Page:Max Havelaar Or The Coffee Sales of the Netherlands Trading Company Siebenhaar.djvu/237

 The Djaksa also, the Native Chief who in the provincial Council fills the position of public prosecutor, entered Havelaar’s house for preference at night, unnoticed and unattended. He that was appointed to prevent theft, whose duty it was to catch the sneak-thief, he sneaked, as though he himself were the thief that feared to be caught, with hushed sound of footstep through the back entrance into the house, first having assured himself that there were no visitors who might afterwards betray him as guilty of doing his duty.

Was it to be wondered at that Havelaar’s soul was saddened, and that it was more than ever necessary for Tine to go into his room and cheer him up, when she saw how he sat there resting his head dejectedly on his hand?

And yet for him the greatest obstacle was not to be found in the timidity of his assistants, nor in the accessory cowardice of those that had first appealed to him. No, even, if needs be, he would do justice all alone, with or without the help of others, indeed, all, even if it were against the very people who were in need of justice! For he knew the influence he had on the People, he knew how, when once the poor oppressed ones were called upon to repeat aloud and before the Court of Justice what at eve or at night they had whispered to him in privacy, he knew how he had the power to stimulate them, how the inspiration of his words would be stronger than the fear of revenge on the part of District-Chief or Regent. It was not then the fear that those whom he meant to protect would desert their own cause, which restrained him. But it cost him so much to lay a charge against that old Adhipatti: was the reason of his internal struggle! For on the other hand again he was not at liberty to yield to this reluctance, since the entire population, apart even from their absolute claim to justice, had an equally strong claim to pity.

No fear of any trouble to himself had a part in his hesitation. For though he knew how reluctant in general the Government is to receive charges against a Regent, and how much easier it is for