Page:The black tulip (IA 10892334.2209.emory.edu).pdf/89

 “Well, then, after all,” said the envious Boxtel-raising his livid face from his hands in which it had. been buried “if he has them, he can keep them only as long as he lives, and”

The rest of this detestable thought merged in a hideous smile.

“The suckers are at the Hague,” he said, “therefore, I can no longer live at Dort: away, then, for them, to the Hague! to the Hague!”

And Boxtel, without taking any notice of the treasures about him—so entirely were his thoughts absorbed by another inestimable treasure—let himself out by the window, glided down the ladder, carried it back to the place whence he had taken it, and, like a beast of prey, returned growling to his house.

  was about midnight when poor Van Baerle was locked up in the prison of the Buitenhof.

What Rosa foresaw had come to pass. On finding the cell of Cornelius De Witte empty, the wrath of the people ran very high, and had Gryphus fallen into the hands of those madmen, he would certainly have had to pay with his life for the prisoner.

But this fury had vented itself most amply on the two brothers when they were overtaken by the murderers, thanks to the precaution which William—the man of precautions—had taken in having the gates of the city closed.

A momentary lull had therefore set in, whilst the prison was empty, and Rosa availed herself of this