CHAPTER VI.
A LUCKY DAY.
Van Nerekool’s interference was destined to bear very little fruit; but, on the other hand, it involved him in the most serious troubles. He was so young, he was so utterly without experience of all the complicated mazes of injustice which, in Dutch India, are found in both the judicial and administrative departments as soon as ever these are brought into contact with anything that touches the great Opium monopoly.
A few weeks after his conversation with Anna van Gulpendam, she told him, on the occasion of another visit which he paid to her family, that Ardjan had been discharged from the hospital, but only to be immediately committed to jail. Thereupon, van Nerekool began to make inquiries from the President of the Council at Santjoemeh, and from him he heard that the Javanese was lying in prison on an accusation of smuggling opium in considerable quantities.
“But,” added the President, Mr. Zuidhoorn, “there is, in this case, one very curious feature, which I do not at all understand.”
“Indeed,” said van Nerekool, “what may that be?”
“Why, it is this,” said Mr. Zuidhoorn. “Last week I received a letter from the Resident, in which he tells me in what order and on what dates he wants us to take the cases we have before us.”
“Why,” cried van Nerekool, “he has no right whatever to do that—such dictation is perfectly illegal—it is directly contrary to the law!”
“Precisely so,” continued Zuidhoorn. “And, as you may suppose, I have flatly refused to obey his directions. But listen further. On that list of his, Ardjan’s trial is put the very last of all. Can you make that out?”