Translation:Max Havelaar/36

Without saying anything about the justification of the suspicion of the widow Slotering, about the cause which orphaned her daughters, only assuming what can be proven, that in Lebak there is a close relation between devotion to duty and poison – even if this existed only in an opinion – everyone should see that Max and Tine went through a bad time after the Resident's visit. I don't think it is needed to describe the fear of a mother who gives food to her child, and wonders continuously whether she is killing her darling. And the child had been begged for, little Max, who did not come until his parents had been married for seven years, as if the brat knew that it is of no advantage to be the son of such parents!

Havelaar waited 29 long days before the Governor-General informed him – but this comes later.

Short after the futile attempts to persuade Havelaar to withdraw his letters, or to betray the poor men who had trusted in his generosity, Verbrugge came in. The good man was very pale, and found it hard to speak.

"I've gone to see the Regent," he said, "This is outrageous, but don't betray me."

"What? What shouldn't I betray?"

"Please promise that you're not going to use the facts I tell you now."

"Halfheartedness again," said Havelaar. "Well, good, I promise."

And Verbrugge told him what the reader already knows, that the Resident had asked the Adhipatti whether he had any complaints against the Assistant-Resident, and that he unexpectedly offered him money. The Regent had told this to Verbrugge and had asked what reason the Regent might have had? Havelaar was highly indignant – but he had given his promise.

The next day Verbrugge came back, saying that Duclari had told him that is was unfair to let Havelaar all alone, since he had to fight with such opponents. Therefore Verbrugge came to discharge him of his promise.

"Good!" cried Havelaar, "write it down!"

Verbrugge wrote it down. His statement is before me.

Hasn't the reader seen why I could so easily dismiss all claims for judicial trueness of Saïdjah's history?

It was remarkable how the shy and fearful Verbrugge – before Duclari rebuked him – dared to trust Havelaar's promise, since the case almost required him to break his word!

And something more. Since the events I told about, many years have past. Havelaar suffered much in that time, he saw his family suffering – writings are in front of me which testify it – and it appears that he has waited. I give the following note he wrote:

I read in the newspapers that Mr Sliming has been appointed knight in the order of the Lion of the Netherlands. It appears that he is now Resident of Djokjakarta. So I can come back to the cases of Lebak without any danger for Verbrugge."