Page:Max Havelaar; or, the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company (IA dli.granth.77827).pdf/96

 his magnificent Sarong round his waist, and on his head the pretty Kain Kapala, under which his black eyes peeped forth so roguishly, crept squatting to the feet of the Regent, put down the gold box which contained the Siric, the lime, the pinang, the gambier, and the tobacco, made his Slamat by raising both his hands put together to his forehead, as he bowed low, and then offered the precious box to his master.

“The road will be very difficult, after so much rain,” said the Regent, as if to explain the long pause, whilst he covered the betel-leaf with lime.

“In the Pandaglang the road is not so bad,” Verbrugge replied; who, unless he wanted to hint at something disagreeable, gave that answer certainly a little inconsiderately; for he ought to have taken into consideration that a Regent of Lebak does not like to hear the Pandaglang roads praised, even if they are much better than those of Lebak.

The Adhipatti did not make the mistake of replying too quickly. The little maas had already crept squatting backwards to the entrance of the ‘pendoppo,’ where he remained with his companions; the Regent had made his