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The Black Tulip, a novel by Alexandre Dumas |
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Chapter 3. The Pupil of John de Witt |
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_ Whilst the clamour of the crowd in the square of Buytenhof, which grew more and more menacing against the two brothers, determined John de Witt to hasten the departure of his brother Cornelius, a deputation of burghers had gone to the Town-hall to demand the withdrawal of Tilly's horse. It was not far from the Buytenhof to Hoogstraet (High Street); and a This stranger was a very young man, of scarcely twenty-two or three, With an eye keen as that of a bird of prey,--with a long aquiline nose, "What difference is there between the figure of the conqueror and that And indeed the sallow physiognomy, the thin and sickly body, and the He was plainly dressed, and apparently unarmed; his arm was lean but On arriving at the square of the Hoogstraet, the man with the sallow At the savage yells of the mob, the window of the Town-hall opened, and "Who is that on the balcony?" asked the young man, glancing at the "It is the Deputy Bowelt," replied the officer. "What sort of a man is he? Do you know anything of him?" "An honest man; at least I believe so, Monseigneur." Hearing this character given of Bowelt, the young man showed signs "At least people say so, Monseigneur. I cannot say anything about it "An honest man," repeated he who was addressed as Monseigneur; "do "Ah, Monseigneur must excuse me; I would not presume to draw such a fine "If this Bowelt is an honest man," his Highness continued, "he will give The nervous quiver of his hand, which moved on the shoulder of his The chief of the deputation of the burghers was then heard addressing "Gentlemen," Bowelt repeated for the second time, "I assure you that in "The order! we want the order!" cried several thousand voices. Mynheer Bowelt wished to speak, but his words were not heard, and he was The latter gentleman now made his appearance on the balcony, where he This did not prevent him from undertaking the difficult task of "Now, then," the young man coolly remarked, whilst the crowd was rushing "Oh, Monseigneur! Monseigneur! take care!" "Of what?" "Among these deputies there are many who have had dealings with you, "Yes, that I might be charged with having been the instigator of all "But," replied the officer, looking with astonishment at the personage "Why not?" the young man quietly retorted. "Because doing so would simply be signing the death warrant of Cornelius "We shall see," his Highness replied, with the most perfect coolness; The officer looked askance at the impassible figure of his companion, From the spot where they stood, his Highness and his attendant heard After this, fluctuating shadows in tumultuous confusion were seen Suddenly the noise subsided, and as suddenly again it rose with At length, the living stream poured back through the galleries and At the head of the first group, man was flying rather than running, his "We have it! we have it!" he cried, brandishing a paper in the air. "They have got the order!" muttered the officer in amazement. "Well, then," his Highness quietly remarked, "now I know what to believe Then, looking with a steady glance after the crowd which was rushing "Let us now go to the Buytenhof, Captain; I expect we shall see a very The officer bowed, and, without making any reply, followed in the steps There was an immense crowd in the square and about the neighbourhood of It was not long before the Count heard the increasing din of the At the same time he observed the paper, which was waving above the "Halloa!" he said, rising in his stirrups, and touching his lieutenant "Dastardly ruffians they are," cried the lieutenant. It was indeed the order, which the burgher guard received with a roar But the Count was not the man to allow them to approach within an "Stop!" he cried, "stop, and keep off from my horse, or I shall give the "Here is the order!" a hundred insolent voices answered at once. He took it in amazement, cast a rapid glance on it, and said quite "Those who have signed this order are the real murderers of Cornelius And, pushing back with the hilt of his sword the man who wanted to take "Wait a minute, papers like this are of importance, and are to be kept." Saying this, he folded up the document, and carefully put it in the Then, turning round towards his troop, he gave the word of command,-- "Tilly's dragoons, wheel to the right!" After this, he added, in an undertone, yet loud enough for his words to "And now, ye butchers, do your work!" A savage yell, in which all the keen hatred and ferocious triumph The Count tarried behind, facing to the last the infuriated populace, John de Witt, therefore, had by no means exaggerated the danger, "Oh, Mynheer John," she said, "what a misfortune!" "What is it, my child?" asked De Witt. "They say that they are gone to the Town-hall to fetch the order for "You do not say so!" replied John. "Indeed, my dear child, if the "I have some advice to give you," Rosa said, trembling even more "Well, let us hear what you have to say, my child. Why should not God "Now, then, Mynheer John, if I were in your place, I should not go out "And why so, as the dragoons of Tilly are still at their post?" "Yes, but their order, as long as it is not revoked, enjoins them to "Undoubtedly." "Have you got an order for them to accompany you out of the town?" "We have not?" "Well, then, in the very moment when you have passed the ranks of the "But the burgher guard?" "Alas! the burgher guard are the most enraged of all." "What are we to do, then?" "If I were in your place, Mynheer John," the young girl timidly "But my brother is not able to walk," said John. "I shall try," Cornelius said, with an expression of most sublime "But have you not got your carriage?" asked the girl. "The carriage is down near the great entrance." "Not so," she replied. "I considered your coachman to be a faithful man, The two brothers looked first at each other, and then at Rosa, with a "The question is now," said the Grand Pensionary, "whether Gryphus will "Indeed, he will do no such thing," said Rosa. "Well, and how then?" "I have foreseen his refusal, and just now whilst he was talking from "And you have got it?" "Here it is, Mynheer John." "My child," said Cornelius, "I have nothing to give you in exchange for "I thank you, Master Cornelius, it shall never leave me," replied Rosa. And then, with a sigh, she said to herself, "What a pity that I do not "The shouts and cries are growing louder and louder," said John; "there "Come along, gentlemen," said the girl, who now led the two brothers "Quick, quick, my masters! do you hear them?" cried the coachman, in a Yet, after having made Cornelius get into the carriage first, the Grand "Good-bye, my child! words could never express our gratitude. God will Rosa took the hand which John de Witt proffered to her, and kissed it "Go! for Heaven's sake, go!" she said; "it seems they are going to force John de Witt hastily got in, sat himself down by the side of his "To the Tol-Hek!" The Tol-Hek was the iron gate leading to the harbor of Schevening, in The carriage drove off with the fugitives at the full speed of a pair The noise which had made Rosa suppose that the people were forcing the Solid as the gate was, and although Gryphus, to do him justice, stoutly He turned round and saw Rosa. "Do you hear these madmen?" he said. "I hear them so well, my father, that in your place----" "You would open the door?" "No, I should allow it to be forced." "But they will kill me!" "Yes, if they see you." "How shall they not see me?" "Hide yourself." "Where?" "In the secret dungeon." "But you, my child?" "I shall get into it with you. We shall lock the door and when they have "Zounds, you are right, there!" cried Gryphus; "it's surprising how much Then, as the gate began to give way amidst the triumphant shouts of the "Come along, come along, father." "But our prisoners?" "God will watch over them, and I shall watch over you." Gryphus followed his daughter, and the trap-door closed over his head, The dungeon where Rosa had induced her father to hide himself, and where The people rushed into the prison, with the cry-- "Death to the traitors! To the gallows with Cornelius de Witt! Death! |