The sale-room at Christie’s was full. Billionaire’s and millionaires who wished to showcase their taste in art had assembled there. The dealer was offering Barbizon pictures on sale. The paintings had mainly forest scenes, pools at evening, shepherdesses and the regular subjects. But each of the little paintings was sold at tremendous prices ranging from two to three thousand guineas. Nothing was sold at three digits. The narrator had just 63 pounds in his bank. The auctioneer had made it mandatory that each bidder should have a minimum of 500 pounds in the bank to stand as security for the bid.
Being aware of this condition, the narrator’s friend cautioned him against participating in the auction for fun. But the narrator ignored his friend’s caution and started bidding for many paintings. He promised his friend that he was not going to run any risk. As most of the paintings were offered with the initial modest price of either 50 or 100 guineas, he carefully hiked the price a little and derived great pleasure in the hot bidding that ensued among millionaires. His over confidence and high handed participation did land him in trouble.
“Life is not a competition. Each one is on their own journey. Live according to your choices,capacity, values and principles. ”
