“Seventeen hundred and twenty!” cried Lim Yang Bing’s rival.
“Eighteen hundred thousand!” answered the farmer.
Another glass of the seductive beverage was required before a higher bid was made.
“Eighteen hundred and twenty thousand!” at length gasped Kwee Siong Liem huskily, as if he were losing his voice altogether.
“Nineteen hundred thousand!” cried Lim Yang Bing.
His rival was beginning to waver, yet he mustered up courage to mutter in an almost inaudible whisper:
“Nineteen hundred and twenty-five thousand!”
“Two millions!” exclaimed Lim Yang Bing triumphantly.
A dead silence ensued. After that knock-down blow one might have heard a pin drop. It was evident that the opposition was crushed. Perhaps Kwee Siong Liem might have made another attempt; but the members of his company pulled him forcibly back and prevented him from rashly uttering another word.
“Two millions are bid,” said the Resident. “Allow me once again to draw the attention of the company to the fact that several additional licenses will be granted.”