Page "North by Northwest" Paragraph 12

Thornhill returns to the hotel, where he is surprised to learn that Kaplan had already checked out when Eve claimed to have spoken to him.

Suspicious, he goes to Eve's room to question her.

She lets him get cleaned up as she leaves.

From the impression of a message written on a notepad, Thornhill learns her destination: an art auction.

There, he finds Vandamm, Leonard, and Eve.

Vandamm purchases a pre-Columbian Tarascan statue and departs.

Thornhill tries to follow, only to find all exits covered by Vandamm's men.

He escapes from them by placing nonsensical bids, making such a nuisance of himself that the police have to be called to remove him.