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Cornelius listened with the greatest attention to this
delightful recital； and then said；
〃Ah！ ah！ within twelve hours； you say？〃
〃Yes； the twelfth hour had not even struck； if I remember
right；〃 said the guard who had told him the story。
〃Thank you；〃 said Cornelius。
The guard still had the smile on his face with which he
accompanied and as it were accentuated his tale； when
footsteps and a jingling of spurs were heard ascending the
stair…case。
The guards fell back to allow an officer to pass； who
entered the cell of Cornelius at the moment when the clerk
of Loewestein was still making out his report。
〃Is this No。 11？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； Captain；〃 answered a non…commissioned officer。
〃Then this is the cell of the prisoner Cornelius van
Baerle？〃
〃Exactly； Captain。〃
〃Where is the prisoner？〃
〃Here I am； sir；〃 answered Cornelius； growing rather pale；
notwithstanding all his courage。
〃You are Dr。 Cornelius van Baerle？〃 asked he； this time
addressing the prisoner himself。
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Then follow me。〃
〃Oh！ oh！〃 said Cornelius； whose heart felt oppressed by the
first dread of death。 〃What quick work they make here in the
fortress of Loewestein。 And the rascal talked to me of
twelve hours！〃
〃Ah！ what did I tell you？〃 whispered the communicative guard
in the ear of the culprit。
〃A lie。〃
〃How so？〃
〃You promised me twelve hours。〃
〃Ah； yes； but here comes to you an aide…de…camp of his
Highness； even one of his most intimate companions Van
Deken。 Zounds！ they did not grant such an honour to poor
Mathias。〃
〃Come； come！〃 said Cornelius； drawing a long breath。 〃Come；
I'll show to these people that an honest burgher； godson of
Cornelius de Witt； can without flinching receive as many
musket…balls as that Mathias。〃
Saying this； he passed proudly before the clerk； who； being
interrupted in his work； ventured to say to the officer；
〃But； Captain van Deken； the protocol is not yet finished。〃
〃It is not worth while finishing it；〃 answered the officer。
〃All right；〃 replied the clerk； philosophically putting up
his paper and pen into a greasy and well…worn writing…case。
〃It was written；〃 thought poor Cornelius； 〃that I should not
in this world give my name either to a child to a flower； or
to a book； the three things by which a man's memory is
perpetuated。〃
Repressing his melancholy thoughts； he followed the officer
with a resolute heart； and carrying his head erect。
Cornelius counted the steps which led to the Esplanade；
regretting that he had not asked the guard how many there
were of them； which the man； in his official complaisance；
would not have failed to tell him。
What the poor prisoner was most afraid of during this walk；
which he considered as leading him to the end of the journey
of life； was to see Gryphus and not to see Rosa。 What savage
satisfaction would glisten in the eyes of the father； and
what sorrow dim those of the daughter！
How Gryphus would glory in his punishment！ Punishment？
Rather savage vengeance for an eminently righteous deed；
which Cornelius had the satisfaction of having performed as
a bounden duty。
But Rosa； poor girl！ must he die without a glimpse of her；
without an opportunity to give her one last kiss； or even to
say one last word of farewell？
And； worst of all； must he die without any intelligence of
the black tulip； and regain his consciousness in heaven with
no idea in what direction he should look to find it？
In truth； to restrain his tears at such a crisis the poor
wretch's heart must have been encased in more of the aes
triplex 〃the triple brass〃 than Horace bestows upon
the sailor who first visited the terrifying Acroceraunian
shoals。
In vain did Cornelius look to the right and to the left； he
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。