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The Black Tulip, a novel by Alexandre Dumas |
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Chapter 10. The Jailer's Daughter |
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_ On the same evening Gryphus, as he brought the prisoner his mess, slipped on the damp flags whilst opening the door of the cell, and fell, in the attempt to steady himself, on his hand; but as it was turned the wrong way, he broke his arm just above the wrist. Cornelius rushed forward towards the jailer, but Gryphus, who was not "It is nothing: don't you stir." He then tried to support himself on his arm, but the bone gave way; then When he became aware that his arm was broken, this man, so harsh to During all this time the door of the cell stood open and Cornelius found At the noise of Gryphus's fall, and at the cry which escaped him, a It was the beautiful young Frisian, who, seeing her father stretched on Cornelius understood what was passing in the mind of the girl, at the But one moment told her the true state of the case and, ashamed of her "I beg your pardon, and thank you, sir; the first for what I have Cornelius blushed, and said, "I am but doing my duty as a Christian in "Yes, and affording him your help this evening, you have forgotten the Cornelius cast his eyes on the beautiful girl, quite astonished to hear But he had no time to express his surprise. Gryphus recovered from his "Hush, my father," said Rosa, "you are unjust to this gentleman, whom I "His aid?" Gryphus replied, with a doubtful air. "It is quite true, master! I am quite ready to help you still more." "You!" said Gryphus, "are you a medical man?" "It was formerly my profession." "And so you would be able to set my arm?" "Perfectly." "And what would you need to do it? let us hear." "Two splinters of wood, and some linen for a bandage." "Do you hear, Rosa?" said Gryphus, "the prisoner is going to set my arm, Rosa lent the sufferer her shoulder; he put his unhurt arm around her Gryphus sat down; then, turning towards his daughter, he said,-- "Well, didn't you hear? go and fetch what is wanted." Rosa went down, and immediately after returned with two staves of a Cornelius had made use of the intervening moments to take off the man's "Is this what you require, sir?" asked Rosa. "Yes, mademoiselle," answered Cornelius, looking at the things she had Rosa pushed the table, Cornelius placed the broken arm on it so as At the last touch, the jailer fainted a second time. "Go and fetch vinegar, mademoiselle," said Cornelius; "we will bathe his But, instead of acting up to the doctor's prescription, Rosa, after "Service for service, sir." "What do you mean, my pretty child?" said Cornelius. "I mean to say, sir, that the judge who is to examine you to-morrow has "But," asked Cornelius, "what harm can they do to me?" "Look at that gibbet." "But I am not guilty," said Cornelius. "Were they guilty whom you see down there gibbeted, mangled, and torn to "That's true," said Cornelius, gravely. "And besides," continued Rosa, "the people want to find you guilty. But "Well, and what do you conclude from all this?" "I conclude that I am alone, that I am weak, that my father is lying in "What do you say?" "I say that I was not able to save Mynheer Cornelius or Mynheer John In fact, Cornelius stood immovable, looking at Rosa, yet looking at her "Don't you understand me?" said the young girl, with some impatience. "Yes, I do," said Cornelius, "but----" "But?" "I will not, they would accuse you." "Never mind," said Rosa, blushing, "never mind that." "You are very good, my dear child," replied Cornelius, "but I stay." "You stay, oh, sir! oh, sir! don't you understand that you will be "Halloa!" cried the jailer, recovering his senses, "who is talking of "Don't be angry, my good man," said Cornelius, with his good-tempered Thereupon, he said in an undertone to Rosa-- "My child, I am innocent, and I shall await my trial with tranquillity "Hush," said Rosa. "Why hush?" "My father must not suppose that we have been talking to each other." "What harm would that do?" "What harm? He would never allow me to come here any more," said Rosa. Cornelius received this innocent confidence with a smile; he felt as if "Now, then, what are you chattering there together about?" said Gryphus, "Nothing," said Rosa; "the doctor is explaining to me what diet you are "Diet, diet for me? Well, my fine girl, I shall put you on diet too." "On what diet, my father?" "Never to go to the cells of the prisoners, and, if ever you should Rosa and Cornelius exchanged glances. That of Rosa tried to express,-- "There, you see?" That of Cornelius said,-- "Let it be as the Lord wills." _ |