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第50章

the black tulip-第50章

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me?〃 



〃I shall open your heart to see in it the place where you 

hide my daughter。〃 



Saying this; Gryphus in his frenzy rushed towards Cornelius; 

who had barely time to retreat behind his table to avoid the 

first thrust; but as Gryphus continued; with horrid threats; 

to brandish his huge knife; and as; although out of the 

reach of his weapon; yet; as long as it remained in the 

madman's hand; the ruffian might fling it at him; Cornelius 

lost no time; and availing himself of the stick; which he 

held tight under his arm; dealt the jailer a vigorous blow 

on the wrist of that hand which held the knife。 



The knife fell to the ground; and Cornelius put his foot on 

it。 



Then; as Gryphus seemed bent upon engaging in a struggle 

which the pain in his wrist; and shame for having allowed 

himself to be disarmed; would have made desperate; Cornelius 

took a decisive step; belaboring his jailer with the most 

heroic self…possession; and selecting the exact spot for 

every blow of the terrible cudgel。 



It was not long before Gryphus begged for mercy。 But before 

begging for mercy; he had lustily roared for help; and his 

cries had roused all the functionaries of the prison。 Two 

turnkeys; an inspector; and three or four guards; made their 

appearance all at once; and found Cornelius still using the 

stick; with the knife under his foot。 



At the sight of these witnesses; who could not know all the 

circumstances which had provoked and might justify his 

offence; Cornelius felt that he was irretrievably lost。 



In fact; appearances were sadly against him。 



In one moment Cornelius was disarmed; and Gryphus raised and 

supported; and; bellowing with rage and pain; he was able to 

count on his back and shoulders the bruises which were 

beginning to swell like the hills dotting the slopes of a 

mountain ridge。 



A protocol of the violence practiced by the prisoner against 

his jailer was immediately drawn up; and as it was made on 

the depositions of Gryphus; it certainly could not be said 

to be too tame; the prisoner being charged with neither more 

nor less than with an attempt to murder; for a long time 

premeditated; with open rebellion。 



Whilst the charge was made out against Cornelius; Gryphus; 

whose presence was no longer necessary after having made his 

depositions; was taken down by his turnkeys to his lodge; 

groaning and covered with bruises。 



During this time; the guards who had seized Cornelius busied 

themselves in charitably informing their prisoner of the 

usages and customs of Loewestein; which however he knew as 

well as they did。 The regulations had been read to him at 

the moment of his entering the prison; and certain articles 

in them remained fixed in his memory。 



Among other things they told him that this regulation had 

been carried out to its full extent in the case of a 

prisoner named Mathias; who in 1668; that is to say; five 

years before; had committed a much less violent act of 

rebellion than that of which Cornelius was guilty。 He had 

found his soup too hot; and thrown it at the head of the 

chief turnkey; who in consequence of this ablution had been 

put to the inconvenience of having his skin come off as he 

wiped his face。 



Mathias was taken within twelve hours from his cell; then 

led to the jailer's lodge; where he was registered as 

leaving Loewestein; then taken to the Esplanade; from which 

there is a very fine prospect over a wide expanse of 

country。 There they fettered his hands; bandaged his eyes; 

and let him say his prayers。 



Hereupon he was invited to go down on his knees; and the 

guards of Loewestein; twelve in number; at a sign from a 

sergeant; very cleverly lodged a musket…ball each in his 

body。 



In consequence of this proceeding; Mathias incontinently did 

then and there die。 



Cornelius listened with the greatest attention to this 

delightful recital; and then said;  



〃Ah! ah! within twelve hours; you say?〃 



〃Yes; the twelfth hour had not even struck; if I remember 

right;〃 said the guard who had told him the story。 



〃Thank you;〃 said Cornelius。 



The guard still had the smile on his face with which he 

accompanied and as it were accentuated his tale; when 

footsteps and a jingling of spurs were heard ascending the 

stair…case。 



The guards fell back to allow an officer to pass; who 

entered the cell of Cornelius at the moment when the clerk 

of Loewestein was still making out his report。 



〃Is this No。 11?〃 he asked。 



〃Yes; Captain;〃 answered a non…commissioned officer。 



〃Then this is the cell of the prisoner Cornelius van 

Baerle?〃 



〃Exactly; Captain。〃 



〃Where is the prisoner?〃 



〃Here I am; sir;〃 answered Cornelius; growing rather pale; 

notwithstanding all his courage。 



〃You are Dr。 Cornelius van Baerle?〃 asked he; this time 

addressing the prisoner himself。 



〃Yes; sir。〃 



〃Then follow me。〃 



〃Oh! oh!〃 said Cornelius; whose heart felt oppressed by the 

first dread of death。 〃What quick work they make here in the 

fortress of Loewestein。 And the rascal talked to me of 

twelve hours!〃 



〃Ah! what did I tell you?〃 whispered the communicative guard 

in the ear of the culprit。 



〃A lie。〃 



〃How so?〃 



〃You promised me twelve hours。〃 



〃Ah; yes; but here comes to you an aide…de…camp of his 

Highness; even one of his most intimate companions Van 

Deken。 Zounds! they did not grant such an honour to poor 

Mathias。〃 



〃Come; come!〃 said Cornelius; drawing a long breath。 〃Come; 

I'll show to these people that an honest burgher; godson of 

Cornelius de Witt; can without flinching receive as many 

musket…balls as that Mathias。〃 



Saying this; he passed proudly before the clerk; who; being 

interrupted in his work; ventured to say to the officer;  



〃But; Captain van Deken; the protocol is not yet finished。〃 



〃It is not worth while finishing it;〃 answered the officer。 



〃All right;〃 replied the clerk; philosophically putting up 

his paper and pen into a greasy and well…worn writing…case。 



〃It was written;〃 thought poor Cornelius; 〃that I should not 

in this world give my name either to a child to a flower; or 

to a book;  the three things by which a man's memory is 

perpetuated。〃 



Repressing his melancholy thoughts; he followed the officer 

with a resolute heart; and carrying his head erect。 



Cornelius counted the steps which led to the Esplanade; 

regretting that he had not asked the guard how many there 

were of them; which the man; in his official complaisance; 

would not have failed to tell him。 



What the poor prisoner was most afraid of during this walk; 

which he considered as leading him to the end of the journey 

of life; was to see Gryphus and not to see Rosa。 What savage 

satisfaction would glisten in the eyes of the father; and 

what sorrow dim those of the daughter! 



How Gryphus would glory in his punishment! Punishment? 

Rather savage vengeance for an eminently righteous deed; 

which Cornelius had the satisfaction of having performed as 

a bounden duty。 



But Rosa; poor girl! must he die without a glimpse of her; 

without an opportunity to give her one last kiss; or even to 

say one last word of farewell? 



And; worst of all; must he die without any intelligence of 

the black tulip; and regain his consciousness in heaven with 

no idea in what direction he should look to find it? 



In truth; to restrain his tears at such a crisis the poor 

wretch's heart must have been encased in more of the aes 

triplex  〃the triple brass〃  than Horace bestows upon 

the sailor who first visited the terrifying Acroceraunian 

shoals。 



In vain did Cornelius look to the right and to the left; he 

saw no sign either of Rosa or Gryphus。 



On reaching the Esplanade; he bravely look

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