“Now think it well over—is that your last word?”
“Resident, it is.”
“Be it so,” said van Gulpendam with apparent resignation, “you will have no one but yourself to blame for the consequences.”
“I am prepared to meet the consequences, Resident.”
“Very well, in that case I shall have to send up the paper in its present state to the Governor General—the matter will then be in his hands.”
Verstork was preparing to rise and take his leave, thinking that the painful interview was at an end.
“One moment please, Mr. Verstork,” said the Resident. “Just sit down for another few minutes—I have another account to settle with you.”
“What is that, Resident?” asked the Controller.
“Yesterday morning a highly respected inhabitant of the island was publicly insulted and even suffered personal violence, merely because, at your bidding, he bore testimony to the truth. That abuse and that ill-treatment he suffered in your presence and you did not, so far as I am aware, exercise your authority either to prevent it or to put a stop to it.”
“It was all the work of an instant,” replied Verstork; “the words were uttered and the blows were dealt so suddenly and so unexpectedly, that no one—not even you—had you been present—could have interposed. I can assure you that had there been the slightest fear of the offence being repeated, I would have stepped in to prevent it.”