“Fire away, then!” said Eva. “A new diversion for Labuwangi society. And no cheating....”
“We must give one another our word of honour, as friends, not to cheat.”
“Done!” they all said.
The doctor sniggered. Eldersma shrugged his shoulders. A boy brought a gipsy-table. They sat round the little wooden table and placed their fingers on it lightly, looking at one another expectantly and suspiciously. Mrs. Rantzow was solemn, Eva amused, Ida sombre, Van Helderen smilingly indifferent. Suddenly a strained expression came over Ida’s beautiful half-caste face.
The table quivered....
They exchanged frightened glances; the doctor sniggered.
Then slowly, the table tilted one of its three legs and carefully put it down again.
“Did anybody move?” asked Eva.
They all shook their heads. Ida had turned pale.
“I feel a trembling in my fingers,” she murmured.