Page:Max Havelaar Or The Coffee Sales of the Netherlands Trading Company Siebenhaar.djvu/288

 “He wished to be just, Mr. Havelaar,” the poor woman went on, “he wished to put a stop to the ill-treatment under which the population groaned. He admonished and threatened the Chiefs, at meetings and in writing you must have found his letters in the archives!”

That was true. Havelaar had read those letters,

“Over and over again he talked with the Resident,” continued the widow, “but always to no purpose. For as it was universally known that the extortions took place on behalf and under protection of the Regent, whom the Resident did not wish to charge before the Government, all those interviews led to nothing but the ill-treatment of the complainants. Therefore my poor husband had said that, if there were no improvement before the end of the year, he would address the Governor-General himself. That was in November. Shortly after he set out on a tour of inspection, took dinner at the house of the Dhemang of Parang Koodyang, and was soon after brought home in a pitiable condition. He cried, pointing to his stomach: ‘Fire, fire!’ and a few hours later he was dead, he who had always been a picture of perfect health.”

“Did you send for the doctor from Serang?” asked Havelaar.

“Yes, but he only treated my husband a very short time, as the death took place soon after his arrival. I was afraid to tell the doctor my suspicion, as I foresaw, on account of my condition, that I should not be able to leave this place for some time, and I feared vengeance. I have heard that you, like my husband, are resisting the abuses that are prevalent here, and on this account I have not a peaceful moment. I had wished to conceal all this from you, in order not to alarm yourself and your wife, and therefore confined myself to watching the garden and grounds, so that no strangers should have access to the kitchen.”

Now it became clear to Tine why Mrs. Slotering had continued to carry on her own household, and had not even wished to make use of the kitchen, although it was so large.”

Havelaar sent for the Controller. Meanwhile he addressed a re-