_Grace._ [_To_ Ratts.] Buy me, Mas'r Ratts, do buy me, sar? _Ratts._ What in thunder should I do with you and those devils on board my boat? _Grace._ Wash, sar--cook, sar--anyting. _Ratts._ Eight hundred agin, then--I'll go it. _Jackson._ Nine. _Ratts._ I'm broke, Solon--I can't stop the Judge. _Thib._ What's the matter, Ratts? I'll lend you all you want. Go it, if you're a mind to. _Ratts._ Eleven. _Jackson._ Twelve. _Sunny._ O, O! _Scud._ [_To_ Jackson.] Judge, my friend. The Judge is a little deaf. Hello! [_Speaking in his ear-trumpet._] This gal and them children belong to that boy Solon there. You're bidding to separate them, Judge. _Jackson._ The devil I am! [_Rises._] I'll take back my bid, Colonel. _Point._ All right, Judge; I thought there was a mistake. I must keep you, Captain, to the eleven hundred. _Ratts._ Go it. _Point._ Eleven hundred--going--going--sold! "No. 3, Pete, a house servant." _Pete._ Dat's me--yer, I'm comin'--stand around dar. [_Tumbles upon the table._] _Point._ Aged seventy-two. _Pete._ What's dat? A mistake, sar--forty-six. _Point._ Lame. _Pete._ But don't mount to nuffin--kin work cannel. Come, Judge, pick up. Now's your time, sar. _Jackson._ One hundred dollars. _Pete._ What, sar? me! for me--look ye here! [_Dances._] _George._ Five hundred. _Pete._ Mas'r George--ah, no, sar--don't buy me--keep your money for some udder dat is to be sold. I ain't no count, sar. _Point._ Five hundred bid--it's a good price. [_Knocks._] He's yours, Mr. George Peyton. [_Pete goes down._] "No. 4, the Octoroon girl, Zoe." _Enter_ Zoe, L. U. E., _very pale, and stands on table._--M'Closky _hitherto has taken no interest in the sale, now turns his chair._ _Sunny._ [_Rising._] Gentlemen, we are all acquainted with the circumstances of this girl's position, and I feel sure that no one here will oppose the family who desires to redeem the child of our esteemed and noble friend, the late Judge Peyton. _Omnes._ Hear! bravo! hear! _Point._ While the proceeds of this sale promises to realize less than the debts upon it, it is my duty to prevent any collusion for the depreciation of the property. _Ratts._ Darn ye! You're a man as well as an auctioneer, ain't ye? _Point._ What is offered for this slave? _Sunny._ One thousand dollars. _M'Closky._ Two thousand. _Sunny._ Three thousand. _M'Closky._ Five thousand. _George._ [R.] Demon! _Sunny._ I bid seven thousand, which is the last dollar this family possesses. _M'Closky._ Eight. _Thibo._ Nine. _Omnes._ Bravo! _M'Closky._ Ten. It's no use, Squire. _Scud._ Jacob M'Closky, you shan't have that girl. Now, take care what you do. Twelve thousand. _M'Closky._ Shan't I! Fifteen thousand. Beat that any of ye. _Point._ Fifteen thousand bid for the Octoroon. _Enter_ Dora, L. U. E. _Dora._ Twenty thousand. _Omnes._ Bravo! _M'Closky._ Twenty-five thousand. _Omnes._ [Groan.] O! O!