“Me, neglecting you?” cried Rutger in surprise. “My dear child. This whole party is in your honour. How can you possibly say that I’m neglecting you?”
And he went on upstairs, to come down a little later with the other Lobo sister on his arm.
Sarith was furious. Rutger had not had a single dance with her the whole evening. He seemed to be particularly enchanted by the little singers and for the rest had spent almost the whole evening with Elza in her room. That wasn’t how she had imagined the evening. When she had enticed Rutger into her room that afternoon and had pretty well seduced him, she had imagined how she would be dancing with him the whole evening while Elza remained alone in her room. And now everyone was continually going upstairs to Elza. Oh, plenty of men who wanted to dance with her, but not Rutger. Angrily she went into the front hall. In any event, she did not go upstairs.
The party went its lively way, the company upstairs increasing all the time. It was well after midnight when the guests took their leave and departed in small groups, some in carriages, some on foot, led by various slaves bearing lanterns. The slaves who had accompanied their masters had spent the whole evening in the grounds near the slave quarters and had also had food and drink.
The Lobo sisters were among the last guests to depart. In his role as gallant host, Rutger escorted them to their carriage, which stood in front of the door. As he returned indoors, Sarith stood at the open front door.
“And, Sarith, were you pleased with your party?” asked Rutger amicably.
“Pleased? Pleased?” Sarith’s voice was shrill. “The whole evening Annètje and Meta, Meta and Annètje” – this came with a tone that sounded as if she was imitating someone – “I know what you’re after, you’re certainly in love with one of them: just admit it.”
Rutger gazed in astonishment at the irate creature opposite him.
“Oh Sarith, don’t be so absurd,” and walked on. But Sarith followed him.
“Oh yes, now I’m absurd, eh? That’s what you think of me.”
“Go to bed Sarith, you must be tired,” said Rutger calmly.
Rutger went upstairs. Sarith followed him and her voice became increasingly more piercing.
“I know what you want, you want one of them, and you want to cast me aside.”
While she said this, she grabbed Rutger’s hand. Now he got angry. He knocked her hand aside, saying curtly, “How can I cast you aside, you aren’t even mine. Don’t set yourself up like this.”
“So, I’m not yours, eh, not yours!” Sarith was now screaming.
“No, you’re not mine. My wife is here inside.”
With these words Rutger opened the door of the room, went inside and slammed the door in Sarith’s face.
“Shhh, if you’re not careful you’ll wake the baby,” said Elza, who had heard everything. Secretly she was rejoicing. Rutger and Sarith were fighting. Wonderful! She had wanted to say something to Rutger about what she had seen that afternoon, but this was much better.
“Can you imagine,” said Rutger, “that creature making such a jealous scene?”
“Hmmm,” said Elza placidly, “perhaps she regards it as her right.”
“Right? She has no right whatsoever.”
Angry, Rutger began to undress.
“Quiet there; think of the baby,” said Elza soothingly.
Rutger must certainly not be angry with her. When he came to lie next to her, she said, “How sweetly those girls sang, eh? We must invite them more often, we’re sure to become good friends.” And she thought to herself that this might be the best way to get rid of Sarith.
MAISA
The morning after the party, really early, while everyone was still asleep and even the slaves’ quarters in the grounds were shut tight, Maisa went out through the negroes’ gate into the street. She went to the market in the Oude Oranjetuin. Here the slave market was held and all kinds of provisions could be bought. Arriving at the market, which was already quite busy, she first talked with a woman selling fruit, bought a few large mangoes and was directed to an old woman selling dried fish, sitting behind her wares with a small stone pipe in her mouth. Maisa bought a few pieces of fish from her and struck up a conversation with the old woman. She took the pipe from her mouth, spat copiously behind her on the ground, and began to explain something in detail to Maisa.
Shortly thereafter, Maisa left the market, going with quick steps in the direction of the Saramaccastraat. She had a long walk ahead of her, for she was going to Kau-Knie. There she would visit Ma Akuba. Nene90 Duseisi, the fishmongress, had just explained to her where she could find Ma Akuba: someone who would help her beloved Misi Elza and free her from the cursed Misi Sarith.