“Now,” asked Grenits, “you will not be offended if I give you a bit of advice in your own interest and in the interest also of the missionary?”
“Certainly not,” said Verstork, “let us hear it, by all means.”
“Well, my advice is this: keep that prescription strictly to yourself and don’t say a word about it to anybody. The colonial secretary who has but one object in view, and that is, to raise the opium revenue as much as possible, might look upon your remedy as an attack made upon the golden calf; and missionaries have before this been impeded in their Gospel work, and men have been expelled from the colonies, and official functionaries have been suspended or pensioned off for the commission of much more venial offences than bringing such pills as yours to the opium-smoker.”
Verstork turned slightly pale as he heard his friend’s well-meant advice. For a single moment his thoughts flew to those dear ones who so greatly needed his assistance and support. Did he repent of having thus honestly spoken his mind? Who can say!—He put his hand to his forehead as if to wipe away some unpleasant reflection. “Oh,” said he, “it is not quite so bad as that, I hope.”
“Perhaps not,” said Grenits, with a smile, “but your pills will not earn you the Netherlands’ Lion.”
“That may be,” said the Controller, “however, Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra, that is my motto. For all that I shall not give the poor souls one pill the less.”
Then, allowing his eye to wander over the table which by this time had been pretty well cleared, for our friends had sat down to dinner as hungry as hunters, he continued—
“My friends, our dinner is over. After yesterday’s jaunt and this morning’s exertion, and after the very short rest we had last night, you must all need repose. My servants will show you to your rooms. I am going to work and, as I told you just now, this evening I am off with you to Santjoemeh. I wish you all a pleasant siesta.”
A few minutes later the pandoppo was deserted and towards evening the five friends were galloping along the road to the capital.