“Now, pray do not mistake me,” resumed Verstork, “I said ill-used, at the present moment I make use of no stronger expression. We found her here half-naked and bleeding, and she was calling upon us for help. She had, therefore, evidently been ill-treated, at present I say nothing more than that. She suffered this ill-treatment in your presence—in your presence, who pretend to be a gentleman; and I repeat what I said just now, you will have to give me satisfactory proof that it was not in your power to assist or defend this poor young girl before I will consent to receive you under my roof.”
“But, Mr. Verstork—!”
“If you can clear yourself of the suspicion which, perhaps very unjustly, at present rests upon you, I can assure you that nothing will give me greater pleasure than to hold out my hand to you, indeed you will find me the first to do so, unless my friend Grenits should forestall me.”
“In that case,” said Grenits, “Mr. Mokesuep will find me perfectly prepared to give him any satisfaction he may require.”
“Satisfaction!” sneered Mokesuep, “never you mind about that, I know well enough how to get satisfaction!”
“You refuse then,” continued Verstork coldly, “to furnish me with the explanations I require?”
“I owe you no explanations whatever, Mr. Verstork,” cried Mokesuep, “I intend to reserve my explanations for the Resident’s ear.”
“Very well, sir, just as you please,” replied Verstork. “In that case I have nothing further to say to you,” and with a stiff, formal bow he added: “Pray let me not detain you any longer.”
Mokesuep ground his teeth with rage at this direct dismissal; he flung his rifle over his shoulder, and, accompanied by Lim Ho and Singomengolo, who had stood by as silent spectators of the scene, without understanding much of what was going on, he hurried away in the direction of Santjoemeh.
As he went he cried, “You shall pay for this, Mr. Verstork. I shall have my revenge!”