"Thirty pounds at a time...... Thirty pounds twice...... Thirty pounds! Congratulations to Mr. Seven, and in three days' time, Mr. Scott will be reporting to your ship, and I hope you all have a good time. ”

Lorraine bowed to Ramos.

He heard Ramos's off-strings. Ramos, or the Pidick family, will be a front stop for him, for him and Clen. Scott's meeting creates a good atmosphere.

That's the power of friendship.

The auction continues.

Because Lorraine, a private room class, unexpectedly joined the competition of the lower classes, the hot finale that had been estimated at twelve to fifteen pounds suddenly became a climax.

That's good for the auction house.

The next auction was smooth and enthusiastic, with 14 lots sold in an hour, and there were no unsuccessful auctions.

Three pieces of pewter from Lorraine have been on the scene, with an average price of 12 pounds, and the premium is on par with today's environment, about 2 to 30%.

Lorraine also made another move, auctioning an old octave for five pounds and twelve shillings.

The octane is a professional ranging tool for navigators and is the predecessor of the sextant. The difference is that the former has an angle of only 45 degrees (one-eighth of a circle), while the latter has 60 degrees (one-sixth of a circle), and the latitude and longitude measured by the latter are more accurate.

There is no doubt that the sextant, although expensive, is better than the octant, but for Lorraine, the octagram is at least better than the protractor, and everyone is happy.

After another half hour, the atmosphere in the auction room grew colder.

Lorraine's fourth piece of pewter sold for only ten pounds, and the fifth for only six pounds and fourteen shillings, and no one raised a sign on the upper floor of the private room during the whole process.

One of the most important lots of the morning is on the scene......

Ramos cleared his throat.

"Gentlemen and ladies. Rabbi. Mr. Hooker was a leading offshore merchant who traveled extensively in northwestern Europe, making a name for himself in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Strait of Dover and the Cantabrian Sea. ”

"Last month, he was double happy, celebrating his 60th birthday and adding his eldest grandson, so he decided to retire." Ramos took a deep breath, "He has entrusted the auction house with the handling of his retirement, including his own Northwest European charts and the Brigentin-type merchant ship Merriyu, which will be put up for auction today and tomorrow." ”

"Today, let's take a look at Captain Hook's charts!"

As he spoke, two workers slowly pushed up a wooden box covered with sea-blue velvet.

The flannel was uncovered, and there were more than a dozen scrolls of folded charts inserted diagonally in the middle of the wooden box, which looked inconspicuous, but to the black market maritime merchants, they were priceless.

Lorraine had inquired about Captain Hook's past over the past two days.

This is a Dutchman, who went to sea at the age of twenty-three, spent thirty-seven years offshore, and became a captain for twenty-four years, and his main area of activity was in the North Sea, followed by the Cantabrian waters on the border between France and Spain.

He didn't choose to sell his charts separately, indicating that they were worth a lot of money, but Lorraine was still interested in them, given his comfort zone.

Taking a deep breath, Lorraine took the sign from Henna.

Ramos announced in the audience: "Captain Hook hand-painted charts for his own use, the starting price is fifty pounds, and each time the price increases, ten pounds!" ”

"One hundred pounds!"

The No. 4 private room was the first to be bidd, followed by No. 3, No. 9, and No. 11 successively.

The price of the chart climbed like a rocket, and in a short time it broke through two hundred pounds and rushed towards two hundred and fifty pounds.

In the entire venue, only a few large private rooms are taking turns.

To most of the merchants at the lower levels, two hundred pounds might be their entire asset, and even if they were bankrupt, they would not necessarily be able to draw two hundred pounds in cash.

The composition of maritime merchants has always been a pyramid structure with a huge disparity between the rich and the poor.

Two hundred and twenty pounds, and the ninth room withdrew from the competition.

The gentleman across from Lorraine stood up, bowed regretfully but gracefully to all the private rooms, and left the room.

Two hundred and seventy pounds, the gentleman in the eleventh private room also stood up and bowed and withdrew.

The gentlemen in the third and fourth rooms, while chatting and laughing through the barricade, took turns to raise their signs lightly, and soon raised the price of the chart to four hundred pounds.

That's more than all the cash Lorraine has, and Lorraine hasn't had a chance to make a deal so far.

He frowned and asked Mr. Pidick, "Sir, will the auction house settle after the end of the morning, or after the end of tomorrow?" ”

Pidick smiled: "It's the end of tomorrow." ”

Lorraine nodded to him gratefully and gently raised the cards in her hand.

"Four hundred and ten pounds! Room 7 is £410! Mr. Three, Mr. Four, are you willing to cut your love from Mr. Seven? ”

The gentleman in private room three glanced up at Lorraine, turned his head sideways, exchanged glances with Pidick, stood up with a smile, bowed with his female companion, and left.

Lorraine was amazed for a long time.

Pidick whispered: "Sir Fulmi is one of the three members of the Governing Council and is a good friend of mine. ”

"I see." Lorraine suddenly realized, "Mr. Pidick, does Sir Vermi like to drink tea?" ”

"I love it, I like it very much."

As a result, only the number four remained in the bid with Lorraine.

It was a chubby French gentleman who liked to decorate his tuxedo with colorful feathers, just as the English would replace their canes with umbrellas, all of which were recognizable to others.

Vermi's exit put a lot of pressure on him, his forehead began to sweat, and he was no longer so resolute in holding up his cards.

Lorraine asked softly, "Mr. Pidick, who is on the other side?" ”

"Elgen Exchange Manager of the Desai family. He's not a big deal. As I recall, the authority given to him by the Desai family appears to be five hundred and twenty pounds. ”

"Yes......"

Lorraine was more relaxed, cocking Erlang's legs, fingers crossed, and smiling.

The two shouted a few bids to each other, and when it came to four hundred and fifty pounds, Lorraine suddenly said, "Five hundred pounds." ”

The audience was amazed.

Mr. Desai in the fourth room looked at Lorraine in a daze for a long time, trying to see the reality of the strange young man opposite whom he met for the first time.

Lorraine smiled and raised her glass to him.

Mr. DeS Say gave up.

He couldn't see the reality of Lorraine, and instead of being exhausted and becoming a laughing stock, it was better to leave the scene with a smile of humility and leeway like a qualified gentleman.

He also raised his teacup: "Sir, may your voyage be smooth sailing!" ”

Lorraine stood up and saluted: "Thank you for your humility and generosity, the French gentleman has heart-wrenching virtues." ”

The dust settled.

For five hundred pounds, Lorraine bid for Captain Hooke's full set of charts.

Seeing Mr. Desai leave, Lorraine let out a long sigh of relief.

Mr. Pidick leaned over with a smile: "It's a pity that Desai's authorization is not enough. I wish Vermeer would stay, and let me see how much authority your family has given you. ”

"Where's the authorization? I've told you, I'm an outcast. ”

"The aristocracy of England has always been old-fashioned, and there are several outcasts like you in every family. After all, isn't it all thanks to the efforts of the foundlings that your family can maintain a decent life? ”

"I can't hide anything from you." Lorraine couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Anyway, thank you for your help today, and I want to trouble you to introduce me to Sir Vermi, thank you." ”

"Are you going back?" Pidick reached over and shook Lorraine's hand, "Today's lot, I'll let Ramos personally send it over in the evening." As for meeting with Fermy, you'll be a bit busier this week. ”

Lorraine smiled and bowed: "I'm looking forward to it." ”