But　how　should　he　write？　Gryphus　had　taken　the　paper　and
  pencil　from　him；　and　even　if　he　had　both；　he　could　hardly
  expect　Gryphus　to　despatch　his　letter。
  Then　Cornelius　revolved　in　his　mind　all　those　stratagems
  resorted　to　by　unfortunate　prisoners。
  He　had　thought　of　an　attempt　to　escape；　a　thing　which　never
  entered　his　head　whilst　he　could　see　Rosa　every　day；　but　the
  more　he　thought　of　it；　the　more　clearly　he　saw　the
  impracticability　of　such　an　attempt。　He　was　one　of　those
  choice　spirits　who　abhor　everything　that　is　common；　and　who
  often　lose　a　good　chance　through　not　taking　the　way　of　the
  vulgar；　that　high　road　of　mediocrity　which　leads　to
  everything。
  〃How　is　it　possible；〃　said　Cornelius　to　himself；　〃that　I
  should　escape　from　Loewestein；　as　Grotius　has　done　the　same
  thing　before　me？　Has　not　every　precaution　been　taken　since？
  Are　not　the　windows　barred？　Are　not　the　doors　of　double　and
  even　of　treble　strength；　and　the　sentinels　ten　times　more
  watchful？　And　have　not　I；　besides　all　this；　an　Argus　so　much
  the　more　dangerous　as　he　has　the　keen　eyes　of　hatred？
  Finally；　is　there　not　one　fact　which　takes　away　all　my
  spirit；　I　mean　Rosa's　absence？　But　suppose　I　should　waste
  ten　years　of　my　life　in　making　a　file　to　file　off　my　bars；
  or　in　braiding　cords　to　let　myself　down　from　the　window；　or
  in　sticking　wings　on　my　shoulders　to　fly；　like　Daedalus？　But
  luck　is　against　me　now。　The　file　would　get　dull；　the　rope
  would　break；　or　my　wings　would　melt　in　the　sun；　I　should
  surely　kill　myself；　I　should　be　picked　up　maimed　and
  crippled；　I　should　be　labelled；　and　put　on　exhibition　in　the
  museum　at　the　Hague　between　the　blood…stained　doublet　of
  William　the　Taciturn　and　the　female　walrus　captured　at
  Stavesen；　and　the　only　result　of　my　enterprise　will　have
  been　to　procure　me　a　place　among　the　curiosities　of　Holland。
  〃But　no；　and　it　is　much　better　so。　Some　fine　day　Gryphus
  will　commit　some　atrocity。　I　am　losing　my　patience；　since　I
  have　lost　the　joy　and　company　of　Rosa；　and　especially　since
  I　have　lost　my　tulip。　Undoubtedly；　some　day　or　other　Gryphus
  will　attack　me　in　a　manner　painful　to　my　self…respect；　or　to
  my　love；　or　even　threaten　my　personal　safety。　I　don't　know
  how　it　is；　but　since　my　imprisonment　I　feel　a　strange　and
  almost　irresistible　pugnacity。　Well；　I　shall　get　at　the
  throat　of　that　old　villain；　and　strangle　him。〃
  Cornelius　at　these　words　stopped　for　a　moment；　biting　his
  lips　and　staring　out　before　him；　then；　eagerly　returning　to
  an　idea　which　seemed　to　possess　a　strange　fascination　for
  him；　he　continued；
  〃Well；　and　once　having　strangled　him；　why　should　I　not　take
  his　keys　from　him；　why　not　go　down　the　stairs　as　if　I　had
  done　the　most　virtuous　action；　why　not　go　and　fetch　Rosa
  from　her　room；　why　not　tell　her　all；　and　jump　from　her
  window　into　the　Waal？　I　am　expert　enough　as　a　swimmer　to
  save　both　of　us。　Rosa；　　but；　oh　Heaven；　Gryphus　is　her
  father！　Whatever　may　be　her　affection　for　me；　she　will　never
  approve　of　my　having　strangled　her　father；　brutal　and
  malicious　as　he　has　been。
  〃I　shall　have　to　enter　into　an　argument　with　her；　and　in　the
  midst　of　my　speech　some　wretched　turnkey　who　has　found
  Gryphus　with　the　death…rattle　in　his　throat；　or　perhaps
  actually　dead；　will　come　along　and　put　his　hand　on　my
  shoulder。　Then　I　shall　see　the　Buytenhof　again；　and　the
  gleam　of　that　infernal　sword；　　which　will　not　stop
  half…way　a　second　time；　but　will　make　acquaintance　with　the
  nape　of　my　neck。
  〃It　will　not　do；　Cornelius；　my　fine　fellow；　　it　is　a　bad
  plan。　But；　then；　what　is　to　become　of　me；　and　how　shall　I
  find　Rosa　again？〃
  Such　were　the　cogitations　of　Cornelius　three　days　after　the
  sad　scene　of　separation　from　Rosa；　at　the　moment　when　we
  find　him　standing　at　the　window。
  And　at　that　very　moment　Gryphus　entered。
  He　held　in　his　hand　a　huge　stick；　his　eyes　glistening　with
  spiteful　thoughts；　a　malignant　smile　played　round　his　lips；
  and　the　whole　of　his　carriage；　and　even　all　his　movements；
  betokened　bad　and　malicious　intentions。
  Cornelius　heard　him　enter；　and　guessed　that　it　was　he；　but
  did　not　turn　round；　as　he　knew　well　that　Rosa　was　not　coming
  after　him。
  There　is　nothing　more　galling　to　angry　people　than　the
  coolness　of　those　on　whom　they　wish　to　vent　their　spleen。
  The　expense　being　once　incurred；　one　does　not　like　to　lose
  it；　one's　passion　is　roused；　and　one's　blood　boiling；　so　it
  would　be　labour　lost　not　to　have　at　least　a　nice　little　row。
  Gryphus；　therefore；　on　seeing　that　Cornelius　did　not　stir；
  tried　to　attract　his　attention　by　a　loud
  〃Umph；　umph！〃
  Cornelius　was　humming　between　his　teeth　the　〃Hymn　of
  Flowers；〃　　a　sad　but　very　charming　song；
  〃We　are　the　daughters　of　the　secret　fire
  Of　the　fire　which　runs　through　the　veins　of　the　earth；
  We　are　the　daughters　of　Aurora　and　of　the　dew；
  We　are　the　daughters　of　the　air；
  We　are　the　daughters　of　the　water；
  But　we　are；　above　all；　the　daughters　of　heaven。〃
  This　song；　the　placid　melancholy　of　which　was　still
  heightened　by　its　calm　and　sweet　melody；　exasperated　Gryphus。
  He　struck　his　stick　on　the　stone　pavement　of　the　cell；
  and　called　out；
  〃Halloa！　my　warbling　gentleman；　don't　you　hear　me？〃
  Cornelius　turned　round；　merely　saying；　〃Good　morning；〃　and
  then　began　his　song　again：
  〃Men　defile　us　and　kill　us　while　loving　us；
  We　hang　to　the　earth　by　a　thread；
  This　thread　is　our　root；　that　is　to　say；　our　life；
  But　we　raise　on　high　our　arms　towards　heaven。〃
  〃Ah；　you　accursed　sorcerer！　you　are　making　game　of　me；　I
  believe；〃　roared　Gryphus。
  Cornelius　continued：
  〃For　heaven　is　our　home；
  Our　true　home；　as　from　thence　comes　our　soul；
  As　thither　our　soul　returns；
  Our　soul；　that　is　to　say；　our　perfume。〃
  Gryphus　went　up　to　the　prisoner　and　said；
  〃But　you　don't　see　that　I　have　taken　means　to　get　you　under；
  and　to　force　you　to　confess　your　crimes。〃
  〃Are　you　mad；　my　dear　Master　Gryphus？〃　asked　Cornelius。
  And；　as　he　now　for　the　first　time　observed　the　frenzied
  features；　the　flashing　eyes；　and　foaming　mouth　of　the　old
  jailer；　he　said；
  〃Bless　the　man；　he　is　more　than　mad；　he　is　furious。〃
  Gryphus　flourished　his　stick　above　his　head；　but　Van　Baerle
  moved　not；　and　remained　standing　with　his　arms　akimbo。
  〃It　seems　your　intention　to　threaten　me；　Master　Gryphus。〃
  〃Yes；　indeed；　I　threaten　you；〃　cried　the　jailer。
  〃And　with　what？〃
  〃First　of　all；　look　at　what　I　have　in　my　hand。〃
  〃I　think　that's　a　stick；〃　said　Cornelius　calmly；　〃but　I
  don't　suppose　you　will　threaten　me　with　that。〃
  〃Oh；　you　don't　suppose！　why　not？〃
  〃Because　any　jailer　who　strikes　a　prisoner　is　liable　to　two
  penalties；　　the　first　laid　down　in　Article　9　of　the
  regulations　at　Loewestein：
  〃'Any　jailer；　inspector；　or　turnkey　who　lays　hands　upon　any
  prisoner　of　State　will　be　dismissed。'〃
  〃Yes；　who　lays　hands；〃　said　Gryphus；　mad　with　rage；　〃but
  there　is　not　a　word　about　a　stick　in　the　regulation。〃
  〃And　the　second；〃　continued　Cornelius；　〃which　is　not　written
  in　the　regulation；　but　which　is　to　be　found　elsewhere：
  〃'Whosoever　takes　up　the　stick　will　be　thrashed　by　the
  stick。'〃
  Gryphus；　growing　more　and　more　exasperated　by　the　calm　and
  sententious　tone　of　Cornelius；　brandished　his　cudgel；　but　at
  the　moment　when　he　raised　it　Cornelius　rushed　at　him；
  snatched　it　from　his　hands；　and　put　it　under　his　own　arm。
  Gryphus　fairly　bellowed　with　rage。
  〃Hush；　hush；　my　good　man；〃　said　Cornelius；　〃don't　do
  anything　to　lose　your　place。〃
  〃Ah；　you　sorcerer！　I'll　pinch　you　worse；〃　roared　Gryphus。
  〃I　wish　you　may。〃
  〃Don't　you　see　my　hand　is　empty？〃
  〃Yes；　I　see　it；　and　I　am　glad　of　it。〃
  〃You　know　that　it　is　not　generally　so　when　I　come　upstairs
  in　the　morning。〃
  〃It's　true；　you　generally　bring　me　the　worst　soup；　and　the
  most　miserable　rations　one　can　imagine。　But　that's　not　a
  punishment　to　me；　I　eat　only　bread；　and　the　worse　the　bread
  is　to　your　taste；　the　better　it　is　to　mine。〃
  〃How　so？〃
  〃Oh；　it's　a　very　simple　thing。〃
  〃Well；　tell　it　me；〃　said　Gryphus。
  〃Very　willingly。　I　know　that　in　giving　me　bad　bread　you
  think　you　do　me　harm。〃
  〃Certainly；　I　don't　give　it　you　to　please　you；　you　brigand。〃
  〃Well；　then；　I；　who　am　a　sorcerer；　as　you　know；　change　your
  bad　into　excellent　bread；　which　I　relish　more　than　the　best
  cake；　and　then　I　have　the　double　pleasure　of　eating
  something　that　gratifies　my　palate；　and　of　doing　something
  that　puts　you　in　a　rage。
  Gryphus　answered　with　a　growl。
  〃Oh！　you　confess；　then；　that　you　are　a　sorcerer。〃
  〃Indeed；　I　am　one。　I　don't　say　it　before　all　the　world；
  because　they　might　burn　me　for　it；　but　as　we　are　alone；　I
  don't　mind　telling　you。〃
  〃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　how　it　will　be　after　eight　days。〃
  Cornelius　grew　pale。
  〃And；〃　continued　Gryphus；　〃we'll　begin　this　very　day。　As　you
  are　su