Verbrugge did not understand this great consideration for the tax-gatherer.
The clerk soon returned with some papers; Havelaar signed his name, and ordered payment to be hastened.
“Verbrugge! I will tell you why I do this. The Regent has not a farthing in the house: his writer told me so——he himself wants this money, and the tax-gatherer will advance it to him. I would rather transgress, on my own responsibility, a form, than leave a man of his rank and years in perplexity. Moreover, Verbrugge! people at Lebak abuse their power in a fearful way——you ought to know it: do you know it?”
Verbrugge was silent.
“I know it!” Havelaar continued, “I do know it! Did not Mr. Slotering die in November? Well! the day after his death, the Regent forced the population to labour [[145]]in his rice-fields without payment. You ought to have known it——did you know it?”
Verbrugge did not know it.
“You ought to have known it. I know it,” continued Havelaar. “There you have the monthly reports of the districts,”—and he showed the parcel which he had received in the Council,—“look, I have opened nothing; there are statements of the number of labourers that have worked in the metropolis for the different chiefs.——Well, are these statements correct?”
“I have not yet seen them——”
“Neither have I; still I ask you if they are correct?——Were last month’s statements correct?”
Verbrugge was silent.