10. The Jailer's Daughter

by Alexandre Dumas

　　On the same evening Gryphus, as he brought the prisoner hismess, slipped on the damp flags whilst opening the door ofthe cell, and fell, in the attempt to steady himself, on hishand; but as it was turned the wrong way, he broke his armjust above the wrist.Cornelius rushed forward towards the jailer, but Gryphus,who was not yet aware of the serious nature of his injury,called out to him, --"It is nothing: don't you stir."He then tried to support himself on his arm, but the bonegave way; then only he felt the pain, and uttered a cry.When he became aware that his arm was broken, this man, soharsh to others, fell swooning on the threshold, where heremained motionless and cold, as if dead.During all this time the door of the cell stood open andCornelius found himself almost free. But the thought neverentered his mind of profiting by this accident; he had seenfrom the manner in which the arm was bent, and from thenoise it made in bending, that the bone was fractured, andthat the patient must be in great pain; and now he thoughtof nothing else but of administering relief to the sufferer,however little benevolent the man had shown himself duringtheir short interview.At the noise of Gryphus's fall, and at the cry which escapedhim, a hasty step was heard on the staircase, andimmediately after a lovely apparition presented itself tothe eyes of Cornelius.It was the beautiful young Frisian, who, seeing her fatherstretched on the ground, and the prisoner bending over him,uttered a faint cry, as in the first fright she thoughtGryphus, whose brutality she well knew, had fallen inconsequence of a struggle between him and the prisoner.Cornelius understood what was passing in the mind of thegirl, at the very moment when the suspicion arose in herheart.But one moment told her the true state of the case and,ashamed of her first thoughts, she cast her beautiful eyes,wet with tears, on the young man, and said to him, --"I beg your pardon, and thank you, sir; the first for what Ihave thought, and the second for what you are doing."Cornelius blushed, and said, "I am but doing my duty as aChristian in helping my neighbour.""Yes, and affording him your help this evening, you haveforgotten the abuse which he heaped on you this morning. Oh,sir! this is more than humanity, -- this is indeed Christiancharity."Cornelius cast his eyes on the beautiful girl, quiteastonished to hear from the mouth of one so humble such anoble and feeling speech.But he had no time to express his surprise. Gryphusrecovered from his swoon, opened his eyes, and as hisbrutality was returning with his senses, he growled "That'sit, a fellow is in a hurry to bring to a prisoner hissupper, and falls and breaks his arm, and is left lying onthe ground.""Hush, my father," said Rosa, "you are unjust to thisgentleman, whom I found endeavouring to give you his aid.""His aid?" Gryphus replied, with a doubtful air."It is quite true, master! I am quite ready to help youstill more.""You!" said Gryphus, "are you a medical man?""It was formerly my profession.""And so you would be able to set my arm?""Perfectly.""And what would you need to do it? let us hear.""Two splinters of wood, and some linen for a bandage.""Do you hear, Rosa?" said Gryphus, "the prisoner is going toset my arm, that's a saving; come, assist me to get up, Ifeel as heavy as lead."Rosa lent the sufferer her shoulder; he put his unhurt armaround her neck, and making an effort, got on his legs,whilst Cornelius, to save him a walk, pushed a chair towardshim.Gryphus sat down; then, turning towards his daughter, hesaid, --"Well, didn't you hear? go and fetch what is wanted."Rosa went down, and immediately after returned with twostaves of a small barrel and a large roll of linen bandage.Cornelius had made use of the intervening moments to takeoff the man's coat, and to tuck up his shirt sleeve."Is this what you require, sir?" asked Rosa."Yes, mademoiselle," answered Cornelius, looking at thethings she had brought, -- "yes, that's right. Now push thistable, whilst I support the arm of your father."Rosa pushed the table, Cornelius placed the broken arm on itso as to make it flat, and with perfect skill set the bone,adjusted the splinters, and fastened the bandages.At the last touch, the jailer fainted a second time."Go and fetch vinegar, mademoiselle," said Cornelius; "wewill bathe his temples, and he will recover."But, instead of acting up to the doctor's prescription,Rosa, after having satisfied herself that her father wasstill unconscious, approached Cornelius and said, --"Service for service, sir.""What do you mean, my pretty child?" said Cornelius."I mean to say, sir, that the judge who is to examine youto-morrow has inquired to-day for the room in which you areconfined, and, on being told that you are occupying the cellof Mynheer Cornelius de Witt, laughed in a very strange andvery disagreeable manner, which makes me fear that no goodawaits you.""But," asked Cornelius, "what harm can they do to me?""Look at that gibbet.""But I am not guilty," said Cornelius."Were they guilty whom you see down there gibbeted, mangled,and torn to pieces?""That's true," said Cornelius, gravely."And besides," continued Rosa, "the people want to find youguilty. But whether innocent or guilty, your trial beginsto-morrow, and the day after you will be condemned. Mattersare settled very quickly in these times.""Well, and what do you conclude from all this?""I conclude that I am alone, that I am weak, that my fatheris lying in a swoon, that the dog is muzzled, and thatconsequently there is nothing to prevent your making yourescape. Fly, then; that's what I mean.""What do you say?""I say that I was not able to save Mynheer Cornelius orMynheer John de Witt, and that I should like to save you.Only be quick; there, my father is regaining his breath, oneminute more, and he will open his eyes, and it will be toolate. Do you hesitate?"In fact, Cornelius stood immovable, looking at Rosa, yetlooking at her as if he did not hear her."Don't you understand me?" said the young girl, with someimpatience."Yes, I do," said Cornelius, "but ---- ""But?""I will not, they would accuse you.""Never mind," said Rosa, blushing, "never mind that.""You are very good, my dear child," replied Cornelius, "butI stay.""You stay, oh, sir! oh, sir! don't you understand that youwill be condemned to death, executed on the scaffold,perhaps assassinated and torn to pieces, just like MynheerJohn and Mynheer Cornelius. For heaven's sake, don't thinkof me, but fly from this place, Take care, it bears ill luckto the De Witts!""Halloa!" cried the jailer, recovering his senses, "who istalking of those rogues, those wretches, those villains, theDe Witts?""Don't be angry, my good man," said Cornelius, with hisgood-tempered smile, "the worst thing for a fracture isexcitement, by which the blood is heated."Thereupon, he said in an undertone to Rosa --"My child, I am innocent, and I shall await my trial withtranquillity and an easy mind.""Hush," said Rosa."Why hush?""My father must not suppose that we have been talking toeach other.""What harm would that do?""What harm? He would never allow me to come here any more,"said Rosa.Cornelius received this innocent confidence with a smile; hefelt as if a ray of good fortune were shining on his path."Now, then, what are you chattering there together about?"said Gryphus, rising and supporting his right arm with hisleft."Nothing," said Rosa; "the doctor is explaining to me whatdiet you are to keep.""Diet, diet for me? Well, my fine girl, I shall put you ondiet too.""On what diet, my father?""Never to go to the cells of the prisoners, and, if ever youshould happen to go, to leave them as soon as possible.Come, off with me, lead the way, and be quick."Rosa and Cornelius exchanged glances.That of Rosa tried to express, --"There, you see?"That of Cornelius said, --"Let it be as the Lord wills."