Introduction:

Edward was an English humorist, essayist, playwright, biographer, publisher, poet, novelist, short story writer and editor A tight corner is a critical difficult situation. When one finds oneself in a tight corner, he tries to get out of it. A mental tight corner is more dangerous than a physical tight corner.

Four men in tight corners:

1) One man had been caught by the tide in Brittany (a region on the coast of North West France) and escaped by the skin of his teeth (a narrow escape).

2) Another had been on an elephant when a wounded tiger charged at it

3) A third had been on the top storey of a burning house

4) A fourth was torpedoed (attacked) in the war.

At the sale room at Christie’s:

Edward, the narrator had lunch at a club in St. James’s street (Well known commercial street in London) with an old friend from abroad.  When they were passing along King Street his friend persuaded (induced/stimulated) him to look in at the sale-room. The place was full. They were selling Barbizon pictures. They were getting tremendous sums for each picture.

Bidding for fun:

The narrator had exactly 63 pounds in the bank. He was nodding to the auctioner like a bloatocrat (acting like a very rich person) (a fat and rich person of high station); bloated + aristocrat→ bloatocrat (Blended word). And then a picture was put up (brought for auction). A short red-faced man in a new top hat electrified (unexpected shock) the room by bidding the picture for 4000 Guineas.

At the tight corner:

The narrator on a sudden impulse added 50 more (“And fifty!”) guineas, to the amount offered (4000+ 50 = 4050). The hammer fell. His heart stopped.

His blood congealed (froze). He thought of all his relations from whom he could borrow money. He thought of borrowing from moneylenders. He considered the possibility of confessing the truth to the staff at Christie’s. His friend rammed his handkerchief in his mouth and disappeared.

Conclusion:

The bidder came forward to buy the same picture by offering an additional 50 guineas. The narrator was quite happy at the offer but demanded 100 Guineas instead of the 50. The amount was paid. The picture was given to the short red-faced man. The narrator was saved from the tight corner. He earned 100 guineas and learnt a good lesson.