furniture of your room into bread; as to myself, I shall
pocket the eighteen sous which are paid to me for your
board.”
“But that’s murder,” cried Cornelius, carried away by the
first impulse of the very natural terror with which this
horrible mode of death inspired him.
“Well,” Gryphus went on, in his jeering way, “as you are a
sorcerer, you will live, notwithstanding.”
Cornelius put on a smiling face again, and said, —
“Have you not seen me make the pigeons come here from Dort?”
“Well?” said Gryphus.
“Well, a pigeon is a very dainty morsel, and a man who eats
one every day would not starve, I think.”
“And how about the fire?” said Gryphus.
“Fire! but you know that I’m in league with the devil. Do
you think the devil will leave me without fire? Why, fire is
his proper element.”
“A man, however healthy his appetite may be, would not eat a
pigeon every day. Wagers have been laid to do so, and those
who made them gave them up.”
“Well, but when I am tired of pigeons, I shall make the fish
of the Waal and of the Meuse come up to me.”
Gryphus opened his large eyes, quite bewildered.
“I am rather fond of fish,” continued Cornelius; “you never
let me have any. Well, I shall turn your starving me to
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advantage, and regale myself with fish.”
Gryphus nearly fainted with anger and with fright, but he
soon rallied, and said, putting his hand in his pocket, —
“Well, as you force me to it,” and with these words he drew
forth a clasp-knife and opened it.
“Halloa! a knife?” said Cornelius, preparing to defend
himself with his stick.
Chapter 29
In which Van Baerle, before leaving Loewestein,
settles Accounts with Gryphus
The two remained silent for some minutes, Gryphus on the
offensive, and Van Baerle on the defensive.
Then, as the situation might be prolonged to an indefinite
length, Cornelius, anxious to know something more of the
causes which had so fiercely exasperated his jailer, spoke
first by putting the question, —
“Well, what do you want, after all?”
“I’ll tell you what I want,” answered Gryphus; “I want you to
restore to me my daughter Rosa.”
“Your daughter?” cried Van Baerle.
“Yes, my daughter Rosa, whom you have taken from me by your
devilish magic. Now, will you tell me where she is?”
And the attitude of Gryphus became more and more
threatening.
“Rosa is not at Loewestein?” cried Cornelius.
“You know well she is not. Once more, will you restore her
to me?”
“I see,” said Cornelius, “this is a trap you are laying for
me.”
“Now, for the last time, will you tell me where my daughter
is?”
“Guess it, you rogue, if you don’t know it.”
“Only wait, only wait,” growled Gryphus, white with rage,
and with quivering lips, as his brain began to turn. “Ah,
you will not tell me anything? Well, I’ll unlock your
teeth!”
He advanced a step towards Cornelius, and said, showing him
the weapon which he held in his hands, —
“Do you see this knife? Well, I have killed more than fifty
black cocks with it, and I vow I’ll kill their master, the
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devil, as well as them.”
“But, you blockhead,” said Cornelius, “will you really kill
me?”
“I shall open your heart to see in it the place where you
hide my daughter.”
Saying this, Gryphus in his frenzy rushed towards Cornelius,
who had barely time to retreat behind his table to avoid the
first thrust; but as Gryphus continued, with horrid threats,
to brandish his huge knife, and as, although out of the
reach of his weapon, yet, as long as it remained in the
madman’s hand, the ruffian might fling it at him, Cornelius
lost no time, and availing himself of the stick, which he
held tight under his arm, dealt the jailer a vigorous blow
on the wrist of that hand which held the knife.
The knife fell to the ground, and Cornelius put his foot on
it.
Then, as Gryphus seemed bent upon engaging in a struggle