Prologue

AUCTIONEER (spoken) Sold. Your number, sir? Thank you. (spoken) Lot 663, then, ladies and gentlemen: a poster for this house’s production of “Hannibal” by Chalumeau. PORTER (spoken) Showing here. AUCTIONEER (spoken) Do I have ten francs? Five then. Five I am bid. Six, seven. Against you, sir, seven. Eight. Eight once. Selling twice. Sold, to…