A short time after the vain endeavour to move Havelaar to withdraw his letters, or to betray the poor people who had confided in his magnanimity, Verbrugge entered Havelaar’s house. The good man was deadly pale, and had some difficulty in speaking.
“I have been with the Regent,” he said; “it is scandalous, … but do not betray me!”
“What? What must I not betray?”
“Do you pledge me your word to make no use of what I shall tell you?”
“More halfness,” said Havelaar; “but well! I pledge my word.” [[387]]
And then Verbrugge told Havelaar what the reader knows already,—that the Resident had asked the Regent, if the latter could say anything against the Assistant Resident, and had quite unexpectedly given him money. At the same time Verbrugge knew it from the Regent himself, who had asked him what reasons the Resident could have had for this.
Havelaar was indignant, but he had pledged his word.
The next day Verbrugge returned and said that Duclari had told him how ignoble it was to leave Havelaar, who had to fight such opponents, so completely alone, whereupon Verbrugge released him from his pledge.
“Very well,” said Havelaar, “write it down.”
Verbrugge wrote it down. This declaration is likewise before me.