The reader must long have seen why I can so readily relinquish all claims to juridical authenticity for the story of Saïdyah.
It was a striking thing to observe how the timid Verbrugge, before the reproaches of Duclari, durst rely on Havelaar’s word in a case which tempted so strongly to breach of faith!
And another thing. Since the events which I am relating, years have elapsed. Havelaar has suffered much in that time, he has seen his family suffer—the writings that lie before me bear witness to it!—and it appears that he has waited. . . . I here give the following note from his hand:
“I have seen in the newspapers that Mr. Slimering has been made a Knight of the Netherlands Lion. He now appears to be Resident of Djokjakarta. I could not therefore now revert to the Lebak affairs without danger to Verbrugge.”
