But the auctioneer very frankly confided in him that it had not been sold: the vendor, unfortunately, knew a good deal about pictures and had put a pretty stiff reserve on it. At this moment a local dealer showed signs of being also attracted by the picture. He stood in front of it, and seemed to be assessing its value to the nearest penny. After a few moments he jerked his head to bring the auctioneer to his side, and with a word of apology to the possible purchaser the auctioneer went to the man. They had a whispered conversation together, but every whisper was clearly audible to the layman. “Look here,” said the dealer, “you know that I bid up to eighteen pounds for that picture. Well, I'm willing to go to the length of twenty for it, if you're selling it privately.” “I'm sorry I can't oblige you, Mr. Goldstein,” said the auctioneer. “You know as well as I do who the vendor is, and you know that he is as good a judge of a picture as any man living. You know that the picture is worth money.” “Now what's the good of talking to me like that?” said Mr. Goldstein. “I don't deny that the picture is a good one--one of the best you ever handled--but a man must live. I believe I have a customer for that thing, but I look to make a bit off it for myself, and I must have it cheap.” “And isn't twenty-five pounds cheap for such a work?” asked the auctioneer. “I don't deny it,” replied the dealer, “and that's just what I expect to get for it; but where do I come in in the transaction if I pay you that for it? Do you fancy I stick in auction-rooms all day by the doctor's orders? I'll give you twenty-three pounds for the picture, and if you can't let me have it for that you may burn it.” The auctioneer laughed and walked away without condescending to reply, and with a grimace of ill-humour Mr. Goldstein left the auction-room. “Who is that person?” asked the would-be purchaser. “His name is Goldstein,” replied the auctioneer. “He's a picture dealer, and about as knowing as they are made. He has been nibbling at this ever since it was left with me. Of course he'll come back for it. He's no fool. He knows a good thing when he sees it.” The auctioneer strolled down the room to his office, leaving the gentleman to digest the information which he had given him. Now the gentleman was quite an astute person, and it did not take him long to perceive that a picture that is worth twenty-three pounds to a dealer named Goldstein is certainly worth twenty-five to a layman, so the auctioneer was not surprised when he entered his office, saying-- “Did you say that twenty-five pounds was the reserve for that picture?” “That's the vendor's reserve, sir.” “All right. I'll take it at that,” said the gentleman.