Page:Max Havelaar Or The Coffee Sales of the Netherlands Trading Company Siebenhaar.djvu/124

 played with the hilts of their krisses. When he came near the Djaksa, who caught the child’s attention because he was more handsomely dressed than the others, that Chief seemed to point out something with regard to little Max’s head to the Klewoon, who sat next to him, and who appeared to agree with a whispered remark on the subject.

“Go away now, Max,” said Havelaar, “papa wants to say something to these gentlemen.”

The boy ran away, after having thrown kisses with his hand by way of leave-taking.

After this Havelaar continued thus:

“Chiefs of Lebak! We are all in the service of the King of the Netherlands. But he, who is just, and desires us to do our duty, is far from here. Thirty times a thousand times a thousand souls, nay, more, are bound to obey his orders, but he cannot be near all those who depend on his will.

“The great Lord in Buitenzorg is just, and wishes everyone to do his duty. But he also, mighty though he is, and having authority over all who have power in the towns and all who are the elders in the villages, and disposing of the forces of the army and of the ships that speed across the seas, he also cannot see where injustice has been done, for it remains far from him.

“And the Resident at Serang, who is lord of the region of Bantam, where five times a hundred thousand people dwell, wishes that justice be done in his territory, and that righteousness shall rule in the lands that obey him. But when there is injustice, it is far from his dwelling. And whoever does evil hides from his face for fear of punishment.

“And the lord Adhipatti, who is the Regent of South-Bantam, desires that all shall live who practise goodness, and that there shall be no shame in the district which is his regency.

“And I, who yesterday called upon the Almighty God as my witness that I should be just and merciful, that I should do justice