the black tulip(黑郁金香)-第4章

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〃But　will　you　be　able　to　write；　poor　old　fellow？〃　John　
asked；　with　a　look　on　the　scorched　and　bruised　hands　of　the　
unfortunate　sufferer。　

〃If　I　had　pen　and　ink　you　would　soon　see；〃　said　Cornelius。　

〃Here　is　a　pencil；　at　any　rate。〃　

〃Have　you　any　paper？　for　they　have　left　me　nothing。〃　

〃Here；　take　this　Bible；　and　tear　out　the　fly…leaf。〃　

〃Very　well；　that　will　do。〃　

〃But　your　writing　will　be　illegible。〃　

〃Just　leave　me　alone　for　that；〃　said　Cornelius。　〃The　
executioners　have　indeed　pinched　me　badly　enough；　but　my　
hand　will　not　tremble　once　in　tracing　the　few　lines　which　
are　requisite。〃　

And　really　Cornelius　took　the　pencil　and　began　to　write；　
when　through　the　white　linen　bandages　drops　of　blood　oozed　
out　which　the　pressure　of　the　fingers　against　the　pencil　
squeezed　from　the　raw　flesh。　

A　cold　sweat　stood　on　the　brow　of　the　Grand　Pensionary。　

Cornelius　wrote：　　

〃My　dear　Godson；　　

〃Burn　the　parcel　which　I　have　intrusted　to　you。　Burn　it　
without　looking　at　it；　and　without　opening　it；　so　that　its　
contents　may　for　ever　remain　unknown　to　yourself。　Secrets　of　
this　description　are　death　to　those　with　whom　they　are　
deposited。　Burn　it；　and　you　will　have　saved　John　and　
Cornelius　de　Witt。　

〃Farewell；　and　love　me。　

〃Cornelius　de　Witt　

〃August　20th；　1672。〃　

John；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　wiped　off　a　drop　of　the　noble　
blood　which　had　soiled　the　leaf；　and；　after　having　handed　
the　despatch　to　Craeke　with　a　last　direction；　returned　to　
Cornelius；　who　seemed　overcome　by　intense　pain；　and　near　
fainting。　

〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃when　honest　Craeke　sounds　his　coxswain's　
whistle；　it　will　be　a　signal　of　his　being　clear　of　the　
crowd；　and　of　his　having　reached　the　other　side　of　the　pond。　
And　then　it　will　be　our　turn　to　depart。〃　

Five　minutes　had　not　elapsed；　before　a　long　and　shrill　
whistle　was　heard　through　the　din　and　noise　of　the　square　of　
the　Buytenhof。　

John　gratefully　raised　his　eyes　to　heaven。　

〃And　now；〃　said　he；　〃let　us　off；　Cornelius。〃　




Chapter　3

The　Pupil　of　John　de　Witt


Whilst　the　clamour　of　the　crowd　in　the　square　of　Buytenhof；　
which　grew　more　and　more　menacing　against　the　two　brothers；　
determined　John　de　Witt　to　hasten　the　departure　of　his　
brother　Cornelius；　a　deputation　of　burghers　had　gone　to　the　
Town…hall　to　demand　the　withdrawal　of　Tilly's　horse。　

It　was　not　far　from　the　Buytenhof　to　Hoogstraet　（High　
Street）；　and　a　stranger；　who　since　the　beginning　of　this　
scene　had　watched　all　its　incidents　with　intense　interest；　
was　seen　to　wend　his　way　with；　or　rather　in　the　wake　of；　the　
others　towards　the　Town…hall；　to　hear　as　soon　as　possible　
the　current　news　of　the　hour。　

This　stranger　was　a　very　young　man；　of　scarcely　twenty…two　
or　three；　with　nothing　about　him　that　bespoke　any　great　
energy。　He　evidently　had　his　good　reasons　for　not　making　
himself　known；　as　he　hid　his　face　in　a　handkerchief　of　fine　
Frisian　linen；　with　which　he　incessantly　wiped　his　brow　or　
his　burning　lips。　

With　an　eye　keen　as　that　of　a　bird　of　prey；　　with　a　long　
aquiline　nose；　a　finely　cut　mouth；　which　he　generally　kept　
open；　or　rather　which　was　gaping　like　the　edges　of　a　wound；　
　this　man　would　have　presented　to　Lavater；　if　Lavater　had　
lived　at　that　time；　a　subject　for　physiognomical　
observations　which　at　the　first　blush　would　not　have　been　
very　favourable　to　the　person　in　question。　

〃What　difference　is　there　between　the　figure　of　the　
conqueror　and　that　of　the　pirate？〃　said　the　ancients。　The　
difference　only　between　the　eagle　and　the　vulture；　　
serenity　or　restlessness。　

And　indeed　the　sallow　physiognomy；　the　thin　and　sickly　body；　
and　the　prowling　ways　of　the　stranger；　were　the　very　type　of　
a　suspecting　master；　or　an　unquiet　thief；　and　a　police　
officer　would　certainly　have　decided　in　favour　of　the　latter　
supposition；　on　account　of　the　great　care　which　the　
mysterious　person　evidently　took　to　hide　himself。　

He　was　plainly　dressed；　and　apparently　unarmed；　his　arm　was　
lean　but　wiry；　and　his　hands　dry；　but　of　an　aristocratic　
whiteness　and　delicacy；　and　he　leaned　on　the　shoulder　of　an　
officer；　who；　with　his　hand　on　his　sword；　had　watched　the　
scenes　in　the　Buytenhof　with　eager　curiosity；　very　natural　
in　a　military　man；　until　his　companion　drew　him　away　with　
him。　

On　arriving　at　the　square　of　the　Hoogstraet；　the　man　with　
the　sallow　face　pushed　the　other　behind　an　open　shutter；　
from　which　corner　he　himself　began　to　survey　the　balcony　of　
the　Town…hall。　

At　the　savage　yells　of　the　mob；　the　window　of　the　Town…hall　
opened；　and　a　man　came　forth　to　address　the　people。　

〃Who　is　that　on　the　balcony？〃　asked　the　young　man；　glancing　
at　the　orator。　

〃It　is　the　Deputy　Bowelt；〃　replied　the　officer。　

〃What　sort　of　a　man　is　he？　Do　you　know　anything　of　him？〃　

〃An　honest　man；　at　least　I　believe　so；　Monseigneur。〃　

Hearing　this　character　given　of　Bowelt；　the　young　man　showed　
signs　of　such　a　strange　disappointment　and　evident　
dissatisfaction　that　the　officer　could　not　but　remark　it；　
and　therefore　added；　　

〃At　least　people　say　so；　Monseigneur。　I　cannot　say　anything　
about　it　myself；　as　I　have　no　personal　acquaintance　with　
Mynheer　Bowelt。〃　

〃An　honest　man；〃　repeated　he　who　was　addressed　as　
Monseigneur；　〃do　you　mean　to　say　that　he　is　an　honest　man　
（brave　homme）；　or　a　brave　one　（homme　brave）？〃　

〃Ah；　Monseigneur　must　excuse　me；　I　would　not　presume　to　draw　
such　a　fine　distinction　in　the　case　of　a　man　whom；　I　assure　
your　Highness　once　more；　I　know　only　by　sight。〃　

〃If　this　Bowelt　is　an　honest　man；〃　his　Highness　continued；　
〃he　will　give　to　the　demand　of　these　furibund　petitioners　a　
very　queer　reception。〃　

The　nervous　quiver　of　his　hand；　which　moved　on　the　shoulder　
of　his　companion　as　the　fingers　of　a　player　on　the　keys　of　a　
harpsichord；　betrayed　his　burning　impatience；　so　ill　
concealed　at　certain　times；　and　particularly　at　that　moment；　
under　the　icy　and　sombre　expression　of　his　face。　

The　chief　of　the　deputation　of　the　burghers　was　then　heard　
addressing　an　interpellation　to　Mynheer　Bowelt；　whom　he　
requested　to　let　them　know　where　the　other　deputies；　his　
colleagues；　were。　

〃Gentlemen；〃　Bowelt　repeated　for　the　second　time；　〃I　assure　
you　that　in　this　moment　I　am　here　alone　with　Mynheer　
d'Asperen；　and　I　cannot　take　any　resolution　on　my　own　
responsibility。〃　

〃The　order！　we　want　the　order！〃　cried　several　thousand　
voices。　

Mynheer　Bowelt　wished　to　speak；　but　his　words　were　not　
heard；　and　he　was　only　seen　moving　his　arms　in　all　sorts　of　
gestures；　which　plainly　showed　that　he　felt　his　position　to　
be　desperate。　When；　at　last；　he　saw　that　he　could　not　make　
himself　heard；　he　turned　round　towards　the　open　window；　and　
called　Mynheer　d'Asperen。　

The　latter　gentleman　now　made　his　appearance　on　the　balcony；　
where　he　was　saluted　with　shouts　even　more　energetic　than　
those　with　which；　ten　minutes　before；　his　colleague　had　been　
received。　

This　did　not　prevent　him　from　undertaking　the　difficult　task　
of　haranguing　the　mob；　but　the　mob　preferred　forcing　the　
guard　of　the　States　　which；　however；　offered　no　resistance　
to　the　sovereign　people　　to　listening　to　the　speech　of　
Mynheer　d'Asperen。　

〃Now；　then；〃　the　young　man　coolly　remarked；　whilst　the　crowd　
was　rushing　into　the　principal　gate　of　the　Town…hall；　〃it　
seems　the　question　will　be　discussed　indoors；　Captain。　Come　
along；　and　let　us　hear　the　debate。〃　

〃Oh；　Monseigneur！　Monseigneur！　take　care！〃　

〃Of　what？〃　

〃Among　these　deputies　there　are　many　who　have　had　dealings　
with　you；　and　it　would　be　sufficient；　that　one　of　them　
should　recognize　your　Highness。〃　

〃Yes；　that　I　might　be　charged　with　having　been　the　
instigator　of　all　this　work；　indeed；　you　are　right；〃　said　
the　young　man；　blushing　for　a　moment　from　regret　of　having　
betrayed　so　much　eagerness。　〃From　this　place　we　shall　see　
them　return　with　or　without　the　order　for　the　withdrawal　of　
the　dragoons；　then　we　may　judge　which　is　greater；　Mynheer　
Bowelt's　honesty　or　his　courage。〃　

〃But；〃　replied　the　officer；　looking　with　astonishment　at　the　
personage　whom　he　addressed　as　Monseigneur；　〃but　your　
Highness　surely　does　not　suppose　for　one　instant　that　the　
deputies　will　order　Tilly's　horse　to　quit　their　post？〃　

〃Why　not？〃　the　young　man　quietly　retorted。　

〃Because　doing　so　would　simply　be　signing　the　death　warrant　
of　Cornelius　and　John　de　Witt。〃　

〃We　shall　see；〃　his　Highness　replied；　with　the　most　perfect　
coolness；　〃God　alone　knows　what　is　going　on　within　the　
hearts　of　men。〃　

The　officer　looked　askance　at　the　impassible　figure　of　his　
companion；　and　grew　pale：　he　was　an　honest　man　as　well　as　a　
brave　one。　

From　the　spot　where　they　stood；　his　Highness　and　his　
attendant　heard　the　tumult　and　the　heavy　tramp　of　the　crowd　
on　the　staircase　of　the　Town…hall。　The　noise　thereupon　
sounded　through　the　windows　of　the　hall；　on　the　balcony　of　
which　Mynheers　Bowelt　and　D'Asperen　had　presented　
themselves。　These　two　gentlemen　had　retired　into　the　
building；　very　likely　from　fear　of　being　forced　over　the　
balustrade　by　the　pressure　of　the　crowd。　

After　this；　fluctuating　shadows　in　tumultuous　confusion　were　
seen　flitting　to　and　fro　across　the　windows：　the　council　
hall　was　filling。　

Suddenly　the　noise　subsided；　and　as　suddenly　again　it　rose　
with　redoubled　intensity；　and　at　last　reached　such　a　pitch　
that　the　old　building　shook　to　the　very　roof。　

At　length；　the　living　stream　poured　back　through　the　
galleries　and　stairs　to　the　arched　gateway；　from　which　it　
was　seen　issuing　like　waters　from　a　spout。　

At　the　head　of　the　first　group；　man　was　flying　rather　than　
running；　his　face　hideously　distorted　with　satanic　glee：　
this　man　was　the　surgeon　Tyckelaer。　

〃We　have　it！　we　have　it！〃　he　cried；　brandishing　a　paper　in　
the　air。　

〃They　have　got　the　order！〃　muttered　the　officer　in　
amazement。　

〃Well；　then；〃　his　Highness　quietly　remarked；　〃now　I　know　
what　to　believe　with　regard　to　Mynheer　Bowelt's　honesty　and　
courage：　he　has　neither　the　one　nor　the　other。〃　

Then；　looking　with　a　steady　glance　after　the　crowd　which　was　
rushing　along　before　him；　he　continued；　　

〃Let　us　now　go　to　the　Buytenhof；　Captain；　I　expect　we　shall　
see　a　very　strange　sight　there。〃　

The　officer　bowed；　and；　without　making　any　reply；　followed　
in　the　steps　of　his　master。　

There　was　an　immense　crowd　in　the　square　and　about　the　
neighbourhood　of　the　prison。　But　the　dragoons　of　Tilly　still　
kept　it　in　check　with　the　same　success　and　with　the　same　
firmness。　

It　was　not　long　before　the　Count　heard　the　increasing　din　of　
the　approaching　multitude；　the　first　ranks　of　which　rushed　
on　with　the　rapidity　of　a　cataract。　

At　the　same　time　he　observed　the　paper；　which　was　waving　
above　the　surface　of　clenched　fists　and　glittering　arms。　

〃Halloa！〃　he　said；　rising　in　his　stirrups；　and　touching　his　
lieutenant　with　the　knob　of　his　sword；　〃I　really　believe　
those　rascals　have　got　the　order。〃　

〃Dastardly　ruffians　they　are；〃　cried　the　lieutenant。　

It　was　indeed　the　order；　which　the　burgher　guard　received　
with　a　roar　of　triumph。　They　immediately　sallied　forth；　with　
lowered　arms