[Continuation of Stern’s composition.]
“Dear Max,” said Tine, “our dessert, is so scantywould you notyou remember Madam Geoffrin?”
“Talk to us of something else than pastry? What the deuce! I am hoarse; it is Verbrugge’s turn.”
“Yes, Mr Verbrugge! Please relieve Max,” said Madam Havelaar. Verbrugge hesitated for a moment; and began:
“Once upon a time there was a man, who stole a turkey.”
“Oh you rogue,” cried Havelaar, “that is from Padang! And how does it go on?”
“It is finished. Do you know the end of this story?”
“To be sure, I ate the turkey in company with. . . . somebody. Do you know why I was suspended at Padang?”
“People said that there was a deficit in your cash at Natal,” replied Verbrugge.
“That is not altogether untrue, but neither is it true. From many causes I had been very careless in my pecu-
