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。
Toward evening； an officer called at Van Systen's house。 He
came from his Highness； with a request for Rosa to appear at
the Town Hall。
There； in the large Council Room into which she was ushered；
she found the Prince writing。
He was alone； with a large Frisian greyhound at his feet；
which looked at him with a steady glance； as if the faithful
animal were wishing to do what no man could do； read the
thoughts of his master in his face。
William continued his writing for a moment； then； raising
his eyes； and seeing Rosa standing near the door； he said；
without laying down his pen；
〃Come here； my child。〃
Rosa advanced a few steps towards the table。
〃Sit down；〃 he said。
Rosa obeyed； for the Prince was fixing his eyes upon her；
but he had scarcely turned them again to his paper when she
bashfully retired to the door。
The Prince finished his letter。
During this time； the greyhound went up to Rosa； surveyed
her and began to caress her。
〃Ah； ah！〃 said William to his dog； 〃it's easy to see that
she is a countrywoman of yours； and that you recognise her。〃
Then； turning towards Rosa； and fixing on her his
scrutinising； and at the same time impenetrable glance； he
said；
〃Now； my child。〃
The Prince was scarcely twenty…three； and Rosa eighteen or
twenty。 He might therefore perhaps better have said； My
sister。
〃My child；〃 he said； with that strangely commanding accent
which chilled all those who approached him； 〃we are alone；
let us speak together。〃
Rosa began to tremble； and yet there was nothing but
kindness in the expression of the Prince's face。
〃Monseigneur；〃 she stammered。
〃You have a father at Loewestein？〃
〃Yes； your Highness。〃
〃You do not love him？〃
〃I do not； at least； not as a daughter ought to do；
Monseigneur。〃
〃It is not right not to love one's father； but it is right
not to tell a falsehood。〃
Rosa cast her eyes to the ground。
〃What is the reason of your not loving your father？〃
〃He is wicked。〃
〃In what way does he show his wickedness？〃
〃He ill…treats the prisoners。〃
〃All of them？〃
〃All。〃
〃But don't you bear him a grudge for ill…treating some one
in particular？〃
〃My father ill…treats in particular Mynheer van Baerle； who
〃
〃Who is your lover？〃
Rosa started back a step。
〃Whom I love； Monseigneur；〃 she answered proudly。
〃Since when？〃 asked the Prince。
〃Since the day when I first saw him。〃
〃And when was that？〃
〃The day after that on which the Grand Pensionary John and
his brother Cornelius met with such an awful death。〃
The Prince compressed his lips； and knit his brow and his
eyelids dropped so as to hide his eyes for an instant。 After
a momentary silence； he resumed the conversation。
〃But to what can it lead to love a man who is doomed to live
and die in prison？〃
〃It will lead； if he lives and dies in prison； to my aiding
him in life and in death。〃
〃And would you accept the lot of being the wife of a
prisoner？〃
〃As the wife of Mynheer van Baerle； I should； under any
circumstances； be the proudest and happiest woman in the
world； but 〃
〃But what？〃
〃I dare not say； Monseigneur。〃
〃There is something like hope in your tone； what do you
hope？〃
She raised her moist and beautiful eyes； and looked at
William with a glance full of meaning； which was calculated
to stir up in the recesses of his heart the clemency which
was slumbering there。
〃Ah； I understand you；〃 he said。
Rosa； with a smile； clasped her hands。
〃You hope in me？〃 said the Prince。
〃Yes； Monseigneur。〃
〃Umph！〃
The Prince sealed the letter which he had just written； and
summoned one of his officers； to whom he said；
〃Captain van Deken； carry this despatch to Loewestein； you
will read the orders which I give to the Governor； and
execute them as far as they regard you。〃
The officer bowed； and a few minutes afterwards the gallop
of a horse was heard resounding in the vaulted archway。
〃My child；〃 continued the Prince； 〃the feast of the tulip
will be on Sunday next； that is to say； the day after
to…morrow。 Make yourself smart with these five hundred
guilders； as I wish that day to be a great day for you。〃
〃How does your Highness wish me to be dressed？〃 faltered
Rosa。
〃Take the costume of a Frisian bride。〃 said William； 〃it
will suit you very well indeed。〃
Chapter 31
Haarlem
Haarlem； whither； three days ago； we conducted our gentle
reader； and whither we request him to follow us once more in
the footsteps of the prisoner； is a pleasant city； which
justly prides itself on being one of the most shady in all
the Netherlands。
While other towns boast of the magnificence of their
arsenals and dock…yards； and the splendour of their shops
and markets； Haarlem's claims to fame rest upon her
superiority to all other provincial cities in the number and
beauty of her spreading elms； graceful poplars； and； more
than all； upon her pleasant walks； shaded by the lovely
arches of magnificent oaks； lindens； and chestnuts。
Haarlem； just as her neighbour； Leyden； became the centre
of science； and her queen； Amsterdam； that of commerce；
Haarlem preferred to be the agricultural； or； more strictly
speaking； the horticultural met