Atlast，whenthecompetitionhadbeenprolongedforsometime，theelephantcaptainandladydesistedfromtherace；andthehammercomingdown，theauctioneersaid：——“Mr。Lewis，twenty-five。”andMr。Lewis’schiefthusbecametheproprietorofthelittlesquarepiano。
Havingeffectedthepurchase，hesateupasifhewasgreatlyrelieved，andtheunsuccessfulcompetitorscatchingaglimpseofhimatthismoment，theladysaidtoherfriend。”Why，Rawdon，it’sCaptainDobbin。”
IsupposeBeckywasdiscontentedwiththenewpianoherhusbandhadhiredforher，orperhapstheproprietorsofthatinstrumenthadfetcheditaway，decliningfarthercredit，orperhapsshehadaparticularattachmentfortheonewhichshehadjusttriedtopurchase，recollectingitinolddays，whensheusedtoplayuponit，inthelittlesitting-roomofourdearAmeliaSedley。
ThesalewasattheoldhouseinRussellSquare，wherewepassedsomeeveningstogetheratthebeginningofthisstory。GoodoldJohnSedleywasaruinedman。HisnamehadbeenproclaimedasadefaulterontheStockExchange，andhisbankruptcyandcommercialexterminationhadfollowed。Mr。Osborne’sbutlercametobuysomeofthefamousportwinetotransfertothecellarsovertheway。
Asforonedozenwell-manufacturedsilverspoonsandforksatperoz。，andonedozendessertdittoditto，therewerethreeyoungstockbrokersMessrs。Dale，Spiggot，andDale，ofThreadneedleStreet，indeed，who，havinghaddealingswiththeoldman，andkindnessesfromhimindayswhenhewaskindtoeverybodywithwhomhedealt，sentthislittlesparoutofthewreckwiththeirlovetogoodMrs。Sedley；andwithrespecttothepiano，asithadbeenAmelia’s，andasshemightmissitandwantonenow，andasCaptainWilliamDobbincouldnomoreplayuponitthanhecoulddanceonthetightrope，itisprobablethathedidnotpurchasetheinstrumentforhisownuse。