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〃Don't you see my hand is empty?〃 



〃Yes; I see it; and I am glad of it。〃 



〃You know that it is not generally so when I come upstairs 

in the morning。〃 



〃It's true; you generally bring me the worst soup; and the 

most miserable rations one can imagine。 But that's not a 

punishment to me; I eat only bread; and the worse the bread 

is to your taste; the better it is to mine。〃 



〃How so?〃 



〃Oh; it's a very simple thing。〃 



〃Well; tell it me;〃 said Gryphus。 



〃Very willingly。 I know that in giving me bad bread you 

think you do me harm。〃 



〃Certainly; I don't give it you to please you; you brigand。〃 



〃Well; then; I; who am a sorcerer; as you know; change your 

bad into excellent bread; which I relish more than the best 

cake; and then I have the double pleasure of eating 

something that gratifies my palate; and of doing something 

that puts you in a rage。 



Gryphus answered with a growl。 



〃Oh! you confess; then; that you are a sorcerer。〃 



〃Indeed; I am one。 I don't say it before all the world; 

because they might burn me for it; but as we are alone; I 

don't mind telling you。〃 



〃Well; well; well;〃 answered Gryphus。 〃But if a sorcerer can 

change black bread into white; won't he die of hunger if he 

has no bread at all?〃 



〃What's that?〃 said Cornelius。 



〃Consequently; I shall not bring you any bread at all; and 

we shall see how it will be after eight days。〃 



Cornelius grew pale。 



〃And;〃 continued Gryphus; 〃we'll begin this very day。 As you 

are such a clever sorcerer; why; you had better change the 

furniture of your room into bread; as to myself; I shall 

pocket the eighteen sous which are paid to me for your 

board。〃 



〃But that's murder;〃 cried Cornelius; carried away by the 

first impulse of the very natural terror with which this 

horrible mode of death inspired him。 



〃Well;〃 Gryphus went on; in his jeering way; 〃as you are a 

sorcerer; you will live; notwithstanding。〃 



Cornelius put on a smiling face again; and said;  



〃Have you not seen me make the pigeons come here from Dort?〃 



〃Well?〃 said Gryphus。 



〃Well; a pigeon is a very dainty morsel; and a man who eats 

one every day would not starve; I think。〃 



〃And how about the fire?〃 said Gryphus。 



〃Fire! but you know that I'm in league with the devil。 Do 

you think the devil will leave me without fire? Why; fire is 

his proper element。〃 



〃A man; however healthy his appetite may be; would not eat a 

pigeon every day。 Wagers have been laid to do so; and those 

who made them gave them up。〃 



〃Well; but when I am tired of pigeons; I shall make the fish 

of the Waal and of the Meuse come up to me。〃 



Gryphus opened his large eyes; quite bewildered。 



〃I am rather fond of fish;〃 continued Cornelius; 〃you never 

let me have any。 Well; I shall turn your starving me to 

advantage; and regale myself with fish。〃 



Gryphus nearly fainted with anger and with fright; but he 

soon rallied; and said; putting his hand in his pocket;  



〃Well; as you force me to it;〃 and with these words he drew 

forth a clasp…knife and opened it。 



〃Halloa! a knife?〃 said Cornelius; preparing to defend 

himself with his stick。 









Chapter 29



In which Van Baerle; before leaving Loewestein; 

settles Accounts with Gryphus





The two remained silent for some minutes; Gryphus on the 

offensive; and Van Baerle on the defensive。 



Then; as the situation might be prolonged to an indefinite 

length; Cornelius; anxious to know something more of the 

causes which had so fiercely exasperated his jailer; spoke 

first by putting the question;  



〃Well; what do you want; after all?〃 



〃I'll tell you what I want;〃 answered Gryphus; 〃I want you to 

restore to me my daughter Rosa。〃 



〃Your daughter?〃 cried Van Baerle。 



〃Yes; my daughter Rosa; whom you have taken from me by your 

devilish magic。 Now; will you tell me where she is?〃 



And the attitude of Gryphus became more and more 

threatening。 



〃Rosa is not at Loewestein?〃 cried Cornelius。 



〃You know well she is not。 Once more; will you restore her 

to me?〃 



〃I see;〃 said Cornelius; 〃this is a trap you are laying for 

me。〃 



〃Now; for the last time; will you tell me where my daughter 

is?〃 



〃Guess it; you rogue; if you don't know it。〃 



〃Only wait; only wait;〃 growled Gryphus; white with rage; 

and with quivering lips; as his brain began to turn。 〃Ah; 

you will not tell me anything? Well; I'll unlock your 

teeth!〃 



He advanced a step towards Cornelius; and said; showing him 

the weapon which he held in his hands;  



〃Do you see this knife? Well; I have killed more than fifty 

black cocks with it; and I vow I'll kill their master; the 

devil; as well as them。〃 



〃But; you blockhead;〃 said Cornelius; 〃will you really kill 

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;  


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