
　　ItwasaboutthismomentwhenmyeyefellagainonCaptainTrent。Adeepershadehadmountedtohiscrimsonface：thenewcoatwasunbuttonedandallflyingopen；thenewsilkhandkerchiefinbusyrequisition；andtheman’seye，ofaclearsailorblue，shoneglassywithexcitement。Hewasanxiousstill，butnowifIcouldreadafacetherewashopeinhisanxiety。
　　“Jim。”Iwhispered，“lookatTrent。Betyouwhatyoupleasehewasexpectingthis。”
　　“Yes。”wasthereply，“there’ssomeblame’thinggoingonhere。”
　　Andherenewedhisbid。
　　ThefigurehadrunupintotheneighbourhoodofathousandwhenIwasawareofasensationinthefacesopposite，andlookingovermyshoulder，sawaverylarge，bland，handsomemancomestrollingforthandmakealittlesignaltotheauctioneer。
　　“Oneword，Mr。Borden。”saidhe；andthentoJim，“Well，Pink，whereareweuptonow？”
　　Pinkertongavehimthefigure。“Iranuptothatonmyownresponsibility，Mr。Longhurst。”headded，withaflush。“I
　　thoughtitthesquarething。”
　　“Andsoitwas。”saidMr。Longhurst，pattinghimkindlyontheshoulder，likeagratifieduncle。“Well，youcandropoutnow；
　　wetakeholdourselves。Youcanrunituptofivethousand；
　　andifhelikestogobeyondthat，he’swelcometothebargain。”
　　“Bytheby，whoishe？”askedPinkerton。“Helooksawaydown。”
　　“I’vesentBillytofindout。”AndattheverymomentMr。
　　Longhurstreceivedfromthehandsofoneoftheexpensiveyounggentlemenafoldedpaper。Itwaspassedroundfromonetoanothertillitcametome，andIread：“HarryD。Bellairs，Attorney-at-Law；defendedClaraVarden；twicenearlydisbarred。”
　　“Well，thatgetsme！”observedMr。Longhurst。“Whocanhaveputupashyster[1]likethat？Nobodywithmoney，that’sasurething。Supposeyoutriedabigbluff？IthinkIwould，Pink。Well，ta-ta！Yourpartner，Mr。Dodd？Happytohavethepleasureofyouracquaintance，sir。”Andthegreatmanwithdrew。
　　[1]Alowlawyer。
　　“Well，whatdoyouthinkofDouglasB。？”whisperedPinkerton，lookingreverentlyafterhimashedeparted。“Sixfootofperfectgentlemanandculturetohisboots。”
　　Duringthisinterviewtheauctionhadstoodtransparentlyarrested，theauctioneer，thespectators，andevenBellairs，allwellawarethatMr。Longhurstwastheprincipal，andJimbutaspeaking-trumpet。ButnowthattheOlympianJupiterwasgone，Mr。Bordenthoughtpropertoaffectseverity。
　　“Come，come，Mr。Pinkerton。Anyadvance？”hesnapped。
　　AndPinkerton，resolvedonthebigbluff，replied，“Twothousanddollars。”
　　Bellairspreservedhiscomposure。“Andfifty。”saidhe。Buttherewasastiramongtheonlookers，andwhatwasofmoreimportance，CaptainTrenthadturnedpaleandvisiblygulped。
　　“Pitchitinagain，Jim。”saidI。“Trentisweakening。”
　　“Threethousand。”saidJim。
　　“Andfifty。”saidBellairs。
　　Andthenthebiddingreturnedtoitsoriginalmovementbyhundredsandfifties；butIhadbeenableinthemeanwhiletodrawtwoconclusions。Inthefirstplace，Bellairshadmadehislastadvancewithasmileofgratifiedvanity；andIcouldseethecreaturewasgloryinginthekudosofanunusualpositionandsecureofultimatesuccess。Inthesecond，Trenthadoncemorechangedcolouratthethousandleap，andhisrelief，whenheheardtheansweringfiftywasmanifestandunaffected。Herethenwasaproblem：bothwerepresumablyinthesameinterest，yettheonewasnotintheconfidenceoftheother。Norwasthisall。AfewbidslateritchancedthatmyeyeencounteredthatofCaptainTrent，andhis，whichglitteredwithexcitement，wasinstantly，andIthoughtguiltily，withdrawn。
　　Hewished，then，toconcealhisinterest？AsJimhadsaid，therewassomeblamedthinggoingon。Andforcertain，herewerethesetwomen，sostrangelyunited，sostrangelydivided，bothsharp-settokeepthewreckfromus，andthatatanexorbitantfigure。
　　Wasthewreckworthmorethanwesupposed？Asuddenheatwaskindledinmybrain；thebidswerenearingLonghurst’slimitoffivethousand；anotherminute，andallwouldbetoolate。Tearingaleaffrommysketch-book，andinspiredI
　　supposebyvanityinmyownpowersofinferenceandobservation，Itooktheonemaddecisionofmylife。“Ifyoucaretogoahead。”Iwrote，“I’minforallI’mworth。”
　　Jimreadandlookedroundatmelikeonebewildered；thenhiseyeslightened，andturningagaintotheauctioneer，hebid，“Fivethousandonehundreddollars。”
　　“Andfifty。”saidmonotonousBellairs。
　　PresentlyPinkertonscribbled，“Whatcanitbe？”andI
　　answered，stillonpaper：“Ican’timagine；butthere’ssomething。WatchBellairs；he’llgouptothetenthousand，seeifhedon’t。”
　　Andhedid，andwefollowed。Longbeforethis，wordhadgoneabroadthattherewasbattleroyal：weweresurroundedbyacrowdthatlookedonwondering；andwhenPinkertonhadofferedtenthousanddollarstheoutsidevalueofthecargo，evenwereitsafeinSanFranciscoBayandBellairs，smirkingfromeartoeartobethecentreofsomuchattention，hadjerkedouthisanswering，“Andfifty。”wonderdeepenedtoexcitement。
　　“Tenthousandonehundred。”saidJim；andevenashespokehemadeasuddengesturewithhishand，hisfacechanged，andI
　　couldseethathehadguessed，orthoughtthathehadguessed，themystery。Ashescrawledanothermemoranduminhisnote-
　　book，hishandshooklikeatelegraph-operator’s。
　　“Chineseship。”ranthelegend；andthen，inbig，tremuloushalf-text，andwithaflourishthatoverranthemargin，“Opium！”
　　Tobesure！thoughtI：thismustbethesecret。IknewthatscarceashipcameinfromanyChineseport，butshecarriedsomewhere，behindabulkhead，orinsomecunninghollowofthebeams，anestofthevaluablepoison。DoubtlesstherewassomesuchtreasureontheFlyingScud。Howmuchwasitworth？Weknewnot，weweregamblinginthedark；butTrentknew，andBellairs；andwecouldonlywatchandjudge。
　　BythistimeneitherPinkertonnorIwereofsoundmind。
　　Pinkertonwasbesidehimself，hiseyeslikelamps。Ishookineverymember。Toanystrangerenteringsayinthecourseofthefifteenththousand，weshouldprobablyhavecutapoorerfigurethanBellairshimself。Butwedidnotpause；andthecrowdwatchedus，nowinsilence，nowwithabuzzofwhispers。
　　Seventeenthousandhadbeenreached，whenDouglasB。
　　Longhurst，forcinghiswayintotheoppositerowoffaces，conspicuouslyandrepeatedlyshookhisheadatJim。Jim’sanswerwasanoteoftwowords：“Myracket！”which，whenthegreatmanhadperused，heshookhisfingerwarninglyanddeparted，Ithought，withasorrowfulcountenance。
　　AlthoughMr。LonghurstknewnothingofBellairs，theshadylawyerknewallabouttheWreckerBoss。Hehadseenhimentertheringwithmanifestexpectation；hesawhimdepart，andthebidscontinue，withmanifestsurpriseanddisappointment。“Hullo。”heplainlythought，“thisisnottheringI’mfighting，then？”Andhedeterminedtoputonaspurt。
　　“Eighteenthousand。”saidhe。
　　“Andfifty。”saidJim，takingaleafoutofhisadversary’sbook。
　　“Twentythousand。”fromBellairs。
　　“Andfifty。”fromJim，withalittlenervoustitter。
　　Andwithoneconsenttheyreturnedtotheoldpace，onlynowitwasBellairswhotookthehundreds，andJimwhodidthefiftybusiness。Butbythistimeourideahadgoneabroad。Icouldheartheword“opium“passfrommouthtomouth；andbythelooksdirectedatus，Icouldseeweweresupposedtohavesomeprivateinformation。AndhereanincidentoccurredhighlytypicalofSanFrancisco。Closeatmybacktherehadstoodforsometimeastout，middle-agedgentleman，withpleasanteyes，hairpleasantlygrizzled，andaruddy，pleasingface。Allofasuddenheappearedasathirdcompetitor，skiedtheFlyingScudwithfourfatbidsofathousanddollarseach，andthenassuddenlyfledthefield，remainingthenceforthasbeforeasilent，interestedspectator。
　　EversinceMr。Longhurst’suselessintervention，Bellairshadseemeduneasy；andatthisnewattack，hebeganinhisturntoscribbleanotebetweenthebids。IimaginednaturallyenoughthatitwouldgotoCaptainTrent；butwhenitwasdone，andthewriterturnedandlookedbehindhiminthecrowd，tomyunspeakableamazement，hedidnotseemtoremarkthecaptain’spresence。
　　“Messengerboy，messengerboy！”Iheardhimsay。“Somebodycallmeamessengerboy。”