'I'll give you a crown for that flail,' called another man, from the farther side of the crowd. 'Here you are—a crown.' This man was fair, with light whiskers—a tall man as well as the other, and about the same age. 'I'll give you seven shillings and six—a crown and half a crown for that flail,' roared the dark man. 'I bid first—I want that flail.' 'Two crowns—ten shillings,' called the fair man. 'I can make a better offer than Drownlands—not as I want the flail, but as Drownlands wants it, he shan't have it.' 'Twelve and six,' roared the dark man. 'Gold's no object with me. What I wants I will have.' The lookers-on nudged each other. A young farmer said to his fellow, 'Them chaps, Runham and Drownlands, be like two tigers; when they meet they must fight. We shall have fun.' 'You are a fool!' shouted the fair man,—'a fool—that is what I think you are, to give twelve and six for what isn't worth two shillings. I'll let you have it at that price, that you may become the laughing-stock of the Fens.' The flail was handed out of the van to the man called Drownlands, Zita received a piece of gold and half a crown in her palm. She retired into the waggon, and immediately reappeared with a second flail. 'Here is another, after all,' said she; 'I didn't think I had it.' 'I'll take that to make the pair,' said Drownlands; 'but as you've done me over the first, I think you should give me this one.' 'I done you!' exclaimed Zita; 'you've done yourself.' 'She's right there,' observed a man in the crowd. 'Them tigers—Runham and Drownlands—would fight about a straw.' 'Are you going to hand me over that flail?' asked the dark purchaser. Zita remained for a moment undecided. She had in verity made an unprecedented price with the first, and she was half inclined to surrender the second gratis, but to give and receive nothing was against the moral code of Cheap Jacks from the beginning of Cheap Jacking. Whilst she hesitated, holding the flail in suspense, and with a finger on her lips, the fair man yelled out— 'Don't let the blackguard have it. I'll have it to spoil the pair for him, and for no other reason.' 'I will have it, you scoundrel!' howled the dark man. 'I have as much gold as ever you have. I don't care what I spend. Here, girl! a crown to begin with.' 'Seven and six,' shouted Runham. 'Ten shillings,' cried Drownlands. 'Fifteen shillings!' exclaimed the fair man. Then, seeing that his rival was about to bid, he yelled, 'A guinea!' at the same moment that the other called, 'A pound!' 'It is yours,' said the girl to the man Runham, and she handed him the flail. She saw that the passions of the two men were roused, and she deemed it desirable to close the scene, lest a fight should ensue, in which, possibly, she might lose the money that had been offered.