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第51章

the black tulip-第51章

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saw no sign either of Rosa or Gryphus。 



On reaching the Esplanade; he bravely looked about for the 

guards who were to be his executioners; and in reality saw a 

dozen soldiers assembled。 But they were not standing in 

line; or carrying muskets; but talking together so gayly 

that Cornelius felt almost shocked。 



All at once; Gryphus; limping; staggering; and supporting 

himself on a crooked stick; came forth from the jailer's 

lodge; his old eyes; gray as those of a cat; were lit up by 

a gleam in which all his hatred was concentrated。 He then 

began to pour forth such a torrent of disgusting 

imprecations against Cornelius; that the latter; addressing 

the officer; said;  



〃I do not think it very becoming sir; that I should be thus 

insulted by this man; especially at a moment like this。〃 



〃Well! hear me;〃 said the officer; laughing; 〃it is quite 

natural that this worthy fellow should bear you a grudge;  

you seem to have given it him very soundly。〃 



〃But; sir; it was only in self…defence。〃 



〃Never mind;〃 said the Captain; shrugging his shoulders like 

a true philosopher; 〃let him talk; what does it matter to 

you now?〃 



The cold sweat stood on the brow of Cornelius at this 

answer; which he looked upon somewhat in the light of brutal 

irony; especially as coming from an officer of whom he had 

heard it said that he was attached to the person of the 

Prince。 



The unfortunate tulip…fancier then felt that he had no more 

resources; and no more friends; and resigned himself to his 

fate。 



〃God's will be done;〃 he muttered; bowing his head; then; 

turning towards the officer; who seemed complacently to wait 

until he had finished his meditations he asked;  



〃Please; sir; tell me now; where am I to go?〃 



The officer pointed to a carriage; drawn by four horses; 

which reminded him very strongly of that which; under 

similar circumstances; had before attracted his attention at 

Buytenhof。 



〃Enter;〃 said the officer。 



〃Ah!〃 muttered Cornelius to himself; 〃it seems they are not 

going to treat me to the honours of the Esplanade。〃 



He uttered these words loud enough for the chatty guard; who 

was at his heels; to overhear him。 



That kind soul very likely thought it his duty to give 

Cornelius some new information; for; approaching the door of 

the carriage; whilst the officer; with one foot on the step; 

was still giving some orders; he whispered to Van Baerle;  



〃Condemned prisoners have sometimes been taken to their own 

town to be made an example of; and have then been executed 

before the door of their own house。 It's all according to 

circumstances。〃 



Cornelius thanked him by signs; and then said to himself;  



〃Well; here is a fellow who never misses giving consolation 

whenever an opportunity presents itself。 In truth; my 

friend; I'm very much obliged to you。 Goodbye。〃 



The carriage drove away。 



〃Ah! you villain; you brigand;〃 roared Gryphus; clinching 

his fists at the victim who was escaping from his clutches; 

〃is it not a shame that this fellow gets off without having 

restored my daughter to me?〃 



〃If they take me to Dort;〃 thought Cornelius; 〃I shall see; 

in passing my house; whether my poor borders have been much 

spoiled。〃 









Chapter 30



Wherein the Reader begins to guess the Kind of Execution that

was awaiting Van Baerle





The carriage rolled on during the whole day; it passed on 

the right of Dort; went through Rotterdam; and reached 

Delft。 At five o'clock in the evening; at least twenty 

leagues had been travelled。 



Cornelius addressed some questions to the officer; who was 

at the same time his guard and his companion; but; cautious 

as were his inquiries; he had the disappointment of 

receiving no answer。 



Cornelius regretted that he had no longer by his side the 

chatty soldier; who would talk without being questioned。 



That obliging person would undoubtedly have given him as 

pleasant details and exact explanations concerning this 

third strange part of his adventures as he had done 

concerning the first two。 



The travellers passed the night in the carriage。 On the 

following morning at dawn Cornelius found himself beyond 

Leyden; having the North Sea on his left; and the Zuyder Zee 

on his right。 



Three hours after; he entered Haarlem。 



Cornelius was not aware of what had passed at Haarlem; and 

we shall leave him in ignorance of it until the course of 

events enlightens him。 



But the reader has a right to know all about it even before 

our hero; and therefore we shall not make him wait。 



We have seen that Rosa and the tulip; like two orphan 

sisters; had been left by Prince William of Orange at the 

house of the President van Systens。 



Rosa did not hear again from the Stadtholder until the 

evening of that day on which she had seen him face to face。 



Toward evening; an officer called at Van Systen's house。 He 

came from his Highness; with a request for Rosa to appear at 

the Town Hall。 



There; in the large Council Room into which she was ushered; 

she found the Prince writing。 



He was alone; with a large Frisian greyhound at his feet; 

which looked at him with a steady glance; as if the faithful 

animal were wishing to do what no man could do;  read the 

thoughts of his master in his face。 



William continued his writing for a moment; then; raising 

his eyes; and seeing Rosa standing near the door; he said; 

without laying down his pen;  



〃Come here; my child。〃 



Rosa advanced a few steps towards the table。 



〃Sit down;〃 he said。 



Rosa obeyed; for the Prince was fixing his eyes upon her; 

but he had scarcely turned them again to his paper when she 

bashfully retired to the door。 



The Prince finished his letter。 



During this time; the greyhound went up to Rosa; surveyed 

her and began to caress her。 



〃Ah; ah!〃 said William to his dog; 〃it's easy to see that 

she is a countrywoman of yours; and that you recognise her。〃 



Then; turning towards Rosa; and fixing on her his 

scrutinising; and at the same time impenetrable glance; he 

said;  



〃Now; my child。〃 



The Prince was scarcely twenty…three; and Rosa eighteen or 

twenty。 He might therefore perhaps better have said; My 

sister。 



〃My child;〃 he said; with that strangely commanding accent 

which chilled all those who approached him; 〃we are alone; 

let us speak together。〃 



Rosa began to tremble; and yet there was nothing but 

kindness in the expression of the Prince's face。 



〃Monseigneur;〃 she stammered。 



〃You have a father at Loewestein?〃 



〃Yes; your Highness。〃 



〃You do not love him?〃 



〃I do not; at least; not as a daughter ought to do; 

Monseigneur。〃 



〃It is not right not to love one's father; but it is right 

not to tell a falsehood。〃 



Rosa cast her eyes to the ground。 



〃What is the reason of your not loving your father?〃 



〃He is wicked。〃 



〃In what way does he show his wickedness?〃 



〃He ill…treats the prisoners。〃 



〃All of them?〃 



〃All。〃 



〃But don't you bear him a grudge for ill…treating some one 

in particular?〃 



〃My father ill…treats in particular Mynheer van Baerle; who 

 〃 



〃Who is your lover?〃 



Rosa started back a step。 



〃Whom I love; Monseigneur;〃 she answered proudly。 



〃Since when?〃 asked the Prince。 



〃Since the day when I first saw him。〃 



〃And when was that?〃 



〃The day after that on which the Grand Pensionary John and 

his brother Cornelius met with such an awful death。〃 



The Prince compressed his lips; and knit his brow and his 

eyelids dropped so as to hide his eyes for an instant。 After 

a momentary silence; he resumed the conversation。 



〃But to what can it lead to love a man who is doomed to

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