Part 25 (1/2)
Gryphus answered with a growl
”Oh! you confess, then, that you are a sorcerer”
”Indeed, I aht burnyou”
”Well, well, well,” answered Gryphus ”But if a sorcerer can change black bread into white, won't he die of hunger if he has no bread at all?”
”What's that?” said Cornelius
”Consequently, I shall not bring you any bread at all, and we shall see hoill be after eight days”
Cornelius grew pale
”And,” continued Gryphus, ”we'll begin this very day As you are such a clever sorcerer, why, you had better change the furniture of your roohteen 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 hich this horrible mode of death inspired hi way, ”as you are a sorcerer, you will live, notwithstanding”
Cornelius put on a sain, and said, -- ”Have you not seen eons come here froeon 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'ue 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 ers have been laid to do so, and those who ave theeons, I shall make the fish of the Waal and of the Meuse coe eyes, quite bewildered
”I am rather fond of fish,” continued Cornelius; ”you never let e, and regale er 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 th, Cornelius, anxious to know so 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 hter?” cried Van Baerle
”Yes, hter Rosa, whoic Noill you tell me where she is?”
And the attitude of Gryphus beca
”Rosa is not at Loewestein?” cried Cornelius
”You knoell 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 tihter 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 ? 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 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 hidethis, 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 re it at hi hiht under his arorous 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 seele which the pain in his wrist, and sha allowed himself to be disarmed, would havehis jailer with thethe exact spot for every blow of the terrible cudgel
It was not long before Gryphus begged forfor mercy, he had lustily roared for help, and his cries had roused all the functionaries of the prison Two turnkeys, an inspector, and three or four guards, made their appearance all at once, and found Cornelius still using the stick, with the knife under his foot
At the sight of these witnesses, who could not know all the circuht justify his offence, Cornelius felt that he was irretrievably lost
In fact, appearances were sadly against him
In one moment Cornelius was disare and pain, he was able to count on his back and shoulders the bruises which were beginning to swell like the hills dotting the slopes of a e
A protocol of the violence practiced by the prisoner against his jailer was immediately drawn up, and as it was made on the depositions of Gryphus, it certainly could not be said to be too taed with neithertie was ainst Cornelius, Gryphus, whose presence was no longer necessary after having made his depositions, was taken down by his turnkeys to his lodge, groaning and covered with bruises