“I daresay,” remarked August van Beneden; “a dear little pet with two millions of money.”
“Hush, hush!” was again the cry.
“Pooh!” cried Grenits, “millions squeezed out of the opium trade!”
The young lawyer hung his head in confusion.
“You are right,” said he. “No! from such a source I would not take a single farthing!”
“Hush, hush!”
Van Gulpendam’s eyes flashed with indignation. The next rite was a very curious one indeed. Two dishes were placed before the betrothed. They contained a mixture of red and white pellets, the size of an ordinary pea.
Grenits turned to one of the Chinamen who stood close beside him in the crowd, and asked what might be the meaning of this ceremony.
“Are they medicine?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” replied the Chinaman. “The red balls represent the Jang or male, the white represent the Jin or female principle in nature.”