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conveniently reading a book； although it had been quite
convenient for them to read each other's faces。
Rosa therefore had to press the open book against the
grating edgewise； holding above it in her right hand the
lamp； but Cornelius hit upon the lucky idea of fixing it to
the bars； so as to afford her a little rest。 Rosa was then
enabled to follow with her finger the letters and syllables；
which she was to spell for Cornelius； who with a straw
pointed out the letters to his attentive pupil through the
holes of the grating。
The light of the lamp illuminated the rich complexion of
Rosa； her blue liquid eyes； and her golden hair under her
head…dress of gold brocade； with her fingers held up； and
showing in the blood； as it flowed downwards in the veins
that pale pink hue which shines before the light owing to
the living transparency of the flesh tint。
Rosa's intellect rapidly developed itself under the
animating influence of Cornelius； and when the difficulties
seemed too arduous； the sympathy of two loving hearts seemed
to smooth them away。
And Rosa； after having returned to her room； repeated in her
solitude the reading lessons； and at the same time recalled
all the delight which she had felt whilst receiving them。
One evening she came half an hour later than usual。 This was
too extraordinary an instance not to call forth at once
Cornelius's inquiries after its cause。
〃Oh！ do not be angry with me；〃 she said； 〃it is not my
fault。 My father has renewed an acquaintance with an old
crony who used to visit him at the Hague； and to ask him to
let him see the prison。 He is a good sort of fellow； fond of
his bottle； tells funny stories； and moreover is very free
with his money； so as always to be ready to stand a treat。〃
〃You don't know anything further of him？〃 asked Cornelius；
surprised。
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃it's only for about a fortnight that my
father has taken such a fancy to this friend who is so
assiduous in visiting him。〃
〃Ah； so；〃 said Cornelius； shaking his head uneasily as every
new incident seemed to him to forebode some catastrophe；
〃very likely some spy； one of those who are sent into jails
to watch both prisoners and their keepers。〃
〃I don't believe that；〃 said Rosa； smiling； 〃if that worthy
person is spying after any one； it is certainly not after my
father。〃
〃After whom； then？〃
〃Me； for instance。〃
〃You？〃
〃Why not？〃 said Rosa； smiling。
〃Ah； that's true；〃 Cornelius observed； with a sigh。 〃You
will not always have suitors in vain； this man may become
your husband。〃
〃I don't say anything to the contrary。〃
〃What cause have you to entertain such a happy prospect？〃
〃Rather say； this fear； Mynheer Cornelius。〃
〃Thank you； Rosa； you are right； well； I will say then； this
fear？〃
〃I have only this reason 〃
〃Tell me； I am anxious to hear。〃
〃This man came several times before to the Buytenhof； at the
Hague。 I remember now； it was just about the time when you
were confined there。 When I left； he left too； when I came
here； he came after me。 At the Hague his pretext was that he
wanted to see you。〃
〃See me？〃
〃Yes； it must have undoubtedly been only a pretext for now；
when he could plead the same reason； as you are my father's
prisoner again； he does not care any longer for you； quite
the contrary； I heard him say to my father only yesterday
that he did not know you。〃
〃Go on； Rosa； pray do； that I may guess who that man is； and
what he wants。〃
〃Are you quite sure； Mynheer Cornelius； that none of your
friends can interest himself for you？〃
〃I have no friends； Rosa； I have only my old nurse； whom you
know； and who knows you。 Alas； poor Sue！ she would come
herself； and use no roundabout ways。 She would at once say
to your father； or to you； 'My good sir； or my good miss； my
child is here； see how grieved I am； let me see him only for
one hour； and I'll pray for you as long as I live。' No； no；〃
continued Cornelius； 〃with the exception of my poor old Sue；
I have no friends in this world。〃
〃Then I come back to what I thought before； and the more so
as last evening at sunset； whilst I was arranging the border
where I am to plant your bulb； I saw a shadow gliding
between the alder trees and the aspens。 I did not appear to
see him； but it was this man。 He concealed himself and saw
me digging the ground； and certainly it was me whom he
followed； and me whom he was spying after。 I could not move
my rake； or touch one atom of soil； without his noticing
it。〃
〃Oh； yes； yes； he is in love with you；〃 said Cornelius。 〃Is
he young？ Is he handsome？〃
Saying this he looked anxiously at Rosa； eagerly waiting for
her answer。
〃Young？ handsome？〃 cried Rosa； bursting into a laugh。 〃He is
hideous to look at； crooked； nearly fifty years of age； and
never dares to look me in the face； or to speak； except in
an undertone。〃
〃And his name？〃
〃Jacob Gisels。〃
〃I don't know him。〃
〃Then you see that； at all events； he does not come after
you。〃
〃At any rate； if he loves you； Rosa； which is very likely；
as to see you is to love you； at least you don't love him。〃
〃To be sure I don't。〃
〃Then you wish me to keep my mind easy？〃
〃I should certainly ask you to do so。〃
〃Well； then； now as you begin to know how to read you will
read all that I write to you of the pangs of jealousy and of
absence； won't you； Rosa？〃
〃I shall read it； if you write with good big letters。〃
Then； as the turn which the conversation took began to make
Rosa uneasy； she asked；
〃By the bye； how is your tulip going on？〃
〃Oh； Rosa； only imagine my joy； this morning I looked at it
in the sun； and after having moved the soil aside which
covers the bulb； I saw the first sprouting of the leaves。
This small germ has caused me a much greater emotion than
the order of his Highness which turned aside the sword
already raised at the Buytenhof。〃
〃You hope； then？〃 said Rosa； smiling。
〃Yes； yes； I hope。〃
〃And I； in my turn； when shall I plant my bulb？〃
〃Oh； the first favourable day I will tell you； but； whatever
you do； let nobody help you； and don't confide your secret
to any one in the world； do you see； a connoisseur by merely
looking at the bulb would be able to distinguish its value；
and so； my dearest Rosa； be careful in locking up the third
sucker which remains to you。〃
〃It is still wrapped up in the same paper in which you put
it； and just as you gave it me。 I have laid it at the bottom
of my chest under my point lace； which keeps it dry； without
pressing upon it。 But good night； my poor captive
gentleman。〃
〃How？ already？〃
〃It must be； it must be。〃
〃Coming so late and going so soon。〃
〃My father might grow impatient not seeing me return； and
that precious lover might suspect a rival。〃
Here she listened uneasily。
〃What is it？〃 asked Van Baerle。 〃I thought I heard
something。〃
〃What； then？〃
〃Something like a step； creaking on the staircase。〃
〃Surely；〃 said the prisoner； 〃that cannot be Master Gryphus；
he is always heard at a distance〃
〃No； it is not my father； I am quite sure； but 〃
〃But？〃
〃But it might be Mynheer Jacob。〃
Rosa rushed toward the staircase； and a door was really
heard rapidly to close before the young damsel had got down
the first ten steps。
Cornelius was very uneasy about it； but it was after all
only a prelude to greater anxieties。
The flowing day passed without any remarkable incident。
Gryphus made his three visits； and discovered nothing。 He
never came at the same hours as he hoped thus to discover
the secrets of the prisoner。 Van Baerle； therefore； had
devised a contrivance； a sort of pulley； by means of which
he was able to lower or to raise his jug below the ledge of
tiles and stone before his window。 The strings by which this
was effected he had found means to cover with that moss
which generally grows on tiles； or in the crannies of the
walls。
Gryphus suspected nothing； and the device succeeded for
eight days。 One morning； however； when Cornelius； absorbed
in the contemplation of his bulb； from which a germ of
vegetation was already peeping forth； had not heard old
Gryphus coming upstairs as a gale of wind was blowing which
shook the whole tower； the door suddenly opened。
Gryphus； perceiving an unknown and consequently a forbidden
object in the hands of his prisoner； pounced upon it with
the same rapidity as the hawk on its prey。
As ill luck would have it； his coarse； hard hand； the same
which he had broken； and which Cornelius van Baerle had set