Max Havelaar 1732 Studios

Dutch · The Novel

Hoofdstuk 2

Chapter 2

116 sentences · 206 notes

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  1. 1

    Since I do not know whether you are acquainted with the exchange, let me just tell you that Stern is a first-rate coffee house in Hamburg, one that has always been served by Last & Co.

    Daarsincedaar · subordinating conjunctionintroduces the causal clause of weet
    ikIik · pronoun, nominativesubject of weet
    nietnotniet · adverbnegates weet
    weetknowweten · verb, present, first-person singularmain verb of the causal clause
    ofwhetherof · subordinating conjunctionintroduces the embedded question of zijt
    gyyougij · pronoun, nominative, second-person singularsubject of zijt

    Gy is the historical spelling of the now-archaic pronoun gij.

    aanwithaan · prepositionpreposition marking beurs
    dethede · definite articledeterminer of beurs
    beursexchangebeurs · noun, common gender, singularobject of aan
    bekendacquaintedbekend · adjective, predicativepredicative complement of zijt
    zytarezijn · verb, present, second-person singularcopula linking gij to bekend

    Zyt is the historical spelling of zijt, the archaic second-person form of zijn.

    wilwould likewillen · modal verb, present, first-person singularmain verb governing zeggen
    ikIik · pronoun, nominativesubject of wil
    uyouu · pronoun, dativeindirect object of zeggen
    evenjusteven · adverbmodifies zeggen
    zeggentellzeggen · verb, infinitiveinfinitival complement of wil
    datthatdat · subordinating conjunctionintroduces the complement clause of zeggen
    SternSternStern · proper nounsubject of is
    eenaeen · indefinite articledeterminer of huis
    eerstfirst-rateeerste · adjective, attributive, singularmodifies huis
    huishousehuis · noun, neuter, singularpredicative complement of is
    isiszijn · verb, present, singularcopula linking Stern to huis
    ininin · prepositionpreposition marking koffi
    kofficoffeekoffie · noun, common gender, singularobject of in, modifying huis
    teinte · prepositionpreposition marking Hamburg
    HamburgHamburgHamburg · proper nounobject of te
    datthatdat · relative pronoun, neuter, singularsubject of the relative clause, referring to huis
    altydalwaysaltijd · adverbmodifies bediend
    doorbydoor · prepositionintroduces the agent of bediend
    LastLastLast · proper nounfirst element of agent company name
    CoCompanycompagnie · noun, abbreviation, singularsecond element of agent company name
    ishaszijn · auxiliary verb, present, singularperfect auxiliary of geworden
    bediendservedbedienen · verb, past participlemain verb of the relative clause
    gewordenbeenworden · auxiliary verb, past participlepassive auxiliary of bediend
  2. 2

    Quite by chance I got wind of it ... I mean, of the underhanded dealings of Busselinck & Waterman.

  3. 3

    They were ready to shave a quarter percent off the brokerage—undercutters they are, nothing else!—and now just see what I have done to ward off that blow.

  4. 4

    Another man in my place might perhaps have written to Ludwig Stern that he too would shave something off, that he counted on his consideration for the long-standing services of Last & Co ... I have worked out that, over fully fifty years, the firm has earned Stern four hundred thousand guilders.

  5. 5

    That connection dates from the Continental System, when we smuggled colonial goods in from Heligoland. Yes, who knows what some other man might have written.

  6. 6

    But no, undercutting is not my way. I went to Polen's, had pen and paper brought to me, and wrote:

  7. 7

    That the great expansion our business had lately undergone, owing above all to the many esteemed orders out of North Germany ... It is the pure truth!

  8. 8

    ...that this expansion made some enlargement of our staff necessary. It is the truth!

  9. 9

    Why, only yesterday evening the bookkeeper was at the office past eleven, looking for his spectacles.

  10. 10

    That the need made itself felt above all for respectable, well-bred young men, for the correspondence in German.

  11. 11

    That, true enough, many young Germans now in Amsterdam possessed the requisite qualifications for this, but that a house which respects itself ... It is the pure truth!

  12. 12

    ...given the growing frivolity and immorality among the young, the daily swelling of the number of fortune-hunters, and with an eye to the necessity of making soundness of conduct go hand in hand with soundness in carrying out the orders entrusted to one ... It is, truly, all of it the pure truth!

  13. 13

    ...that a house such as this—I mean Last & Co, coffee brokers, Lauriergracht No. 37—could not be too cautious in the engaging of clerks.

  14. 14

    All of this is the pure truth, reader! Do you know that the young German who used to stand by pillar 17 at the exchange ran off with the daughter of Busselinck & Waterman?

  15. 15

    Our Marie too turns thirteen this September.

  16. 16

    ...that I had had the honor of learning from Mr. Saffeler—Saffeler travels for Stern—that the firm's esteemed head, Mr. Ludwig Stern, had a son, Mr. Ernest Stern, who, to perfect his commercial knowledge, wished to be employed for a while in a Dutch house. That with an eye to ...

  17. 17

    Here I rehearsed all that immorality again, and recounted the affair of the daughter of Busselinck & Waterman. Not to blacken anyone ... no, smearing people is really not at all my way!

  18. 18

    But ... it can never hurt for them to know it, I should think. ...that with an eye to that, I wished for nothing better than to see Mr. Ernest Stern entrusted with the German correspondence of our house.

  19. 19

    Out of delicacy I avoided every allusion to fee or salary.

  20. 20

    But I added: That, should Mr. Ernest Stern be willing to make do with lodging in our house—Lauriergracht No. 37—my wife declared herself ready to care for him like a mother, and that his linen would be mended in the house.

  21. 21

    This is the pure truth, for Marie darns and mends very prettily. And finally:

  22. 22

    That with us the Lord was served. He can pocket that one, for the Sterns are Lutheran.

  23. 23

    And I sent off my letter. You will understand that old Stern cannot decently cross over to Busselinck & Waterman while the son is here at our office.

  24. 24

    I am very curious about the answer. But to come back now to my book.

  25. 25

    A while ago I was passing one evening through the Kalverstraat, and stopped to look into the shop of a grocer who was busy sorting a small lot of Java—common grade, pretty yellow, Cheribon sort, a little broken, with sweepings—which interested me greatly, for I always keep an eye on everything. Then all at once a gentleman caught my notice who was standing nearby in front of a bookshop and seemed familiar to me.

  26. 26

    He too seemed to recognize me, for our glances kept meeting. I must confess that I was too absorbed in the sweepings to notice straightaway what I did later see, namely that he was rather threadbare in his clothes.

  27. 27

    Otherwise I should have let the matter rest there. But all at once the thought struck me that he might be a traveler for some German house, looking for a sound broker.

  28. 28

    And indeed he had something of a German about him, and of a traveler too. He was very fair, had blue eyes, and there was something in his bearing and his dress that betrayed the foreigner.

  29. 29

    Instead of a proper winter coat, a kind of shawl hung over his shoulder—Frits says "shawl," but I do not—as though he had just come off a journey. I took him for a customer, and gave him a business card: Last & Co, coffee brokers, Lauriergracht No. 37.

  30. 30

    He held it up to the gaslight and said: "I thank you, but I have made a mistake.

  31. 31

    I thought I had the pleasure of seeing an old schoolfellow before me, but ...

  32. 32

    Last? That is not the name."

  33. 33

    —Pardon me, said I—for I am always polite—I am Mr. Droogstoppel, Batavus Droogstoppel. Last & Co is the firm, coffee brokers, Laurierg ...

  34. 34

    —Why, Droogstoppel, don't you know me anymore? Have a good look at me.

  35. 35

    The more I looked at him, the more I recalled having seen him before. But, strange to say, his face produced on me the effect of smelling some strange perfumes.

  36. 36

    Do not laugh at this, reader; presently you will see how it came about. I am certain that he carried not a drop of scent on him, and yet I smelled something pleasant, something strong, something that reminded me of ... there I had it!

  37. 37

    —Is it you, I cried, who once rescued me from the Greek? —Why, certainly, said he, that was I.

  38. 38

    And how are you getting on? I told him that there were thirteen of us at the office, and that we did so much business.

  39. 39

    And then I asked how he himself was getting on, which I later regretted, for he seemed not to be in good circumstances, and I have no liking for poor people, because as a rule it is their own fault, since the Lord would not forsake anyone who had served Him faithfully.

  40. 40

    Had I simply said, "there are thirteen of us, and ... a good evening to you!" then I should have been rid of him.

  41. 41

    But with all that asking and answering it grew harder and harder—Frits says: more and more difficulter, but I do not—harder, then, to get rid of him. On the other hand I must again admit that you would not have had this book to read, for it is a consequence of that meeting.

  42. 42

    I like to take note of the good in things, and those who do not are discontented people whom I cannot abide. Yes, yes, it was he who had rescued me from the hands of the Greek!

  43. 43

    Now do not imagine that I was ever taken by pirates, or that I had a quarrel in the Levant. I have already told you that after my marriage I went with my wife to The Hague.

  44. 44

    There we saw the Mauritshuis and bought flannel in the Veenestraat. That is the one excursion business has ever allowed me, because we do so much of it.

  45. 45

    No, it was in Amsterdam itself that he had bloodied a Greek's nose on my account. For he was always meddling in things that were no concern of his.

  46. 46

    It was in 'thirty-three or 'thirty-four, I believe, and in September, for there was a fair on at Amsterdam.

  47. 47

    Since my old folks intended to make a parson of me, I was learning Latin. Later I have often asked myself why one has to understand Latin in order to say in Dutch: "God is good." Enough—I was at the Latin school—nowadays they call it a gymnasium—and there was a fair on ... in Amsterdam, I mean.

  48. 48

    On the Westermarkt there were stalls, and if you are an Amsterdammer, reader, and roughly of my age, you will recall how among them there was one that stood out for the black eyes and the long braids of a girl dressed like a Greek maiden. Her father too was a Greek, or at least he looked like one.

  49. 49

    They sold all manner of perfumes. I was just old enough to find the girl pretty, without yet having the courage to speak to her.

  50. 50

    It would have done me little good in any case, for girls of eighteen regard a boy of sixteen as a child. And in this they are quite right.

  51. 51

    Yet we boys of the fourth form would go to the Westermarkt every evening to see that girl. Now he who stood there before me with his shawl was once among them, though he was a couple of years younger than the rest, and so still too childish to be looking at the Greek girl.

  52. 52

    But he was the head of our class—for clever he was, I must admit that—and he was very fond of games, roughhousing, and fighting. That was why he was with us.

  53. 53

    So while we—there were a good ten of us—stood a fair way off from the stall, gazing at that Greek girl and debating how we ought to manage an acquaintance with her, it was decided that we should pool some money to buy something at that stall. But then good counsel was dear, when it came to knowing who would screw up the courage to address the girl.

  54. 54

    Everyone wanted to, but no one dared. Lots were drawn, and the lot fell on me.

  55. 55

    Now I admit that I am not fond of braving dangers.

  56. 56

    I am a husband and a father, and I hold anyone who courts danger to be a fool, which is also what the Scripture says. It is in truth a pleasure to me to observe how I have stayed the same in my ideas about danger and such things, for to this day I still cherish exactly the same opinion about such matters as on that evening when I stood there by the Greek's stall, with the twelve stuivers we had pooled in my hand.

  57. 57

    But there—out of false shame I dared not say that I did not dare, and besides, I had to go forward, for my comrades were pushing me, and before long I stood before the stall. The girl I did not see: I saw nothing!

  58. 58

    Everything went green and yellow before my eyes. I stammered out an aoristus primus of I know not what verb ...

  59. 59

    —Plaît-il? said she. I collected myself somewhat, and went on:

  60. 60

    —Mēnin aeide thea, and ... that Egypt was a gift of the Nile.

  61. 61

    I am convinced I should have succeeded in striking up the acquaintance, had not at that moment one of my comrades, out of childish mischief, given me so hard a shove in the back that I went crashing most ungently against the show-case which closed off the front of the stall at half a man's height.

  62. 62

    I felt a grip on my neck ... a second grip much lower down ... I hovered an instant in the air ... and before I rightly grasped how matters stood, I was inside the Greek's stall, and he was telling me in plain French that I was a gamin, and that he would call the police. Now I was indeed close to the girl, but it gave me no pleasure.

  63. 63

    I wept, and begged for mercy, for I was in a dreadful fright. But it was no use.

  64. 64

    The Greek held me by the arm and kicked me. I looked round for my comrades—that very morning we had had a great deal to do about Scaevola, who put his hand into the fire, and in their Latin compositions they had thought this so very fine—oh yes, indeed!

  65. 65

    Not one had stayed behind to put a hand into the fire for me ... So I supposed.

  66. 66

    But there—all at once my Shawlman came flying in through the back of the stall. He was neither big nor strong, and barely thirteen years old, but he was a nimble, plucky little fellow.

  67. 67

    I can still see his eyes flashing—usually they looked dull—he dealt the Greek a blow with his fist, and I was saved. Later I heard that the Greek thrashed him soundly, but since I hold to a fixed principle never to meddle in things that are no concern of mine, I ran off at once.

  68. 68

    So I did not see it.

  69. 69

    That is the reason his features so reminded me of perfume, and how one may come to quarrel with a Greek in Amsterdam.

  70. 70

    Whenever, at later fairs, that man stood again with his stall on the Westermarkt, I always went off to amuse myself elsewhere.

  71. 71

    Since I am very fond of philosophical observations, I really must just tell you, reader, how wondrously the affairs of this world hang together.

  72. 72

    Had that girl's eyes been less black, had her braids been shorter, or had I not been flung against that show-case, you would not be reading this book now. Be thankful, then, that it happened as it did.

  73. 73

    Believe me, everything in the world is good, just as it is, and discontented people who are forever complaining are no friends of mine. There you have Busselinck & Waterman ... but I must press on, for my book has to be finished before the spring auction.

  74. 74

    To speak plainly—for I am fond of the truth—seeing that person again was not agreeable to me.

  75. 75

    I noticed at once that it was no sound connection.

  76. 76

    He looked very pale, and when I asked him what time it was, he did not know.

  77. 77

    These are the sort of things a man notices who has frequented the exchange for some twenty years and seen so much go on. I have watched many a house go under!

  78. 78

    I supposed he would turn right, and said that I had to go left. But there—he turned left as well, and so I could not avoid falling into conversation.

  79. 79

    But I kept reflecting that he did not know what time it was, and noticed besides that his jacket was buttoned up to the chin—which is a very bad sign—so that I kept the tone of our exchange rather cool. He related to me that he had been in the Indies, that he was married, that he had children.

  80. 80

    I had nothing to say against that, but found nothing of importance in it either. At the Kapelsteeg—otherwise I never go down that alley, because it does not become a respectable man, in my opinion—but this once I meant to turn off to the right at the Kapelsteeg.

  81. 81

    I waited until we were nearly past that little street, the better to make it plain that his way ran straight on, and then I said very politely ... for polite I always am, one can never tell when one may have need of someone later:

  82. 82

    —It has been a particular pleasure to see you again, Mr. ... er ... er!

  83. 83

    And ... and ... and ... I take my leave! I must turn in here.

  84. 84

    Then he looked at me very oddly, and sighed, and all at once took hold of a button of my coat ...

  85. 85

    —My dear Droogstoppel, said he, I have something to ask of you. A shiver ran through my limbs.

  86. 86

    He did not know what time it was, and wanted to ask me something! Naturally I answered that I had no time, and had to be at the exchange, although it was evening.

  87. 87

    But when one has frequented the exchange for some twenty years ... and someone wants to ask you something, without even knowing what time it is ... I undid my button, took my leave very politely—for polite I always am—and turned into the Kapelsteeg, which I otherwise never do, because it is not respectable, and respectability is above everything else to me.

  88. 88

    I hope no one saw it. THIRD CHAPTER

  89. 89

    When I came back from the exchange a day later, Frits said that someone had been there to speak with me.

  90. 90

    By the description it was the Shawlman. How he had found me ... well, the business card, of course!

  91. 91

    I thought of taking my children out of school, for it is a vexing thing to be pursued twenty, thirty years later by a schoolfellow who wears a shawl in place of a coat, and who does not know what time it is. I have also forbidden Frits to go to the Westermarkt when the stalls are up.

  92. 92

    The next day I received a letter with a large parcel. I will let you read the letter:

  93. 93

    Worthy Droogstoppel! I think he might well have said: Most honorable Mr. Droogstoppel, seeing that I am a broker.

  94. 94

    I was at your house yesterday with the aim of making a request of you.

  95. 95

    I believe you are in good circumstances ... This is true: there are thirteen of us at the office.

  96. 96

    ...and I should like to make use of your credit, to bring about a matter that is of great importance to me. Would one not suppose it was a question of an order for the spring auction?

  97. 97

    Through manifold circumstances I am at the moment somewhat embarrassed for money. Somewhat?

  98. 98

    He had no shirt on his back. That he calls somewhat!

  99. 99

    I cannot give my dear wife all that is needful to make life pleasant, and the education of my children is, from a financial point of view, not such as I should wish. The making of life pleasant?

  100. 100

    The education of his children? Do you suppose he wished to rent a box at the Opera for his wife and send his children to a school in Geneva? It was autumn, and rather cold ... and yet there he lodged in a garret, with no fire.

  101. 101

    When I received that letter I did not know this, but afterward I went to see him, and to this day I am still vexed at the foolish tone of his scribbling.

  102. 102

    What the deuce—whoever is poor can say that he is poor! There must be poor people; it is necessary in society, and it is God's will.

  103. 103

    As long as he asks for no alms and is no trouble to anyone, I have absolutely nothing against his being poor, but all that dressing-up of the matter is out of place. Listen on:

  104. 104

    Since the obligation rests on me to provide for the needs of my own, I have resolved to employ a talent which, I believe, has been given to me. I am a poet ...

  105. 105

    Bah! You know, reader, what I and all sensible people think of that.

  106. 106

    ... and a writer. From my childhood I have expressed my feelings in verse, and later too I wrote down day by day whatever passed in my soul.

  107. 107

    I believe that among all of it there are some pieces that have worth, and I am looking for a publisher for them. But this is just the difficulty.

  108. 108

    The public does not know me, and the publishers judge the works more by the established name of the author than by the contents. Just as we judge coffee by the renown of the marks.

  109. 109

    Why, of course! How else?

  110. 110

    So if I may assume that my work is not wholly without merit, that would still only become apparent after publication, and the booksellers demand payment of the printing costs, etc., in advance ... There they are quite right.

  111. 111

    ... which at this moment does not suit me. Since, however, I am convinced that my labor would cover the costs, and confidently dare to pledge my word upon it, I have, encouraged by our meeting of the day before yesterday....

  112. 112

    That he calls encouraging!

  113. 113

    ... come to the decision of asking you whether you would be willing to stand surety for me with a bookseller for the costs of a first edition, were it only of a small little volume. I leave the choice of that first sample entirely to you.

  114. 114

    In the parcel that accompanies this, you will find many manuscripts, and from them see that I have thought, worked, and witnessed a great deal ... I have never heard that he did any business.

  115. 115

    ... and if the gift of speaking well is not wholly wanting in me, it is surely not for lack of impressions that I should fail to succeed. Awaiting a kind reply, I sign myself your old schoolmate ...

  116. 116

    And his name stood beneath it. But that I withhold, because I do not like to bring anyone into disrepute.

The particulars

The text
Max Havelaar, Multatuli. The Novel.
Translation
Public-domain Dutch (Multatuli, d. 1887; published 1860). English translation © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
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Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.