太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the black tulip >

第27节

the black tulip-第27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!




conveniently reading a book; although it had been quite 

convenient for them to read each other's faces。 



Rosa therefore had to press the open book against the 

grating edgewise; holding above it in her right hand the 

lamp; but Cornelius hit upon the lucky idea of fixing it to 

the bars; so as to afford her a little rest。 Rosa was then 

enabled to follow with her finger the letters and syllables; 

which she was to spell for Cornelius; who with a straw 

pointed out the letters to his attentive pupil through the 

holes of the grating。 



The light of the lamp illuminated the rich complexion of 

Rosa; her blue liquid eyes; and her golden hair under her 

head…dress of gold brocade; with her fingers held up; and 

showing in the blood; as it flowed downwards in the veins 

that pale pink hue which shines before the light owing to 

the living transparency of the flesh tint。 



Rosa's intellect rapidly developed itself under the 

animating influence of Cornelius; and when the difficulties 

seemed too arduous; the sympathy of two loving hearts seemed 

to smooth them away。 



And Rosa; after having returned to her room; repeated in her 

solitude the reading lessons; and at the same time recalled 

all the delight which she had felt whilst receiving them。 



One evening she came half an hour later than usual。 This was 

too extraordinary an instance not to call forth at once 

Cornelius's inquiries after its cause。 



〃Oh! do not be angry with me;〃 she said; 〃it is not my 

fault。 My father has renewed an acquaintance with an old 

crony who used to visit him at the Hague; and to ask him to 

let him see the prison。 He is a good sort of fellow; fond of 

his bottle; tells funny stories; and moreover is very free 

with his money; so as always to be ready to stand a treat。〃 



〃You don't know anything further of him?〃 asked Cornelius; 

surprised。 



〃No;〃 she answered; 〃it's only for about a fortnight that my 

father has taken such a fancy to this friend who is so 

assiduous in visiting him。〃 



〃Ah; so;〃 said Cornelius; shaking his head uneasily as every 

new incident seemed to him to forebode some catastrophe; 

〃very likely some spy; one of those who are sent into jails 

to watch both prisoners and their keepers。〃 



〃I don't believe that;〃 said Rosa; smiling; 〃if that worthy 

person is spying after any one; it is certainly not after my 

father。〃 



〃After whom; then?〃 



〃Me; for instance。〃 



〃You?〃 



〃Why not?〃 said Rosa; smiling。 



〃Ah; that's true;〃 Cornelius observed; with a sigh。 〃You 

will not always have suitors in vain; this man may become 

your husband。〃 



〃I don't say anything to the contrary。〃 



〃What cause have you to entertain such a happy prospect?〃 



〃Rather say; this fear; Mynheer Cornelius。〃 



〃Thank you; Rosa; you are right; well; I will say then; this 

fear?〃 



〃I have only this reason  〃 



〃Tell me; I am anxious to hear。〃 



〃This man came several times before to the Buytenhof; at the 

Hague。 I remember now; it was just about the time when you 

were confined there。 When I left; he left too; when I came 

here; he came after me。 At the Hague his pretext was that he 

wanted to see you。〃 



〃See me?〃 



〃Yes; it must have undoubtedly been only a pretext for now; 

when he could plead the same reason; as you are my father's 

prisoner again; he does not care any longer for you; quite 

the contrary;  I heard him say to my father only yesterday 

that he did not know you。〃 



〃Go on; Rosa; pray do; that I may guess who that man is; and 

what he wants。〃 



〃Are you quite sure; Mynheer Cornelius; that none of your 

friends can interest himself for you?〃 



〃I have no friends; Rosa; I have only my old nurse; whom you 

know; and who knows you。 Alas; poor Sue! she would come 

herself; and use no roundabout ways。 She would at once say 

to your father; or to you; 'My good sir; or my good miss; my 

child is here; see how grieved I am; let me see him only for 

one hour; and I'll pray for you as long as I live。' No; no;〃 

continued Cornelius; 〃with the exception of my poor old Sue; 

I have no friends in this world。〃 



〃Then I come back to what I thought before; and the more so 

as last evening at sunset; whilst I was arranging the border 

where I am to plant your bulb; I saw a shadow gliding 

between the alder trees and the aspens。 I did not appear to 

see him; but it was this man。 He concealed himself and saw 

me digging the ground; and certainly it was me whom he 

followed; and me whom he was spying after。 I could not move 

my rake; or touch one atom of soil; without his noticing 

it。〃 



〃Oh; yes; yes; he is in love with you;〃 said Cornelius。 〃Is 

he young? Is he handsome?〃 



Saying this he looked anxiously at Rosa; eagerly waiting for 

her answer。 



〃Young? handsome?〃 cried Rosa; bursting into a laugh。 〃He is 

hideous to look at; crooked; nearly fifty years of age; and 

never dares to look me in the face; or to speak; except in 

an undertone。〃 



〃And his name?〃 



〃Jacob Gisels。〃 



〃I don't know him。〃 



〃Then you see that; at all events; he does not come after 

you。〃 



〃At any rate; if he loves you; Rosa; which is very likely; 

as to see you is to love you; at least you don't love him。〃 



〃To be sure I don't。〃 



〃Then you wish me to keep my mind easy?〃 



〃I should certainly ask you to do so。〃 



〃Well; then; now as you begin to know how to read you will 

read all that I write to you of the pangs of jealousy and of 

absence; won't you; Rosa?〃 



〃I shall read it; if you write with good big letters。〃 



Then; as the turn which the conversation took began to make 

Rosa uneasy; she asked;  



〃By the bye; how is your tulip going on?〃 



〃Oh; Rosa; only imagine my joy; this morning I looked at it 

in the sun; and after having moved the soil aside which 

covers the bulb; I saw the first sprouting of the leaves。 

This small germ has caused me a much greater emotion than 

the order of his Highness which turned aside the sword 

already raised at the Buytenhof。〃 



〃You hope; then?〃 said Rosa; smiling。 



〃Yes; yes; I hope。〃 



〃And I; in my turn; when shall I plant my bulb?〃 



〃Oh; the first favourable day I will tell you; but; whatever 

you do; let nobody help you; and don't confide your secret 

to any one in the world; do you see; a connoisseur by merely 

looking at the bulb would be able to distinguish its value; 

and so; my dearest Rosa; be careful in locking up the third 

sucker which remains to you。〃 



〃It is still wrapped up in the same paper in which you put 

it; and just as you gave it me。 I have laid it at the bottom 

of my chest under my point lace; which keeps it dry; without 

pressing upon it。 But good night; my poor captive 

gentleman。〃 



〃How? already?〃 



〃It must be; it must be。〃 



〃Coming so late and going so soon。〃 



〃My father might grow impatient not seeing me return; and 

that precious lover might suspect a rival。〃 



Here she listened uneasily。 



〃What is it?〃 asked Van Baerle。 〃I thought I heard 

something。〃 



〃What; then?〃 



〃Something like a step; creaking on the staircase。〃 



〃Surely;〃 said the prisoner; 〃that cannot be Master Gryphus; 

he is always heard at a distance〃 



〃No; it is not my father; I am quite sure; but  〃 



〃But?〃 



〃But it might be Mynheer Jacob。〃 



Rosa rushed toward the staircase; and a door was really 

heard rapidly to close before the young damsel had got down 

the first ten steps。 



Cornelius was very uneasy about it; but it was after all 

only a prelude to greater anxieties。 



The flowing day passed without any remarkable incident。 

Gryphus made his three visits; and discovered nothing。 He 

never came at the same hours as he hoped thus to discover 

the secrets of the prisoner。 Van Baerle; therefore; had 

devised a contrivance; a sort of pulley; by means of which 

he was able to lower or to raise his jug below the ledge of 

tiles and stone before his window。 The strings by which this 

was effected he had found means to cover with that moss 

which generally grows on tiles; or in the crannies of the 

walls。 



Gryphus suspected nothing; and the device succeeded for 

eight days。 One morning; however; when Cornelius; absorbed 

in the contemplation of his bulb; from which a germ of 

vegetation was already peeping forth; had not heard old 

Gryphus coming upstairs as a gale of wind was blowing which 

shook the whole tower; the door suddenly opened。 



Gryphus; perceiving an unknown and consequently a forbidden 

object in the hands of his prisoner; pounced upon it with 

the same rapidity as the hawk on its prey。 



As ill luck would have it; his coarse; hard hand; the same 

which he had broken; and which Cornelius van Baerle had set 


返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的