← It happened that there was in the yard a pile of timber which had been stacked there ten years earlier when a beech spinney was cleared. 🔊
← The pile of timber was still unsold. Of the two, Frederick was the more anxious to get hold of it, but he would not offer a reasonable price. 🔊
← At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood. 🔊
← Nevertheless, feeling against Frederick continued to run high. One Sunday morning Napoleon appeared in the barn and explained that he had never at any time contemplated selling the pile of timber to Frederick; he considered it beneath his dignity, he said, to have dealings with scoundrels of that description. 🔊
← They were struck dumb with surprise when Napoleon announced that he had sold the pile of timber to Frederick. 🔊
← Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque, which, it seemed, was a piece of paper with a promise to pay written upon it. 🔊
← But Napoleon was too clever for him. He had demanded payment in real five−pound notes, which were to be handed over before the timber was removed. 🔊
← Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. When it was all gone, another special meeting was held in the barn for the animals to inspect Frederick's bank−notes. 🔊
← The banknotes were forgeries! Frederick had got the timber for nothing! 🔊
← It was announced that later, when bricks and timber had been purchased, a schoolroom would be built in the farmhouse garden. 🔊