Van Nerekool turned crimson. He had not wished to say, “the baboe of the Resident’s daughter.”
Verstork removed one of the girl’s hands from her face.
“Yes—it is indeed Dalima! And you say that she has smuggled opium?” he continued, turning to Singomengolo.
He made a sign to one of the wedono’s servants, who at once gave the young girl a shawl, into which she hastily wrapped herself.
“Most assuredly,” replied the bandoelan, “I have searched her myself.”
“Indeed you have,” rejoined Verstork, “and torn off her clothing in the process?”
“She would not allow—”
“And it is you then,” continued Verstork, “who have so shamefully ill-treated her?”
“But what was I to do, Kandjeng toean? She offered resistance, and—look here, I found this upon her!”
As he spoke, Singomengolo held up to the Controller’s view a small box. This little box was strangely similar to the one which, the evening before, he had delivered to Verstork. Indeed, if the latter had not with his own hand carefully sealed it and had not sent it off himself to Santjoemeh he could have sworn that this second box was the identical one he had seen before.