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warrant the name and station of his prisoner； he muttered
with his turnkey smile；
〃Godson of Cornelius de Witt！ Well； young man； we have the
family cell here； and we will give it to you。〃
And quite enchanted with his joke； the ferocious Orangeman
took his cresset and his keys to conduct Cornelius to the
cell； which on that very morning Cornelius de Witt had left
to go into exile； or what in revolutionary times is meant
instead by those sublime philosophers who lay it down as an
axiom of high policy； 〃It is the dead only who do not
return。〃
On the way which the despairing florist had to traverse to
reach that cell he heard nothing but the barking of a dog；
and saw nothing but the face of a young girl。
The dog rushed forth from a niche in the wall； shaking his
heavy chain； and sniffing all round Cornelius in order so
much the better to recognise him in case he should be
ordered to pounce upon him。
The young girl； whilst the prisoner was mounting the
staircase； appeared at the narrow door of her chamber； which
opened on that very flight of steps； and； holding the lamp
in her right hand； she at the same time lit up her pretty
blooming face； surrounded by a profusion of rich wavy golden
locks； whilst with her left she held her white night…dress
closely over her breast； having been roused from her first
slumber by the unexpected arrival of Van Baerle。
It would have made a fine picture； worthy of Rembrandt； the
gloomy winding stairs illuminated by the reddish glare of
the cresset of Gryphus； with his scowling jailer's
countenance at the top； the melancholy figure of Cornelius
bending over the banister to look down upon the sweet face
of Rosa； standing； as it were； in the bright frame of the
door of her chamber； with embarrassed mien at being thus
seen by a stranger。
And at the bottom； quite in the shade； where the details are
absorbed in the obscurity； the mastiff； with his eyes
glistening like carbuncles； and shaking his chain； on which
the double light from the lamp of Rosa and the lantern of
Gryphus threw a brilliant glitter。
The sublime master would； however； have been altogether
unable to render the sorrow expressed in the face of Rosa；
when she saw this pale； handsome young man slowly climbing
the stairs； and thought of the full import of the words；
which her father had just spoken； 〃You will have the family
cell。〃
This vision lasted but a moment； much less time than we
have taken to describe it。 Gryphus then proceeded on his
way； Cornelius was forced to follow him； and five minutes
afterwards he entered his prison； of which it is unnecessary
to say more； as the reader is already acquainted with it。
Gryphus pointed with his finger to the bed on which the
martyr had suffered so much； who on that day had rendered
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。