“Sixteen hundred thousand!” was the opium farmer’s ready reply.
Once again a short pause ensued.
“It is hot to-day!” whispered a voice.
The Resident cast a look at one of his oppassers and the man immediately left the room. A few instants later three or four servants hurried in bearing trays full of glasses in which the deliciously iced champagne was foaming and glittering. The Chinamen eagerly took them—it was so very very hot!
“Sixteen hundred thousand guilders is offered!” cried Mr. van Gulpendam.
At that moment Lim Yang Bing’s opponent seized upon two of the glasses and, in his feverish excitement, he gulped down their contents.
“Sixteen hundred and twenty-five!” he cried.
“Seventeen hundred thousand!” retorted the opium farmer with great composure.
Another pause, which was broken only by the heavy breathing of the excited crowd and the clinking of the glasses, which under the able superintendence of Laurentia, who stood behind a side-door watching the scene, were continually being replenished by the waiters.
“Seventeen hundred thousand!” repeated the Resident.