Dumas, Alexandre – The Black Tulip

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