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Question
Why did the narrator feel he could have welcomed a firing party?
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Solution
The author was able to escape after placing numerous low-margin bids. But when a picture was placed up for sale with a starting price of 4000 guineas, he got caught stating "and fifty." The stakes were not elevated by anyone else. When the auctioneer rung the ring, the author became alarmed and wondered how he could ever raise that much money. He believed he could locate a firing squad to eliminate him. Death is preferable to public shame.
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| b) The narrator thought of all his relations from whom he could borrow. | |
| c) Unfortunately he had made the highest bid. | |
| d) The narrator entered Christie’s as his friend persuaded him to visit the saleroom. | |
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