太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the black tulip >

第17节

the black tulip-第17节

小说: the black tulip 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




warrant the name and station of his prisoner; he muttered 

with his turnkey smile;  



〃Godson of Cornelius de Witt! Well; young man; we have the 

family cell here; and we will give it to you。〃 



And quite enchanted with his joke; the ferocious Orangeman 

took his cresset and his keys to conduct Cornelius to the 

cell; which on that very morning Cornelius de Witt had left 

to go into exile; or what in revolutionary times is meant 

instead by those sublime philosophers who lay it down as an 

axiom of high policy; 〃It is the dead only who do not 

return。〃 



On the way which the despairing florist had to traverse to 

reach that cell he heard nothing but the barking of a dog; 

and saw nothing but the face of a young girl。 



The dog rushed forth from a niche in the wall; shaking his 

heavy chain; and sniffing all round Cornelius in order so 

much the better to recognise him in case he should be 

ordered to pounce upon him。 



The young girl; whilst the prisoner was mounting the 

staircase; appeared at the narrow door of her chamber; which 

opened on that very flight of steps; and; holding the lamp 

in her right hand; she at the same time lit up her pretty 

blooming face; surrounded by a profusion of rich wavy golden 

locks; whilst with her left she held her white night…dress 

closely over her breast; having been roused from her first 

slumber by the unexpected arrival of Van Baerle。 



It would have made a fine picture; worthy of Rembrandt; the 

gloomy winding stairs illuminated by the reddish glare of 

the cresset of Gryphus; with his scowling jailer's 

countenance at the top; the melancholy figure of Cornelius 

bending over the banister to look down upon the sweet face 

of Rosa; standing; as it were; in the bright frame of the 

door of her chamber; with embarrassed mien at being thus 

seen by a stranger。 



And at the bottom; quite in the shade; where the details are 

absorbed in the obscurity; the mastiff; with his eyes 

glistening like carbuncles; and shaking his chain; on which 

the double light from the lamp of Rosa and the lantern of 

Gryphus threw a brilliant glitter。 



The sublime master would; however; have been altogether 

unable to render the sorrow expressed in the face of Rosa; 

when she saw this pale; handsome young man slowly climbing 

the stairs; and thought of the full import of the words; 

which her father had just spoken; 〃You will have the family 

cell。〃 



This vision lasted but a moment;  much less time than we 

have taken to describe it。 Gryphus then proceeded on his 

way; Cornelius was forced to follow him; and five minutes 

afterwards he entered his prison; of which it is unnecessary 

to say more; as the reader is already acquainted with it。 



Gryphus pointed with his finger to the bed on which the 

martyr had suffered so much; who on that day had rendered 

his soul to God。 Then; taking up his cresset; he quitted the 

cell。 



Thus left alone; Cornelius threw himself on his bed; but he 

slept not; he kept his eye fixed on the narrow window; 

barred with iron; which looked on the Buytenhof; and in this 

way saw from behind the trees that first pale beam of light 

which morning sheds on the earth as a white mantle。 



Now and then during the night horses had galloped at a smart 

pace over the Buytenhof; the heavy tramp of the patrols had 

resounded from the pavement; and the slow matches of the 

arquebuses; flaring in the east wind; had thrown up at 

intervals a sudden glare as far as to the panes of his 

window。 



But when the rising sun began to gild the coping stones at 

the gable ends of the houses; Cornelius; eager to know 

whether there was any living creature about him; approached 

the window; and cast a sad look round the circular yard 

before him 



At the end of the yard a dark mass; tinted with a dingy blue 

by the morning dawn; rose before him; its dark outlines 

standing out in contrast to the houses already illuminated 

by the pale light of early morning。 



Cornelius recognised the gibbet。 



On it were suspended two shapeless trunks; which indeed were 

no more than bleeding skeletons。 



The good people of the Hague had chopped off the flesh of 

its victims; but faithfully carried the remainder to the 

gibbet; to have a pretext for a double inscription written 

on a huge placard; on which Cornelius; with the keen sight 

of a young man of twenty…eight; was able to read the 

following lines; daubed by the coarse brush of a 

sign…painter:  



〃Here are hanging the great rogue of the name of John de 

Witt; and the little rogue Cornelius de Witt; his brother; 

two enemies of the people; but great friends of the king of 

France。〃 



Cornelius uttered a cry of horror; and in the agony of his 

frantic terror knocked with his hands and feet at the door 

so violently and continuously; that Gryphus; with his huge 

bunch of keys in his hand; ran furiously up。 



The jailer opened the door; with terrible imprecations 

against the prisoner who disturbed him at an hour which 

Master Gryphus was not accustomed to be aroused。 



〃Well; now; by my soul; he is mad; this new De Witt;〃 he 

cried; 〃but all those De Witts have the devil in them。〃 



〃Master; master;〃 cried Cornelius; seizing the jailer by the 

arm and dragging him towards the window;  〃master; what 

have I read down there?〃 



〃Where down there?〃 



〃On that placard。〃 



And; trembling; pale; and gasping for breath; he pointed to 

the gibbet at the other side of the yard; with the cynical 

inscription surmounting it。 



Gryphus broke out into a laugh。 



〃Eh! eh!〃 he answered; 〃so; you have read it。 Well; my good 

sir; that's what people will get for corresponding with the 

enemies of his Highness the Prince of Orange。〃 



〃The brothers De Witt are murdered!〃 Cornelius muttered; 

with the cold sweat on his brow; and sank on his bed; his 

arms hanging by his side; and his eyes closed。 



〃The brothers De Witt have been judged by the people;〃 said 

Gryphus; 〃you call that murdered; do you? well; I call it 

executed。〃 



And seeing that the prisoner was not only quiet; but 

entirely prostrate and senseless; he rushed from the cell; 

violently slamming the door; and noisily drawing the bolts。 



Recovering his consciousness; Cornelius found himself alone; 

and recognised the room where he was;  〃the family cell;〃 

as Gryphus had called it;  as the fatal passage leading to 

ignominious death。 



And as he was a philosopher; and; more than that; as he was 

a Christian; he began to pray for the soul of his godfather; 

then for that of the Grand Pensionary; and at last submitted 

with resignation to all the sufferings which God might 

ordain for him。 



Then turning again to the concerns of earth; and having 

satisfied himself that he was alone in his dungeon; he drew 

from his breast the three bulbs of the black tulip; and 

concealed them behind a block of stone; on which the 

traditional water…jug of the prison was standing; in the 

darkest corner of his cell。 



Useless labour of so many years! such sweet hopes crushed; 

his discovery was; after all; to lead to naught; just as his 

own career was to be cut short。 Here; in his prison; there 

was not a trace of vegetation; not an atom of soil; not a 

ray of sunshine。 



At this thought Cornelius fell into a gloomy despair; from 

which he was only aroused by an extraordinary circumstance。 



What was this circumstance? 



We shall inform the reader in our next chapter。 









Chapter 10



The Jailer's Daughter





On the same evening Gryphus; as he brought the prisoner his 

mess; slipped on the damp flags whilst opening the door of 

the cell; and fell; in the attempt to steady himself; on his 

hand; but as it was turned the wrong way; he broke his arm 

just above the wrist。 



Cornelius rushed forward towards the jailer; but Gryphus; 

who was not yet aware of the serious nature of his injury; 

called out to him;  



〃It is nothing: don't you stir。〃 



He then tried to support himself on his arm; but the bone 

gave way; then only he felt the pain; and uttered a cry。 



When he became aware that his arm was broken; this man; so 

harsh to others; fell swooning on the threshold; where he 

remained motionless and cold; as if dead。 



During all this time the door of the cell stood open and 

Cornelius found himself almost free。 But the thought never 

entered his mind of profiting by this accident; he had seen 

from the manner in which the arm was bent; and from the 

noise it made in bending; that the bone was fractured; and 

that the patient must be in great pain; and now he thought 

of nothing else but of administering relief to the sufferer; 

however little benevolent the man had shown himself during 

their short interview。 


返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的