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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