“Alas!” sighed the old woman, who now saw clearly enough what was meant by “Sauce with the fish.” She drew a little box out of the folds of the sash which confined the sarong around her scraggy hips, and offered it to the njonja. It contained a pair of valuable golden ear-rings of Chinese workmanship, richly set with diamonds.
“Is that all?” asked Mrs. van Gulpendam, with a contemptuous smile.
“They are very valuable,” muttered the old hag.
But the Resident’s wife slowly shook her head.
“Lim Ho asked me,” continued MʻBok, “to tell you that he intends to come and personally express his gratitude to you as soon as the affair has succeeded.”
Laurentia laughed, “When the affair has succeeded,” she repeated, scornfully. “A pretty story, indeed! No, I don’t intend to see the babah at all.”
“But, njonja—”
“That will do,” said Laurentia; “not another word about it. Come,” continued she, “you may take those things away with you again.”
“But what then am I to tell Lim Ho?” asked the nènèh.
“You may tell him just whatever you like, nèh.”