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。
At the noise of Gryphus's fall； and at the cry which escaped
him； a hasty step was heard on the staircase； and
immediately after a lovely apparition presented itself to
the eyes of Cornelius。
It was the beautiful young Frisian； who； seeing her father
stretched on the ground； and the prisoner bending over him；
uttered a faint cry； as in the first fright she thought
Gryphus； whose brutality she well knew； had fallen in
consequence of a struggle between him and the prisoner。
Cornelius understood what was passing in the mind of the
girl； at the very moment when the suspicion arose in her
heart。
But one moment told her the true state of the case and；
ashamed of her first thoughts； she cast her beautiful eyes；
wet with tears； on the young man； and said to him；
〃I beg your pardon； and thank you； sir； the first for what I
have thought； and the second for what you are doing。〃
Cornelius blushed； and said； 〃I am but doing my duty as a
Christian in helping my neighbour。〃
〃Yes； and affording him your help this evening； you have
forgotten the abuse which he heaped on you this morning。 Oh；
sir！ this is more than humanity； this is indeed Christian
charity。〃
Cornelius cast his eyes on the beautiful girl； quite
astonished to hear from the mouth of one so humble such a
noble and feeling speech。
But he had no time to express his surprise。 Gryphus
recovered from his swoon； opened his eyes； and as his
brutality was returning with his senses； he growled 〃That's
it； a fellow is in a hurry to bring to a prisoner his
supper； and falls and breaks his arm； and is left lying on
the ground。〃
〃Hush； my father；〃 said Rosa； 〃you are unjust to this
gentleman； whom I found endeavouring to give you his aid。〃
〃His aid？〃 Gryphus replied； with a doubtful air。
〃It is quite true； master！ I am quite ready to help you
still more。〃
〃You！〃 said Gryphus； 〃are you a medical man？〃
〃It was formerly my profession。〃
〃And so you would be able to set my arm？〃
〃Perfectly。〃
〃And what would you need to do it？ let us hear。〃
〃Two splinters of wood； and some linen for a bandage。〃
〃Do you hear； Rosa？〃 said Gryphus； 〃the prisoner is going to
set my arm； that's a saving； come； assist me to get up； I
feel as heavy as lead。〃
Rosa lent the sufferer her shoulder； he put his unhurt arm
around her neck； and making an effort； got on his legs；
whilst Cornelius； to save him a walk； pushed a chair towards
him。
Gryphus sat down； then； turning towards his daughter； he
said；
〃Well； didn't you hear？ go and fetch what is wanted。〃
Rosa went down； and immediately after returned with two
staves of a small barrel and a large roll of linen bandage。
Cornelius had made use of the intervening moments to take
off the man's coat； and to tuck up his shirt sleeve。
〃Is this what you require； sir？〃 asked Rosa。
〃Yes； mademoiselle；〃 answered Cornelius； looking at the
things she had brought； 〃yes； that's right。 Now push this
table； whilst I support the arm of your father。〃
Rosa pushed the table； Cornelius placed the broken arm on it
so as to make it flat； and with perfect skill set the bone；
adjusted the splinters； and fastened the bandages。
At the last touch； the jailer fainted a second time。
〃Go and fetch vinegar； mademoiselle；〃 said Cornelius； 〃we
will bathe his temples； and he will recover。〃
But； instead of acting up to the doctor's prescription；
Rosa； after having satisfied herself that her father was
still unconscious； approached Cornelius and said；
〃Service for service； sir。〃
〃What do you mean； my pretty child？〃 said Cornelius。
〃I mean to say； sir； that the judge who is to examine you
to…morrow has inquired to…day for the room in which you are
confined； and； on being told that you are occupying the cell
of Mynheer Cornelius de Witt； laughed in a very strange and
very disagreeable manner； which makes me fear that no good
awaits you。〃
〃But；〃 asked Cornelius； 〃what harm can they do to me？〃
〃Look at that gibbet。〃
〃But I am not guilty；〃 said Cornelius。
〃Were they guilty whom you see down there gibbeted； mangled；
and torn to pieces？〃
〃That's true；〃 said Cornelius； gravely。
〃And besides；〃 continued Rosa； 〃the