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Page 128
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."
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