Page:Max Havelaar; or, the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company (IA dli.granth.77827).pdf/221



said Tine, “our dessert, is so scantywould you notyou remember Madam Geoffrin?”

“Talk to us of something else than pastry? What the deuce! I am hoarse; it is Verbrugge’s turn.”

“Yes, Mr Verbrugge! Please relieve Max,” said Madam Havelaar. Verbrugge hesitated for a moment; and began:

“Once upon a time there was a man, who stole a turkey.”

“Oh you rogue,” cried Havelaar, “that is from ! And how does it go on?”

“It is finished. Do you know the end of this story?”

“To be sure, I ate the turkey in company with somebody. Do you know why I was suspended at Padang?”

“People said that there was a deficit in your cash at Natal,” replied Verbrugge.

“That is not altogether untrue, but neither is it true. From many causes I had been very careless in my pecu-