They were handsome hexagonal contrivances skilfully made, in the Chinese style, of wrought copper, and having large plates of pure polished crystal let into the sides.
“Yes, yes, njonja,” assented the babah with a complacent smile, “as you say they are very beautiful objects; but they cost a good deal of money. Now could you give a guess at the price of one of those copper lanterns?”
“Not I, babah! how could I? let me see—they may be worth some fifty guilders.”
“Fifty guilders!” exclaimed the Chinaman with something like pity for her ignorance. “Oh, njonja, how could you have made such a bad shot. Why! I thought you prized the masterpieces of our Chinese art somewhat more highly than that!”
“Well!” said the crafty woman, “and what, pray, may be the value of the things?”
“Every lantern, njonja, you see hanging there, has cost me in Canton, three hundred and fifty guilders, without reckoning carriage and duty.”
“Oh, never mind that!” laughed Laurentia, “I daresay you managed to smuggle them across.”
“No, njonja, by Kong, no! I can show you the receipt from the custom-house. Will the njonja—”
“No, babah, don’t trouble yourself, I take your word for it. But what may they have cost you altogether?”
“Close upon four hundred guilders a piece, njonja.”