MUROWSKI ON THE TRACK.--AN OPIUM SALE AT SANTJOEMEH.
"Now then," said van Rheijn, "let us proceed.
"'Two days before my leave had expired and that, therefore, I should
have to return to my garrison duties at Gombong, I started very early
in the morning before the break of day from the dessa Ajo in which I
had passed the night. My intention was to explore the Western slopes
of the Goenoeng Poleng, and I expected that this trip would bring a
rich harvest to my collection. And, my friends, I must tell you that
my hopes were amply--very amply--realised. For I secured an Arjuna,
a large and most lovely butterfly with pointed golden-green wings
fringed with a deep velvety band of black. It was a rare specimen I
can assure you, and absolutely perfect and uninjured. The day before,
one of the dessa-people at Ajo had brought me a Cymbium Diadema, a fine
brown shell spotted with white, which the man assured me, he had picked
up on the sands in one of the creeks on the South coast of the island
of Noesa Kambangan. I purchased it from the fellow for a mere song.
"'But enough of this: I return to my subject.
"'As I told you, I had started some time before the break of day and
had got some distance from the dessa Ajo when the dawn began to tinge
the entire mountain range of Karang Bollong. My path was not a very
pleasant one to travel along; for it took me right across all the
ravines which run down from the heights. These are funnel-shaped,
exceedingly tortuous; and twisting and turning in all directions
they run down to the plain at the foot of the range, in which the
Kali Djetis flows onward to the sea.
"'As gradually I mounted higher and higher, the panorama stretched
out at my feet became more and more imposing. The fresh invigorating
morning air and the truly magnificent scenery about me, filled me
with delight; and every now and then I actually forgot my passion
for butterflies wholly absorbed as I was in the glories which lay
around me.
"'At length I gained a ridge between two pretty deep ravines, and I
was stopping for a few moments to regain my breath after the exertion
of climbing the steep ascent up which my path had led me. In both
these ravines little brooks were gurgling. They were mere threads of
water hurrying down the Goenoeng Poleng, and it was refreshing to look
upon them as they frisked and danced and foamed along their strange
zig-zag course. From the eminence on which I then stood, they looked
like ribbons of silver tape unconsciously displaying their beauty to
the morning air. The ravine which I had just left was strewn with
big blocks of trachyte flung about in confusion, great masses of
ruin detached, no doubt, from the central range. Such was the case
also in the other ravine into which I was preparing to descend;
but between the boulders and scanty shrubs, my eye suddenly caught
the attap-roof of a Javanese house. From the place where I stood,
I could catch sight only of the front verandah; but yet that small
hut, situated there in the wild and lonely mountain range and at
some distance from the dessa Ajo, arrested my attention. Can it be
some misanthropist, I thought, who is living there so far away from
the haunts of men? Through an open window, my eye could penetrate one
of the rooms in the hut, and I thought I saw a snow-white bed-curtain
waving to and fro under the influence of the morning breeze; I fancied
also that I could distinguish a chair. Now all this greatly puzzled
me; for your Javanese, as a rule, does not indulge in such luxuries,
and, if he makes use of a curtain at all, he generally selects one
of some gaudily coloured material.'"
Van Rheijn paused for a moment or two to take a drink of beer, and in
doing so he cast a penetrating look upon Charles van Nerekool. The
latter was sitting in his chair listlessly rocking himself up and
down, and had very much the appearance of a man who listens but whose
thoughts are travelling elsewhere.
"You are not listening to me, Charles," he cried! At this abrupt
address van Nerekool started up out of his reverie.
"I?" he asked in confusion.
"Now, you see!" continued van Rheijn with a laugh, "while I am wasting
my breath to get to the end of Murowski's budget, our friend the
judge there is sitting in a brown study, his thoughts wandering heaven
knows where, but certainly nowhere near the dessa Ajo. But wait a bit,
you fellows, mark my words, you will see a change soon. The part most
interesting to him is just coming. Now listen."
Van Nerekool shook his head and smiled incredulously, he puffed hard
at his cigar, sat up straight in his chair and disposed himself to
listen with concentrated attention.
Van Rheijn went on reading:
"'But, while I was thus standing, gazing and pondering, I heard far,
far away beneath my feet, a noise of laughing, giggling and playing--in
fact, the silvery tones of two girls' voices.
"'I stretched out my neck and cautiously peered about to find out,
if possible, from whence those pleasant sounds proceeded; but it
was in vain, I could discover nothing. I noticed, however, that the
foaming brook beneath me took a very sharp turn, and that close
to its side grew a large Wariengien tree, whose massive foliage
defied every inquisitive look; while, at the same time, a pretty
little clump of shrubs shut out the view on either side. Meanwhile,
the tittering and laughing went on, mingled every now and then with
a playful little shriek, accompanied by the sound of plunging and
splashing of water. Then it dawned upon me that yonder in that clear
mountain stream, some girls were amusing themselves with bathing. What
shall I say in excuse of my indiscretion? I suppose the best, in
fact the only excuse I can offer, is that a man is neither a stock
nor a stone. My road, moreover, led straight to the attractive spot;
and thus, without, I fear, giving much thought to what I was doing,
I found myself on the way to emulate Actaeon in his fatal curiosity,
never in the least expecting to spy out a Diana.
"'So I cautiously clambered down the slopes, taking, as you may
suppose, the most particular care not to make the least noise which
might disturb the bathing nymphs. For a little while my path ran down
directly to the Wariengien tree, which overshadowed a considerable
area. If the course of the narrow path had only continued in that
direction a little longer it must have brought me to the very foot of
the tree. But, suddenly, I came upon a large rock, and there the road
ran to the left and seemed to shorten the way by leading straight to
another bend in the creek. Most probably this led to some ford, for
I could see the path on the other side of the brook, running up the
side of the ravine. Now, what was I to do? I ought, like a good boy,
to have followed the path no doubt; but my curiosity was stimulated
by the splashing and laughing, which now seemed much nearer to me
than before. I confess, the temptation was too great, and I left the
path in order to get up to the Wariengien tree. Good luck seemed to
favour me. From the rock which barred the road I could see a gentle
slope thickly overgrown with bushes. In these numberless butterflies
were fluttering about; but, will you believe me? I never so much as
gave them a look or a thought I had left my tin box and my net behind
at the foot of the rock so as to be quite free in my movements. Like
some Dajak or some Alfoer of Papua I stole along from bush to bush.'"
The young men burst out into a loud shout of laughter.
"I can see our Pole," laughed Grenits, "sneaking along like an Alfoer,
in something like Adam's costume, up to the bathers."
"Yes," said van Rheijn, laughing as heartily as the others, "with
only an ewah round his loins.
"But pray let me go on, we are coming to the most interesting and
most important part. Are you listening to me, Charles?"
"I am not losing a single syllable," said the latter, moving somewhat
uneasily in his chair. "Do make haste."
"'--From bush to bush, and I got as near as I possibly could. At
length I found myself standing before a kind of hedge which grew
around the Wariengien, and made it impossible for me to advance any
further. The magnificent wild-fig tree stood on the edge of an oval
water-basin, which might have been washed out by the power of the
stream, or might have been hewn by the hand of man out of the mass of
gray trachyte rock. The pool itself appeared to be about 25 yards long,
and perhaps 15 yards broad, and the heavy crown of the Wariengien cast
a pleasant shadow right over it. It was fed from the brook of which,
in fact, it formed a part, and the water, though deep, was so bright
and clear that even the smallest pebbles could be seen distinctly at
the bottom. These details, you must know, have only lately occurred
to me; at that moment I had no time to pay any particular attention
to them, something very different was engrossing my thoughts. For,
in the centre of the pool, of which from my position I could survey
about twenty feet, were swimming and splashing and frisking about two
female forms. How shall I describe to you what I saw and what I felt
without too painfully affecting one of your friends.'"
Here Edward stole another glance at his friend van Nerekool.
"Go on, go on!" cried the latter almost passionately as he caught
the look.
"'Two female forms. Both had on the usual bathing dress of Javanese
women, that is the sarong. You know how prettily, and how modestly too,
the Indian beauties can coquet with that rather scanty garment--how
they draw it up and fasten it above the bosom; and, I presume, you
can imagine how such a garment, when wet through and closely clinging
to the limbs, rather serves to heighten than to veil the charms it
is intended to conceal. That, however, I will leave to your fertile
imaginations. Both girls were extremely beautiful, though each had her
own style of beauty. One of them was decidedly a Javanese, the nose
slightly turned up, the round cheeks and somewhat full lips, in fact
the entire face, bore unmistakably the stamp of her nationality. For a
few moments she stood still in a somewhat shallow part of the pool, and
busied herself in readjusting her sarong, which had got rather loose
in swimming. As she did so I could at once perceive that the young
woman I had before me was in what is called an interesting condition.'"
Once again van Rheijn paused for an instant and shot a quick glance
at van Nerekool.
The latter sat in his chair literally panting with excitement, and
taking in every word with the most eager attention.
"Go on! Go on!" he murmured.
"'The other was altogether of much slimmer build. Her bust, which the
wet sarong could hardly conceal, showed that it had been in contact
with the European corset, and her features proclaimed her of totally
different race from her companion. Had the skin not been brown I should
at once have pronounced her to be a European, especially as her hair,
though jet-black, was silky, and fell around her as a mantle, and,
while she was swimming, floated on the water behind in a mass of wavy
curls. Then, I thought, I could trace something of Arabian origin in
the fair creature I saw moving in the crystal stream. Arabian! why
that could not be; for at the very same moment I thought I recognised
her very features.
"'My friends, I am utterly unable to describe to you the lovely scene
I was just then gazing upon. No pen is eloquent enough for that. It
would need the brush of some great artist to catch the glow and colour
of that entrancing view.
"'Quite unconscious that, in that lonely pool far away from any human
dwelling, and in the recesses of such a wilderness, any indiscreet eye
was watching them--the two girls, like real water nymphs, were gaily
disporting themselves. They pursued one another, trying to duck each
other in the stream, while they had the greatest trouble to prevent
their sarongs from getting loose and falling down. That game lasted
a considerable time, it seemed as if the pretty creatures could not
make up their mind to leave the cool refreshing stream. At length the
slimmer of the two girls said: "Come, baboe, it is time to go home."'"
"Ha, ha, it was Malay they were speaking and not Javanese at
all!" remarked Grashuis.
"No, no," replied Edward, glancing uneasily at van Nerekool, "it was
not Javanese; but let me read on, we are now coming to the dénouement.
"'The fair swimmer got to the side of the pool and sat down on
the rocky bank allowing her little feet to paddle in the water. She
presently began to wring out her mass of hair and, as she was sitting
with her face turned away from me, from the position I occupied I
could only catch a glimpse of part of her back as she lifted up her
arms to tie up her hair. Was it the light in my eyes? Was it all
a mere delusion? Did my eyes play me false altogether? I began to
think that her back was not nearly so dark as her face, her neck and
her hands. Puzzled beyond measure I was determined to get a better
view. I grasped a branch of one of the shrubs which were around me,
I hoisted myself up and bent forward as far as I could! Alas!--no,
rather let me say thank God!--in making that movement I slipped. A
big lump of stone, dislodged, no doubt, by the motion of my feet,
went rolling down the slope and fell down plump into the water to the
right of and close beside the fair bather. It was just by the merest
chance that I did not tumble in myself, what a fright the poor little
dear would have been in! It was bad enough as it was. At the splash
made by the stone the girl uttered a cry of terror, she suddenly
moved to the left and started to fly. In doing so her sarong must
have hitched in some projecting stone, and--
"'By all the gods, she was a pure-bred European! Face, arms,
hands, neck, shoulders, all were brown; but for the rest she was
lily-white--that beautiful creamy white which is so characteristic
of brunettes.
"'Then it all became clear to me--Miss van Gulpendam--she who had
so mysteriously disappeared--that face with which I felt all along I
was familiar--Oh, there was no possibility of a mistake, I knew her
well enough now in spite of the dark colouring of her skin. Though
the girls could not see me behind my thick hedge, yet they were much
startled and frightened. They at once snatched up their clothes and
fled up the path which leads to the hut I had seen on the ridge, and
as they ran I could overhear the Javanese saying to her companion:
"Don't be alarmed, Nana, there is no person there." Probably she meant
to say that the stone was loosened by the movement of some animal or
perhaps she ascribed it to mere chance. In spite, however, of this,
both of them hurried out of sight as fast as they could, and soon
the sheltering roof of their little hut received them.
"'It was then only that I began to feel how unpardonable had been
my indiscretion and, to spare the young ladies' feelings as much as
I could, I remained for a long time concealed. When I thought they
must have given up looking out, I sneaked as quietly as possible,
under cover of the bushes, to the bottom of the ravine, and there
a bend in the path soon enabled me to get away unperceived. Such,
my friends, is my adventure in the Karang Bollong mountains. I
have sent you this news as soon as possible for I know how happy
my communication will make one of you. I will not venture to give
you any counsel as to what you ought to do under the circumstances;
but I place myself entirely at your disposal and shall at any time
be ready to point out the little hut to you.'"
"Anna!--Anna found!" exclaimed van Nerekool, jumping up out of his
chair and striding impatiently up and down the inner gallery.
"What do you intend to do?" asked van Beneden.
"What I intend to do? Why, to-morrow morning at daybreak I am off--I
will--!"
"My dear fellow," said Grashuis, restraining, as well as he could, his
friend's impatience and excitement, "now, pray, do not be in a hurry."
"How can you talk such nonsense!" cried van Nerekool--"Do not be in
a hurry!--And what if meanwhile she should again disappear?"
"I do not think," remarked van Rheijn, "that there is much danger
of that. I suppose the girls have by this time got over their
fright--indeed there was not much to terrify them--and as they have
probably not seen any one since of whom they can have the least
suspicion, they will come to the conclusion that they were scared by
a false alarm. I do not think they will for a moment think of leaving
that lonely spot."
"My dear friends," said van Beneden, "I believe the very best thing
we can do at present is to go to bed. It is now late, and we ought
to have time to think this matter over. At all events, Charles must
certainly not think of starting to-morrow morning; by doing so he
would spoil his whole career. A man in his position must not run away
from his post as a deserter."
"Yes," said Charles, "you fellows had better go to bed. I shall sit
down at once and write for leave of absence."
"That's right," quoth Theodoor Grenits. "In that case we shall have
a few days for quiet reflection. And now, Charles, my boy, I have
no need to ask for leave, I intend to go with you on your journey;
here's my hand upon it!"
The young men hereupon shook hands and each went to his own lodging,
while, in the distance, the sounds of revelry at the Chinaman's house
were still resounding.
Van Nerekool applied for leave of absence; but found that it took some
time to obtain it. Mr. Greveland was just at that time so very busy
that he could not undertake to grant Charles' request, however eagerly
this latter might press for it. The President, however, forwarded van
Nerekool's application to the authorities at Batavia. Thus Charles was
forced for some days to wait with such patience as he could command.
Meanwhile, however, events were taking place which exercise some
influence on the course of our story and which we will now proceed
to narrate.
Not long after the nuptials between Lim Ho and pretty and wealthy
Ngow Ming Nio had been solemnized, the great day came round on
which the opium monopoly for the years 18--, 18--, and 18-- had to be
assigned. This was a most important event for the whole official world,
and one which, in the well known financial position of matters at home,
was especially significant to those who were in authority at Batavia
and Santjoemeh. For, if the Colonial Secretary could but show a goodly
number of millions as the produce of the sale of opium-contracts, why
then he and his colleagues might feel themselves pretty safe in their
seats. They thought, and not without excellent reason, that if they
could but manage to increase the revenue they would, by that means,
gain infinite credit in the Parliament at home. It need hardly be
said therefore that every nerve was strained to obtain so desirable
a result.
Resident van Gulpendam had, as our readers know, another, that is
a private, reason for making every exertion; and he left no stone
unturned to induce as many as he possibly could to come and bid for
the lucrative contract. His agents were out on all sides trying to get
the rival companies to enter into competition, and in these efforts
his handsome wife was of the greatest assistance to him. The proud
woman had set her heart and soul upon seeing her husband's breast
adorned with the "bertes knabbeldat."
Now that the existing contracts were fast running out, and that by the
last day of December, the opium-monopolies for the different districts
had to be again put up to the highest bidder, the greatest activity
prevailed. The strictest precautions against smuggling were taken
along the entire coast-line--against such smuggling, be it understood,
as was not carried on by the farmers themselves. Bandoelans and
policemen were everywhere on the alert, and were left to do pretty
much as they pleased in their visitations of suspected houses, or
in their search for opium on the persons of the unhappy creatures to
whom they might owe a grudge. Especially did those suffer from their
insolence, who either did not make use of opium at all, or who used
it in strict moderation. The success which these stringent measures
obtained was rapid and complete. The sale of opium by the farmers
rose in an extraordinary manner now that contraband wares could no
longer be obtained, and the retail price of the pernicious drug rose
in proportion.
"If we could only have that kind of thing always going on!" cried
Lim Ho who, when the conversation turned upon opium, could not always
keep a discreet tongue in his head. But Lim Yang Bing, who was older
and wiser, and who, above all things, feared competition at the coming
sales, merely shrugged his shoulders. He would have been glad enough to
say nothing about this sudden increase in his daily receipts; but, with
so many opium-dens under his control, secrecy was well-nigh impossible.
But Resident van Gulpendam did more than this. He, through his agents,
cleverly spread the report that the Government intended largely to
increase the number of opium-licenses in his Residence. This had its
effect also, and presently a feverish excitement began to show itself
in the rival Chinese camps.
On the important day of the sale, a brand-new flag of extraordinary
dimensions, the finest and brightest that could be found, was
waving in the morning breeze from the flag-staff in front of the
residential mansion. On that day the whole body of oppassers had been
mustered. They numbered over twenty men, all dressed in new uniforms
with bright yellow belts furbished up as smartly as possible. The
native soldiers also on sentry were in full-dress, and they marched up
and down before the steps of the Residence with a solemnity and gravity
of demeanour, which plainly showed that they were impressed with a
full consciousness of the responsibilities which rested upon them.
To add to the brilliancy of the display, Resident van Gulpendam had
summoned to Santjoemeh a couple of assistant residents and a couple of
controllers from the adjoining districts. These gentlemen, together
with all the native chiefs then present in the capital, assembled
towards ten o'clock in the front gallery. All were, of course, in
full official dress with sprigs of orange and oak-leaves embroidered
in silver on their collars. The orange, an emblem of purity; the oak,
the type of manly vigour and independence. They had on white cashmere
trousers with a broad gold stripe, and the regulation dress-sword by
their sides.
Presently the Chinese contingent also began to arrive, all dressed in
clean white jackets and black trousers monstrously wide in the legs,
their heads carefully shaven and polished, while the long scalp-lock
which forms the tail was treated with the greatest care, plaited
skilfully and with almost mathematical exactness, and interwoven with
red, blue, and white silk cord.
At first only a few idlers appeared strolling in merely out of
curiosity to have a look at the proceedings. These were succeeded by
other more wealthy men, the representatives of the various companies,
who might be expected to enter into the competition. Last of all Lim
Yang Bing and his son Lim Ho drove up and, as they stepped out of their
carriage, they carefully scrutinized their countrymen present. For
some time the Celestials mingled with the official personages, and
formed a group in which salutations and hand-shakings bore witness to
the cordiality existing between them. But when the soldier on guard
struck one blow upon the gong which stood beside his sentry-box,
and thus announced that it was half-past ten, Resident van Gulpendam
accompanied by his private secretary--both in full-dress--entered the
front gallery, while Mrs. van Gulpendam, on the arm of van Rheijn,
appeared at one of the open doors.
The chiefs present all made a low bow, the sentries presented arms,
the oppassers formed a line by the pajoeng stand, in which a gorgeous
emblem of dignity was conspicuous.
The officials present now advanced in a body to pay their homage to
the representative of the Governor-General who, in his turn, represents
the King of the Netherlands in these far-away Asiatic regions.
Next, the Chinamen came forward to perform a similar duty, and after
this the two groups of Europeans and Chinamen remained apart. A few of
the latter, foremost among them Lim Yang Bing and Lim Ho, walked up to
Laurentia, and gave her a courteous greeting. She was all affability
and cordially shook hands with the pair as well as with some others,
who were standing near; and then she invited all the babahs to come
in and have something to drink.
"It is so frightfully hot just now in Santjoemeh!" she protested.
A faint smile passed over the Chinamen's wan and yellow features; they
bowed their thanks as they cast significant looks at one another. Then
they followed their fair guide through the inner gallery into the
pandoppo. A large table stood there bearing a number of trays full
of champagne glasses, while, under the table, might be seen little
tubs of ice, in which the bottles with their silvered corks were
neatly arranged.
"Open the champagne!" cried Laurentia to three or four attendants
who stood by.
The corks popped, and in a few moments all the babahs, rich and poor,
were standing glass in hand eager to be allowed the honour of touching
glasses with the Njonja-Resident.
As a rule, your Chinaman is a great stickler for etiquette; and, on
any ordinary occasion, they would no doubt have sipped their wine
leisurely, with half-closed eyes as they have seen Europeans do;
but now they behaved in a widely different manner. For fair Laurentia
had informed them that, when they had the honour of drinking with a
njonja, the glass must be emptied at a single draught.
"The gentlemen call that ad fundum," remarked the Chinese major.
"Just so, babah," replied Laurentia as she gave him a sly nudge.
In an instant every cup was drained.
"Fill the glasses!" she cried; and from that moment Mrs. van Gulpendam
kept the waiters busy. On one pretext or another, she took care that
the glasses were kept filled and that their contents were duly and
speedily disposed of.
Meanwhile the Resident himself had been engaged in conversation with
his friends and subordinates in the front gallery.
"What has become of our babahs?" he asked presently. "Come, gentlemen,
I do not think we shall have cause to repent if we go and look them
up. It is frightfully hot here. Don't you think so?"
Thus saying and wiping the perspiration from his brow with his cambric
handkerchief, he led the way into the interior of the house followed
by his embroidered and lace-covered staff.
"Ah, I thought as much!" he cried, as he entered the pandoppo, and
then to the servants: "Look sharp, give the gentlemen glasses."
As this was going on, Laurentia slipped away unobserved leaving the
lords of the creation to enjoy themselves in their own fashion.
The Resident whispered a few words to Kwee Siong Liem, one of the
wealthiest Chinamen in Santjoemeh, and this latter, during the brief
conversation, strove to cast furtive glances at Lim Yang Bing.
"I shall go as high as I possibly can, kandjeng toean," said the babah;
"but I fear--"
"You need not be afraid," whispered van Gulpendam.
"Aye, but, kandjeng toean, the bidding will run up too high!"
"Don't forget, babah, that there are eight additional licenses
specified in the contract."
"That's all very well, kandjeng toean; but--"
However, the kandjeng toean did not stay to listen to the Chinaman's
objection. He stepped forward, took off his cocked hat, raised the
glass which a servant had put into his hand and said:
"Here's success to the sale!" The sentiment drew forth cheers from
the assembled Celestials on whom the generous wine of Veuve Clicquot
was beginning to have an exhilarating effect.
"To the health of the kandjeng toean!" cried the assistant resident
of police.
"To the health of the Chinese major!" shouted another and so it went
on. To all these toasts ample justice was done. The little slanting
eyes of the Celestials were really beginning to twinkle right merrily.
At length the clock struck eleven and the clear metallic sound rang
quivering through the apartment.
"Now, gentlemen!" cried the Resident, "to business! But first allow
me to inform those present here who may not happen to be successful in
this competition, that in a few days the monopoly for the district of
Bengawan will be put up to auction; and that, a couple of days after
that again, another valuable contract will be offered for sale. You
see, therefore, that there are rich, very rich profits awaiting many
of you."
After having thus spoken, the Resident led the way into the inner
gallery followed by the entire company. In this room stood a large
table with a white marble top on which were scattered about a number of
official papers and documents. At the head of this table van Gulpendam
took up his position surrounded by his staff; and opposite him stood
the crowd of Chinamen, the table separating the two groups from one
another. On the wall of the room hung a very fine picture, a life-size,
half-length portrait of King William III., and this picture formed
the centre, as it were, of the two groups of Europeans and Asiatics.
"The secretary will now proceed to read out the conditions of the
opium contract which we are about to dispose of," said the Resident
very solemnly.
The official thus alluded to began at once, in the usual monotonous
and almost unintelligible drone, to mumble a series of articles
which he seemed to have by heart. Indeed, the whole thing was
a mere formality. Those who had come prepared to bid for this
Government contract were perfectly familiar with every word that paper
contained. At the preamble, "In the name of the King," every head bowed
deeply. One article, in which mention was made of the fact that the new
opium farmer would have the privilege of opening a number of stores
in addition to those specified in the former contract, the secretary
took care to read out with an amount of distinctness and emphasis
which could not fail to arrest the attention of all interested parties.
When this formality was ended, the Resident said: "The sum bid for
the former contract which is now about to expire was twelve hundred
and thirty-two thousand guilders-- Who will make a higher bid?"
"Twelve hundred and thirty five!" cried a voice.
"Twelve hundred and forty thousand!" said another.
"Twelve hundred and fifty!" was heard in a corner.
"Twelve hundred and sixty!"
There was a pause of a few seconds.
"Twelve hundred and sixty is offered," quietly repeated van Gulpendam.
"Thirteen hundred thousand!" exclaimed Kwee Siong Liem who stood at
one side of the table.
Lim Yang Bing had not yet spoken a word; but now he looked up, gave
one inquiring look at his rival and cried:
"Fourteen hundred thousand!"
"Fifteen!"
The real battle had begun.
"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.
"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."
But it was of no avail. The servants--poor fellows--kept rushing about
filling up the glasses; but the wine seemed to have lost its power.
"Two millions once!
"Two millions--twice. Will anyone bid higher? Two millions--for the
third time!"
Bang! down came the hammer.
"Subject to the approval of the Dutch Government," said the Resident
impressively, "I declare this opium contract to be assigned to Lim
Yang Bing!"
At these words all the officials crowded round their chief to wish
him joy on his brilliant success; while most of the Chinamen pressed
around Lim Yang Bing to congratulate him and shake hands with him.
Laurentia took care that another round of champagne should set the
seal on the bargain. There was, of course, a great deal of excitement
for some time, and much enthusiasm was displayed; but whether any
one present bestowed even a passing thought upon the poor unhappy
dessa-people, out of whose scanty means and enfeebled frames this
enormous sum was to be wrung--that we cannot undertake to affirm.
Yes, there was one man who did think of them; and that man was
van Rheijn.
He looked sadly up at the portrait of the king as he asked himself
whether it could really be his royal will that such things should go
on among his subjects. Alas, the dumb canvas could not answer, and
the picture of the sovereign gazed down quietly upon the noisy crowd.
Scarcely had the Resident got rid of his visitors before he rushed
into his study, and soon returned with beaming countenance, bearing
in his hand two telegrams, each couched in precisely similar terms.
"Result of opium-sale at Santjoemeh--two millions. Van Gulpendam."
One dispatch was destined for Batavia, the other was for the Hague.
When the oppasser whom he sent to the telegraph office had disappeared,
van Gulpendam looked around him with the utmost satisfaction and
complacency. As his eye fell upon the Dutch flag, which spread its
gay colours to the breeze, he fancied that those folds pointed to
the North-West--towards home.
"Aye," he muttered to himself, "from that quarter my reward must come."
Turning round as he said these words, he saw Laurentia standing at
his elbow. He gave her one penetrating look:
"You here yet?" asked he.
But without replying, she grasped his arm, drew him with gentle
violence into the inner room, and there, when safe from every prying
look, she clasped him in her strong white arms to her breast.
"Gulpie!" she cried, "Gulpie, my darling! you have surpassed yourself!"
"Yes," said he, with assumed modesty, "yes, I have piloted that
frigate pretty cleverly, though I say so myself. Now, I hope they
will not be ungrateful at the Hague!"