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〃Don't you see my hand is empty？〃
〃Yes； I see it； and I am glad of it。〃
〃You know that it is not generally so when I come upstairs
in the morning。〃
〃It's true； you generally bring me the worst soup； and the
most miserable rations one can imagine。 But that's not a
punishment to me； I eat only bread； and the worse the bread
is to your taste； the better it is to mine。〃
〃How so？〃
〃Oh； it's a very simple thing。〃
〃Well； tell it me；〃 said Gryphus。
〃Very willingly。 I know that in giving me bad bread you
think you do me harm。〃
〃Certainly； I don't give it you to please you； you brigand。〃
〃Well； then； I； who am a sorcerer； as you know； change your
bad into excellent bread； which I relish more than the best
cake； and then I have the double pleasure of eating
something that gratifies my palate； and of doing something
that puts you in a rage。
Gryphus answered with a growl。
〃Oh！ you confess； then； that you are a sorcerer。〃
〃Indeed； I am one。 I don't say it before all the world；
because they might burn me for it； but as we are alone； I
don't mind telling you。〃
〃Well； well； well；〃 answered Gryphus。 〃But if a sorcerer can
change black bread into white； won't he die of hunger if he
has no bread at all？〃
〃What's that？〃 said Cornelius。
〃Consequently； I shall not bring you any bread at all； and
we shall see how it will be after eight days。〃
Cornelius grew pale。
〃And；〃 continued Gryphus； 〃we'll begin this very day。 As you
are such a clever sorcerer； why； you had better change the
furniture of your room into bread； as to myself； I shall
pocket the eighteen sous which are paid to me for your
board。〃
〃But that's murder；〃 cried Cornelius； carried away by the
first impulse of the very natural terror with which this
horrible mode of death inspired him。
〃Well；〃 Gryphus went on； in his jeering way； 〃as you are a
sorcerer； you will live； notwithstanding。〃
Cornelius put on a smiling face again； and said；
〃Have you not seen me make the pigeons come here from Dort？〃
〃Well？〃 said Gryphus。
〃Well； a pigeon is a very dainty morsel； and a man who eats
one every day would not starve； I think。〃
〃And how about the fire？〃 said Gryphus。
〃Fire！ but you know that I'm in league with the devil。 Do
you think the devil will leave me without fire？ Why； fire is
his proper element。〃
〃A man； however healthy his appetite may be； would not eat a
pigeon every day。 Wagers have been laid to do so； and those
who made them gave them up。〃
〃Well； but when I am tired of pigeons； I shall make the fish
of the Waal and of the Meuse come up to me。〃
Gryphus opened his large eyes； quite bewildered。
〃I am rather fond of fish；〃 continued Cornelius； 〃you never
let me have any。 Well； I shall turn your starving me to
advantage； and regale myself with fish。〃
Gryphus nearly fainted with anger and with fright； but he
soon rallied； and said； putting his hand in his pocket；
〃Well； as you force me to it；〃 and with these words he drew
forth a clasp…knife and opened it。
〃Halloa！ a knife？〃 said Cornelius； preparing to defend
himself with his stick。
Chapter 29
In which Van Baerle； before leaving Loewestein；
settles Accounts with Gryphus
The two remained silent for some minutes； Gryphus on the
offensive； and Van Baerle on the defensive。
Then； as the situation might be prolonged to an indefinite
length； Cornelius； anxious to know something more of the
causes which had so fiercely exasperated his jailer； spoke
first by putting the question；
〃Well； what do you want； after all？〃
〃I'll tell you what I want；〃 answered Gryphus； 〃I want you to
restore to me my daughter Rosa。〃
〃Your daughter？〃 cried Van Baerle。
〃Yes； my daughter Rosa； whom you have taken from me by your
devilish magic。 Now； will you tell me where she is？〃
And the attitude of Gryphus became more and more
threatening。
〃Rosa is not at Loewestein？〃 cried Cornelius。
〃You know well she is not。 Once more； will you restore her
to me？〃
〃I see；〃 said Cornelius； 〃this is a trap you are laying for
me。〃
〃Now； for the last time； will you tell me where my daughter
is？〃
〃Guess it； you rogue； if you don't know it。〃
〃Only wait； only wait；〃 growled Gryphus； white with rage；
and with quivering lips； as his brain began to turn。 〃Ah；
you will not tell me anything？ Well； I'll unlock your
teeth！〃
He advanced a step towards Cornelius； and said； showing him
the weapon which he held in his hands；
〃Do you see this knife？ Well； I have killed more than fifty
black cocks with it； and I vow I'll kill their master； the
devil； as well as them。〃
〃But； you blockhead；〃 said Cornelius； 〃will you really kill
me？〃
〃I shall open your heart to see in it the place where you
hide my daughter。〃
Saying this； Gryphus in his frenzy rushed towards Cornelius；
who had barely time to retreat behind his table to avoid the
first thrust； but as Gryphus continued； with horrid threats；
to brandish his huge knife； and as； although out of the
reach of his weapon； yet； as long as it remained in the
madman's hand； the ruffian might fling it at him； Cornelius
lost no time； and availing himself of the stick； which he
held tight under his arm； dealt the jailer a vigorous blow
on the wrist of that hand which held the knife。
The knife fell to the ground； and Cornelius put his foot on
it。
Then； as Gryphus seemed bent upon engaging in a struggle
which the pain in his wrist； and shame for having allowed
himself to be disarmed； would have made desperate； Cornelius
took a decisive step； belaboring his jailer with the most
heroic self…possession； and selecting the exact spot for
every blow of the terrible cudgel。
It was not long before Gryphus begged for mercy。 But before
begging for mercy； he had lustily roared for help； and his
cries had roused all the functionaries of the prison。 Two
turnkeys； an inspector； and three or four guards； made their
appearance all at once； and found Cornelius still using the
stick； with the knife under his foot。
At the sight of these witnesses； who could not know all the
circumstances which had provoked and might justify his
offence； Cornelius felt that he was irretrievably lost。
In fact； appearances were sadly against him。
In one moment Cornelius was disarmed； and Gryphus raised and
supported； and； bellowing with rage and pain； he was able to
count on his back and shoulders the bruises which were
beginning to swell like the hills dotting the slopes of a
mountain ridge。
A protocol of the violence practiced by the prisoner against
his jailer was immediately drawn up； and as it was made on
the depositions of Gryphus； it certainly could not be said
to be too tame； the prisoner being charged with neither more
nor less than with an attempt to murder； for a long time
premeditated； with open rebellion。
Whilst the charge was made out against Cornelius； Gryphus；
whose presence was no longer necessary after having made his
depositions； was taken down by his turnkeys to his lodge；
groaning and covered with bruises。
During this time； the guards who had seized Cornelius busied
themselves in charitably informing their prisoner of the
usages and customs of Loewestein； which however he knew as
well as they did。 The regulations had been read to him at
the moment of his entering the prison； and certain articles
in them remained fixed in his memory。
Among other things they told him that this regulation had
been carried out to its full extent in the case of a
prisoner named Mathias； who in 1668； that is to say； five
years before； had committed a much less violent act of
rebellion than that of which Cornelius was guilty。 He had
found his soup too hot； and thrown it at the head of the
chief turnkey； who in consequence of this ablution had been
put to the inconvenience of having his skin come off as he
wiped his face。
Mathias was taken within twelve hours from his cell； then
led to the jailer's lodge； where he was registered as
leaving Loewestein； then taken to the Esplanade； from which
there is a very fine prospect over a wide expanse of
country。 There they fettered his hands； bandaged his eyes；
and let him say his prayers。
Hereupon he was invited to go down on his knees； and the
guards of Loewestein； twelve in number； at a sign from a
sergeant； very cleverly lodged a musket…ball each in his
body。
In consequence of this proceeding； Mathias incontinently did
then and there die。
Cornelius listened with the greatest attention to this
delightful recital； and then said；