The Matron and the Auctioneer

In my Google Book wanderings I came across another tale of red hair. This time from the pages of The French Inquisition. A 1715 work, by the French writer René Auguste Constantin de Renneville. It's a comical account of a woman mocking a red-headed auctioneer, by likening him to Judas.

I stopp'd one Day, to see a Sale of Goods of some Person that was dead. The Auctioner was upon a Table, where he sat on a Chair to be the better heard, it was a little Fellow, his Mien bad enough, and among other Perfections had very red Hair. He had the Art of playing the Merry Andrew very aukwardly. After having knock'd down several things to divers Persons, he expos'd to Sale an Ivory Crucifix on an Ebony Cross. A Matron happen'd to be present, who had a mind to buy it. That Woman, who seem'd to be one of the meanest sort of People, however look'd very Grave, she had a Forehead Cloath, a slavering Bib instead of an Handkerchief, a large Silver Girdle about her middle, at which hung a great Bunch of Keys, a Purse, Several Bottoms of Thread, and a Case; she was tuck'd up like a Frier that goes a Questing. The Auctioner put up the Crucifix at Thrity Sols, and made a  scurvy Description of its Beauties, to enchance the Price to the Spectators. The aforesaid Matron, in a very grave manner, making the Sign of the Cross and a very low Curtesy deliberately, said 40 Sols for my good Saviour. No sooner had she spoke the word, than the Crier, advanc'd to Fifty Sols. Sixty Sols, said the Woman, for that good God, with a loud Voice, but very modestly. Four Livers, said the Crier. An Hundred Sols, answer'd the Matron, for my divine JESUS CHRIST. Six Livers, said the Crier. That Woman, without showing the least concern, took the Crucifix in her right Hand, and making the Crier kiss it. So, said she, kiss it again, and then deliver it up; I said before, that he who sold JESUS CHRIST was red hair'd, like him that was dead. All the People fell a Laughing at the Woman's Notion; only the Judas fell into a Passion. but not so great as to hang himself, when he had deliver'd it up.