“ ‘He cried: “To that rock power has been given above me! I wish I were that rock!”
“ ‘And there came an angel from heaven and said: “Be it unto thee as thou hast said!”
“ ‘And he became a rock, and moved not when the sun shone, nor when it rained.
“ ‘And there came a man with a mattock and a pickaxe and a heavy hammer, and he hewed stones out of the rock.
“ ‘And the rock said: “What is this, that the man has power over me, and can hew stones out of my bosom?” And he was not contented.
“ ‘He cried: “I am weaker than this one . . . I wish I were this man!”
“ ‘And there came an angel from heaven, and said: “Be it unto thee as thou hast said!”
“ ‘And he was a stone-cutter. And he hewed stones from the rock, with hard labour, and he laboured very heavily for slender wages, and he was contented.’ ”
“Most charming,” exclaimed Duclari, “but now you still owe us the proof that little Oopi ought to have been imponderable.”
“No, I never promised you that proof! I have only wished to tell you how I made her acquaintance. When my story was finished, I asked:
“ ‘And you, Oopi, what would you choose, if an angel from heaven came to ask you what you most wished?’
“ ‘Surely, Sir, I should pray that he might take me to heaven.’ ”
“Isn’t that beautifully sweet?” asked Tine, turning to her guests, who perhaps thought it very absurd. . . .
Havelaar rose, and wiped something from his forehead.
