sir! this is more than humanity, — this is indeed Christian
charity.”
Cornelius cast his eyes on the beautiful girl, quite
astonished to hear from the mouth of one so humble such a
noble and feeling speech.
But he had no time to express his surprise. Gryphus
recovered from his swoon, opened his eyes, and as his
brutality was returning with his senses, he growled “That’s
it, a fellow is in a hurry to bring to a prisoner his
supper, and falls and breaks his arm, and is left lying on
the ground.”
“Hush, my father,” said Rosa, “you are unjust to this
gentleman, whom I found endeavouring to give you his aid.”
“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, that’s a saving; come, assist me to get up, I
feel as heavy as lead.”
Rosa lent the sufferer her shoulder; he put his unhurt arm
around her neck, and making an effort, got on his legs,
whilst Cornelius, to save him a walk, pushed a chair towards
him.
Gryphus sat down; then, turning towards his daughter, he
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said, —
“Well, didn’t you hear? go and fetch what is wanted.”
Rosa went down, and immediately after returned with two
staves of a small barrel and a large roll of linen bandage.
Cornelius had made use of the intervening moments to take
off the man’s coat, and to tuck up his shirt sleeve.
“Is this what you require, sir?” asked Rosa.
“Yes, mademoiselle,” answered Cornelius, looking at the
things she had brought, — “yes, that’s right. Now push this
table, whilst I support the arm of your father.”
Rosa pushed the table, Cornelius placed the broken arm on it
so as to make it flat, and with perfect skill set the bone,
adjusted the splinters, and fastened the bandages.
At the last touch, the jailer fainted a second time.
“Go and fetch vinegar, mademoiselle,” said Cornelius; “we
will bathe his temples, and he will recover.”
But, instead of acting up to the doctor’s prescription,
Rosa, after having satisfied herself that her father was
still unconscious, approached Cornelius and said, —
“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 inquired to-day for the room in which you are
confined, and, on being told that you are occupying the cell
of Mynheer Cornelius de Witt, laughed in a very strange and
very disagreeable manner, which makes me fear that no good
awaits you.”
“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 pieces?”
“That’s true,” said Cornelius, gravely.
“And besides,” continued Rosa, “the people want to find you
guilty. But whether innocent or guilty, your trial begins
to-morrow, and the day after you will be condemned. Matters
are settled very quickly in these times.”
“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 a swoon, that the dog is muzzled, and that
consequently there is nothing to prevent your making your
escape. Fly, then; that’s what I mean.”
“What do you say?”
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“I say that I was not able to save Mynheer Cornelius or
Mynheer John de Witt, and that I should like to save you.
Only be quick; there, my father is regaining his breath, one
minute more, and he will open his eyes, and it will be too
late. Do you hesitate?”
In fact, Cornelius stood immovable, looking at Rosa, yet