At the prestigious estate auction, bidding was intense and cutthroat. The room was filled with scowling men and women, each determined to exploit any advantage at the expense of another.

Without warning the auctioneer paused the sale and announced,

"A gentleman in this room has lost a wallet containing $10,000. If it is returned, he will pay a reward of $3,000."

There was a moment's silence, and then from the crowd came the cry,

"Three thousand five hundred!"