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the black tulip-第45节

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Cornelius listened with the greatest attention to this 

delightful recital; and then said;  



〃Ah! ah! within twelve hours; you say?〃 



〃Yes; the twelfth hour had not even struck; if I remember 

right;〃 said the guard who had told him the story。 



〃Thank you;〃 said Cornelius。 



The guard still had the smile on his face with which he 

accompanied and as it were accentuated his tale; when 

footsteps and a jingling of spurs were heard ascending the 

stair…case。 



The guards fell back to allow an officer to pass; who 

entered the cell of Cornelius at the moment when the clerk 

of Loewestein was still making out his report。 



〃Is this No。 11?〃 he asked。 



〃Yes; Captain;〃 answered a non…commissioned officer。 



〃Then this is the cell of the prisoner Cornelius van 

Baerle?〃 



〃Exactly; Captain。〃 



〃Where is the prisoner?〃 



〃Here I am; sir;〃 answered Cornelius; growing rather pale; 

notwithstanding all his courage。 



〃You are Dr。 Cornelius van Baerle?〃 asked he; this time 

addressing the prisoner himself。 



〃Yes; sir。〃 



〃Then follow me。〃 



〃Oh! oh!〃 said Cornelius; whose heart felt oppressed by the 

first dread of death。 〃What quick work they make here in the 

fortress of Loewestein。 And the rascal talked to me of 

twelve hours!〃 



〃Ah! what did I tell you?〃 whispered the communicative guard 

in the ear of the culprit。 



〃A lie。〃 



〃How so?〃 



〃You promised me twelve hours。〃 



〃Ah; yes; but here comes to you an aide…de…camp of his 

Highness; even one of his most intimate companions Van 

Deken。 Zounds! they did not grant such an honour to poor 

Mathias。〃 



〃Come; come!〃 said Cornelius; drawing a long breath。 〃Come; 

I'll show to these people that an honest burgher; godson of 

Cornelius de Witt; can without flinching receive as many 

musket…balls as that Mathias。〃 



Saying this; he passed proudly before the clerk; who; being 

interrupted in his work; ventured to say to the officer;  



〃But; Captain van Deken; the protocol is not yet finished。〃 



〃It is not worth while finishing it;〃 answered the officer。 



〃All right;〃 replied the clerk; philosophically putting up 

his paper and pen into a greasy and well…worn writing…case。 



〃It was written;〃 thought poor Cornelius; 〃that I should not 

in this world give my name either to a child to a flower; or 

to a book;  the three things by which a man's memory is 

perpetuated。〃 



Repressing his melancholy thoughts; he followed the officer 

with a resolute heart; and carrying his head erect。 



Cornelius counted the steps which led to the Esplanade; 

regretting that he had not asked the guard how many there 

were of them; which the man; in his official complaisance; 

would not have failed to tell him。 



What the poor prisoner was most afraid of during this walk; 

which he considered as leading him to the end of the journey 

of life; was to see Gryphus and not to see Rosa。 What savage 

satisfaction would glisten in the eyes of the father; and 

what sorrow dim those of the daughter! 



How Gryphus would glory in his punishment! Punishment? 

Rather savage vengeance for an eminently righteous deed; 

which Cornelius had the satisfaction of having performed as 

a bounden duty。 



But Rosa; poor girl! must he die without a glimpse of her; 

without an opportunity to give her one last kiss; or even to 

say one last word of farewell? 



And; worst of all; must he die without any intelligence of 

the black tulip; and regain his consciousness in heaven with 

no idea in what direction he should look to find it? 



In truth; to restrain his tears at such a crisis the poor 

wretch's heart must have been encased in more of the aes 

triplex  〃the triple brass〃  than Horace bestows upon 

the sailor who first visited the terrifying Acroceraunian 

shoals。 



In vain did Cornelius look to the right and to the left; he 

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。 


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