the same thing as here: that would be useless travelling to and fro. Besides, it is impossible for me to serve on probation, as though I had misconducted myself! And finally, I see that, in order to put a stop to all this intriguing, I must cease to be an official. As an official I find between myself and the Government too many persons who are interested in denying the misery of the population. There are, in addition, still further reasons that prevent me from going to Ngawi. The place was not vacant . . . it has been purposely made vacant for me: look!”
And he showed in the Java Gazette, received by the same mail, the fact that in the one Government Order in Council the Administration of Ngawi was entrusted to him, and the Assistant-Resident of that province was transferred to another division that was vacant.
“Do you know why it is exactly Ngawi where they want me to go, and not the division that was vacant? I’ll tell you! The Resident of Madioon, to which Ngawi belongs, is the brother-in-law of the former Resident of Bantam. I have mentioned that the Regent formerly had such bad examples . . .”
“Ah!” exclaimed Verbrugge and Duclari at the same time. They understood why Havelaar was particularly transferred to Ngawi on probation, to see whether he would improve!
“And there is still another reason why I cannot go there,” he said. “The present Governor-General will soon retire. . . . I know his successor, and I know that nothing may be expected of him. Therefore in order to do anything for these poor people in time, I must see the present Governor-General before his departure, and if now I were to go to Ngawi, that would be impossible. Tine, listen!”
“Dear Max?”
“You have plenty of courage, haven’t you?”
“Max, you know that I have courage . . . when I am with you!”
“Very well!”
