“Yes, Resident, it is, and there is something else. He draws attention to the fact that the schooner brig Kiem Pin Hin was seen cruising about off the coast on the night in question, and that the cutter of the Matamata gave chase to a boat of the smuggling vessel.”
“Did you read that report?” asked van Gulpendam who now began to be really alarmed. “Very possibly you are on the right tack,” the Resident muttered rather than said. “Now, Mr. Secretary, be kind enough to hand me Mr. Meidema’s report as soon as ever it reaches our office, and further send an oppasser to request that gentleman, in my name, to step over here at once.”
This, of course, was a dismissal in optimâ formâ.
When van Gulpendam found himself alone he looked up the act of 1874 and said:
“The secretary mentioned clause 23 I think. Let us see. Oho! a fine of one thousand to ten thousand guilders! And, when I come to consider how, on the evening of the occurrence, Mr. Meidema laid stress upon the exact value of the capture of tjandoe—Yes, then I am driven to confess that our secretary may perhaps be in the right channel after all.”
He sprang up from his seat, and with rapid steps began to walk up and down the gallery.
“Oh!” cried he gnashing his teeth with vexation—“all this bother brought on by that wretched fellow van Nerekool! Oh—if Anna would but consent!”