the black tulip-第23节
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belabour him with kicks and cuffs； such as could not have
been administered in better style by any prize…fighter on
the other side of the Channel。
Blows were； however； nothing to him。 He wanted to run after
the coach which was carrying away Cornelius with his bulbs。
But in his hurry he overlooked a paving…stone in his way；
stumbled； lost his centre of gravity； rolled over to a
distance of some yards； and only rose again； bruised and
begrimed； after the whole rabble of the Hague； with their
muddy feet； had passed over him。
One would think that this was enough for one day； but
Mynheer Boxtel did not seem to think so； as； in addition to
having his clothes torn； his back bruised； and his hands
scratched； he inflicted upon himself the further punishment
of tearing out his hair by handfuls； as an offering to that
goddess of envy who； as mythology teaches us； wears a
head…dress of serpents。
Chapter 14
The Pigeons of Dort
It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van
Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once
received the learned master Grotius。
But on arriving at the prison he met with an honour even
greater。 As chance would have it； the cell formerly
inhabited by the illustrious Barneveldt happened to be
vacant； when the clemency of the Prince of Orange sent the
tulip…fancier Van Baerle there。
The cell had a very bad character at the castle since the
time when Grotius； by means of the device of his wife； made
escape from it in that famous book…chest which the jailers
forgot to examine。
On the other hand； it seemed to Van Baerle an auspicious
omen that this very cell was assigned to him； for according
to his ideas； a jailer ought never to have given to a second
pigeon the cage from which the first had so easily flown。
The cell had an historical character。 We will only state
here that； with the exception of an alcove which was
contrived there for the use of Madame Grotius； it differed
in no respect from the other cells of the prison； only；
perhaps； it was a little higher； and had a splendid view
from the grated window。
Cornelius felt himself perfectly indifferent as to the place
where he had to lead an existence which was little more than
vegetation。 There were only two things now for which he
cared； and the possession of which was a happiness enjoyed
only in imagination。
A flower； and a woman； both of them； as he conceived； lost
to him for ever。
Fortunately the good doctor was mistaken。 In his prison cell
the most adventurous life which ever fell to the lot of any
tulip…fancier was reserved for him。
One morning； whilst at his window inhaling the fresh air
which came from the river； and casting a longing look to the
windmills of his dear old city Dort； which were looming in
the distance behind a forest of chimneys； he saw flocks of
pigeons coming from that quarter to perch fluttering on the
pointed gables of Loewestein。
These pigeons； Van Baerle said to himself； are coming from
Dort； and consequently may return there。 By fastening a
little note to the wing of one of these pigeons； one might
have a chance to send a message there。 Then； after a few
moments' consideration； he exclaimed；
〃I will do it。〃
A man grows very patient who is twenty…eight years of age；
and condemned to a prison for life； that is to say； to
something like twenty…two or twenty…three thousand days of
captivity。
Van Baerle； from whose thoughts the three bulbs were never
absent； made a snare for catching the pigeons； baiting the
birds with all the resources of his kitchen； such as it was
for eight slivers （sixpence English） a day； and； after a
month of unsuccessful attempts； he at last caught a female
bird。
It cost him two more months to catch a male bird； he then
shut them up together； and having about the beginning of the
year 1673 obtained some eggs from them； he released the
female； which； leaving the male behind to hatch the eggs in
her stead； flew joyously to Dort； with the note under her
wing。
She returned in the evening。 She had preserved the note。
Thus it went on for fifteen days； at first to the
disappointment； and then to the great grief； of Van Baerle。
On the sixteenth day； at last； she came back without it。
Van Baerle had addressed it to his nurse； the old Frisian
woman； and implored any charitable soul who might find it to
convey it to her as safely and as speedily as possible。
In this letter there was a little note enclosed for Rosa。
Van Baerle's nurse had received the letter in the following
way。
Leaving Dort； Mynheer Isaac Boxtel had abandoned； not only
his house； his servants； his observatory； and his telescope；
but also his pigeons。
The servant； having been left without wages； first lived on
his little savings； and then on his master's pigeons。
Seeing this； the pigeons emigrated from the roof of Isaac
Boxtel to that of Cornelius van Baerle。
The nurse was a kind…hearted woman； who could not live
without something to love。 She conceived an affection for
the pigeons which had thrown themselves on her hospitality；
and when Boxtel's servant reclaimed them with culinary
intentions； having eaten the first fifteen already； and now
wishing to eat the other fifteen； she offered to buy them
from him for a consideration of six stivers per head。
This being just double their value； the man was very glad to
close the bargain； and the nurse found herself in undisputed
possession of the pigeons of her master's envious neighbour。
In the course of their wanderings； these pigeons with others
visited the Hague； Loewestein； and Rotterdam； seeking
variety； doubtless； in the flavour of their wheat or
hempseed。
Chance； or rather God； for we can see the hand of God in
everything； had willed that Cornelius van Baerle should
happen to hit upon one of these very pigeons。
Therefore； if the envious wretch had not left Dort to follow
his rival to the Hague in the first place； and then to
Gorcum or to Loewestein； for the two places are separated
only by the confluence of the Waal and the Meuse； Van
Baerle's letter would have fallen into his hands and not the
nurse's： in which event the poor prisoner； like the raven of
the Roman cobbler； would have thrown away his time； his
trouble； and； instead of having to relate the series of
exciting events which are about to flow from beneath our pen
like the varied hues of a many coloured tapestry； we should
have naught to describe but a weary waste of days； dull and
melancholy and gloomy as night's dark mantle。
The note； as we have said； had reached Van Baerle's nurse。
And also it came to pass； that one evening in the beginning
of February； just when the stars were beginning to twinkle；
Cornelius heard on the staircase of the little turret a
voice which thrilled through him。
He put his hand on his heart； and listened。
It was the sweet harmonious voice of Rosa。
Let us confess it； Cornelius was not so stupefied with
surprise； or so beyond himself with joy； as he would have
been but for the pigeon； which； in answer to his letter； had
brought back hope to him under her empty wing； and； knowing
Rosa； he expected； if the note had ever reached her； to hear
of her whom he loved； and also of his three darling bulbs。
He rose； listened once more； and bent forward towards the
door。
Yes； they were indeed the accents which had fallen so
sweetly on his heart at the Hague。
The question now was； whether Rosa； who had made the journey
from the Hague to Loewestein； and who Cornelius did not
understand how had succeeded even in penetrating into the
prison； would also be fortunate enough in penetrating to the
prisoner himself。
Whilst Cornelius； debating this point within himself； was
building all sorts of castles in the air； and was struggling
between hope and fear； the shutter of the grating in the
door opened； and Rosa； beaming with joy； and beautiful in
her pretty national costume but still more beautiful from
the grief which for the last five months had blanched her
cheeks pressed her little face against the wire grating
of the window； saying to him；
〃Oh； sir； sir！ here I am！〃
Cornelius stretched out his arms； and； looking to heaven；
uttered a cry of joy；
〃Oh； Rosa； Rosa！〃
〃Hush！ let us speak low： my father follows on my heels；〃
said the girl。
〃Your father？〃
〃Yes； he is in the courtyard at the bottom of the staircase；
receiving the instructions of the Governor； he will
presently come up。〃
〃The instructions of the Governor？〃
〃Listen to me； I'll try to tell you all in a few words。
