“Why so?” asked Laurentia.
“Don’t you see why?” retorted van Gulpendam—“If for no other reason; then simply to shut the mouth of the papers. What a row they would make if the father of a man found guilty of opium-smuggling and of a barbarous outrage moreover, should have the monopoly granted him. Why it would be worse than the noise about the capstan when they are heaving the anchor!”
“But, my dear,” objected Laurentia, “do you think that at Batavia they will trouble themselves about the barking of the local papers?”
“Yes and no,” replied the Resident. “The curs themselves will be despised no doubt; but still, in self-defence, they will have to order an inquiry.”
“And you will be the man to hold it, won’t you?” said Laurentia, with a meaning smile.
“Possibly I might be, but what if the Dutch papers were to take up the cry?”
“Oh, the Dutch press!” said Laurentia, disdainfully. “It is pretty tame on the subject of opium. It will never join in a cry against it unless it be actually compelled.”
“Yes,” said the Resident, “that’s all very fine, but one never can tell how the cat may jump, or what secret influence may be at work. If Lim Ho is found guilty, it would most certainly be advisable that his father should not bid at all for the monopoly.”
“But,” said Laurentia, “he is the wealthiest of the Chinese Company.”
“I know that as well as you do,” grumbled her husband.