Page:The black tulip (IA 10892334.2209.emory.edu).pdf/200

 already crushed the first sucker of my tulip. Oh the wretch, the wretch, he is an accomplice of Jacob!”

“Don’t speak so loud, for Heaven’s sake.”

“Oh, Rosa, if you don’t open the door to me,” Cornelius cried, in his rage, “I shall force these bars, and kill everything I find in the prison!”

“Be merciful, be merciful, my friend.”

“I tell you, Rosa, that I shall demolish this prison, stone for stone;” and the unfortunate man, whose strength was increased tenfold by his rage, began to shake the door with a great noise, little heeding that the thunder of his voice was re-echoing through the spiral staircase.

Rosa, in her fright, made vain attempts to check this furious outbreak.

“I tell you that I shall kill that infamous Gryphus!” roared Cornelius, “I tell you I shall shed his blood, as he did that of my black tulip!”

The wretched prisoner began really to rave.

“Well, then, yes;” said Rosa, all in a tremble, “Yes, yes, only be quiet. Yes, I will take his keys, I will open the door for you—yes, only be quiet, my own dear Cornelius.”

She did not finish her speech, as a growl by her side interrupted her.

“My father!” cried Rosa.

“Gryphus!” roared Van Baerle, “Oh, you villain.”

Old Gryphus, in the midst of all the noise, had ascended the staircase without being heard.

He rudely seized his daughter by the wrist.

“So you will take my keys?” he said, in a voice choked with rage; “Ah! this dastardly fellow, this monster, this gallows-bird of a conspirator is your own dear Cornelius, is he? Ah! Missy has communications with prisoners of State. Ah! won’t I teach you, won’t I?”