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Attendance at an auction stands midway between pleasure and business; and the use of motors in such matters is debatable. "It's the D.I's orders, sir," said the sergeant apologetically. "All right," said the Colonel, "but if the D.I. expects me to fine myself at the next Petty Sessions hell be disappointed." James McNiece and Dan Gallaher touched their hats to the Colonel.
"How could you agree?" said James McNiece. "It wasn't to be expected that you would agree. There wasn't a stronger Protestant nor a greater Orangeman in the whole country nor old MacManaway." James McNiece turned from the examination of a cart as he spoke and gave his attention to the hames. His description of the dead man's religious and political convictions was just.
"Dan," said James McNiece, "I'm an Orangeman and a Protestant and a loyalist, and what I've always said about Home Rule and always will say is this: We'll not have it and to Hell with the rebels. But I'm telling you now I'd rather you had them, papist and rebel and all as you are, than see them swept off that way by the police. And what's more, I'm not the only one says that.
"At twenty pounds," said Mr. Robinson, "going, and at twenty pounds " "Thirty," said McNiece. The crowd of watchers gasped audibly. This was something outside of all experience.
Interest developed into actual excitement when the price rose to ten pounds. A half ton of hay never is and never has been worth ten pounds. But ten pounds was by no means the final bid. "Mr. McNiece," said Mr. Robinson, "the bid is against you." "Guineas," said McNiece. "Eleven," said Dan Gallaher. "Guineas," said McNiece.
The duet went on, McNiece capping Gallaher's pounds with a monotonous repetition of the word guineas until the price rose to twenty pounds. At that point McNiece faltered for a moment. The auctioneer, watching keenly, saw him turn half round and look at Colonel Eden. The Colonel nodded slightly, so slightly that no one except Mr. Robinson and McNiece himself saw the gesture.
"Twenty rifles," he said, "of the latest pattern, the same as the soldiers use, and four hundred rounds of ball cartridge." "Gosh," said Gallaher, "but we'd have done great work with them. Either your lads or mine, James McNiece, would have done great work with them. But, sure, what's the use of talking? The police has them now." "Damn the police," said James McNiece.
"They tell me," said Dan Gallaher, in a pleasant conversational tone, "that it's to be yourself, James McNiece, that's to be the head of the Orangemen in the parish now that MacManaway is gone." James looked at him sideways out of the corners of his eyes. Dan spoke in a friendly tone, but it is never wise to give any information to "Papishes and rebels."
Robinson, "shall we make a start with three pounds?" He glanced at Colonel Eden, then at the police officer. Neither gentleman made any sign of wishing to bid. It was James McNiece who made the first offer. "Two pounds," he said. There was a pause. "Two pounds," said Mr. Robinson, "two pounds. Going at two pounds. You're not going to let this hay, more than half a ton of it go at two pounds."
He looked appealingly at Colonel Eden and at the police officer. They were entirely unresponsive. "And at two pounds, going " said Mr. Robinson. "Two-ten," said Dan Gallaher, in a quiet voice. "Two-fifteen," said James McNiece. Dan Gallaher, still apparently bored by the proceedings, raised the price another five shillings. James McNiece went half a crown further.
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