Page:Max Havelaar; or, the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company (IA dli.granth.77827).pdf/100

 —“that may be true, generally speaking; but with regard to Havelaar you need no personal acquaintancehe is a fool.”.

“I did not say so, Duclari.”

“No, you did not say so, but I say it, after all you have told me of him. I call any one who jumps into the water to save a dog from the sharks a fool.”

“Yes, it was foolish, but”

“And recollect thatepigram on General Van Dammethat was not proper.”

“It was witty”

“Yes, but a young man may not be witty at the expense of a General.”

“You must bear in mind that he was then very young—it was fourteen years ago—he was only twenty years old.”

“And then the turkey which he stole?”

“That he did to annoy the General.”

“Exactly so. A young man may not annoy a General, especially one who is, as civil governor, his superiorthe epigram I think very funnybut then again that duelling”

“He did it generally on behalf of another; he always was the champion of the weak.”

“Well, let every one fight for himself, if fighting there must be. As for me, I think that a duel is seldom necessary; if necessary, I should accept it, butto make a