Gryphus was followed by the mastiff.

　　The turnkey took the animal round the jail, so that, ifneeds be, he might recognize the prisoners.

　　"Father," said Rosa, "here is the famous prison from whichMynheer Grotius escaped. You know Mynheer Grotius?""Oh, yes, that rogue Grotius, a friend of that villainBarneveldt, whom I saw executed when I was a child. Ah! soGrotius; and that's the chamber from which he escaped. Well,I'll answer for it that no one shall escape after him in mytime."And thus opening the door, he began in the dark to talk tothe prisoner.

　　The dog, on his part, went up to the prisoner, and,growling, smelled about his legs just as though to ask himwhat right he had still to be alive, after having left theprison in the company of the Recorder and the executioner.

　　But the fair Rosa called him to her side.

　　"Well, my master," said Gryphus, holding up his lantern tothrow a little light around, "you see in me your new jailer.

　　I am head turnkey, and have all the cells under my care. Iam not vicious, but I'm not to be trifled with, as far asdiscipline goes.""My good Master Gryphus, I know you perfectly well," saidthe prisoner, approaching within the circle of light castaround by the lantern.

　　"Halloa! that's you, Mynheer van Baerle," said Gryphus.

　　"That's you; well, I declare, it's astonishing how people domeet.""Oh, yes; and it's really a great pleasure to me, goodMaster Gryphus, to see that your arm is doing well, as youare able to hold your lantern with it."Gryphus knitted his brow. "Now, that's just it," he said,"people always make blunders in politics. His Highness hasgranted you your life; I'm sure I should never have doneso.""Don't say so," replied Cornelius; "why not?""Because you are the very man to conspire again. You learnedpeople have dealings with the devil.""Nonsense, Master Gryphus. Are you dissatisfied with themanner in which I have set your arm, or with the price thatI asked you?" said Cornelius, laughing.

　　"On the contrary," growled the jailer, "you have set it onlytoo well. There is some witchcraft in this. After six weeks,I was able to use it as if nothing had happened, so much so,that the doctor of the Buytenhof, who knows his trade well,wanted to break it again, to set it in the regular way, andpromised me that I should have my blessed three months formy money before I should be able to move it.""And you did not want that?""I said, 'Nay, as long as I can make the sign of the crosswith that arm' (Gryphus was a Roman Catholic), 'I laugh atthe devil.'""But if you laugh at the devil, Master Gryphus, you oughtwith so much more reason to laugh at learned people.""Ah, learned people, learned people! Why, I would ratherhave to guard ten soldiers than one scholar. The soldierssmoke, guzzle, and get drunk; they are gentle as lambs ifyou only give them brandy or Moselle, but scholars, anddrink, smoke, and fuddle -- ah, yes, that's altogetherdifferent. They keep sober, spend nothing, and have theirheads always clear to make conspiracies. But I tell you, atthe very outset, it won't be such an easy matter for you toconspire. First of all, you will have no books, no paper,and no conjuring book. It's books that helped MynheerGrotius to get off.""I assure you, Master Gryphus," replied Van Baerle, "that ifI have entertained the idea of escaping, I most decidedlyhave it no longer.""Well, well," said Gryphus, "just look sharp: that's what Ishall do also. But, for all that, I say his Highness hasmade a great mistake.""Not to have cut off my head? thank you, Master Gryphus.""Just so, look whether the Mynheer de Witt don't keep veryquiet now.""That's very shocking what you say now, Master Gryphus,"cried Van Baerle, turning away his head to conceal hisdisgust. "You forget that one of those unfortunate gentlemenwas my friend, and the other my second father.""Yes, but I also remember that the one, as well as theother, was a conspirator. And, moreover, I am speaking fromChristian charity.""Oh, indeed! explain that a little to me, my good MasterGryphus. I do not quite understand it.""Well, then, if you had remained on the block of MasterHarbruck ---- ""What?""You would not suffer any longer; whereas, I will notdisguise it from you, I shall lead you a sad life of it.""Thank you for the promise, Master Gryphus."And whilst the prisoner smiled ironically at the old jailer,Rosa, from the outside, answered by a bright smile, whichcarried sweet consolation to the heart of Van Baerle.

　　Gryphus stepped towards the window.

　　It was still light enough to see, although indistinctly,through the gray haze of the evening, the vast expanse ofthe horizon.

　　"What view has one from here?" asked Gryphus.

　　"Why, a very fine and pleasant one," said Cornelius, lookingat Rosa.

　　"Yes, yes, too much of a view, too much."And at this moment the two pigeons, scared by the sight andespecially by the voice of the stranger, left their nest,and disappeared, quite frightened in the evening mist.

　　"Halloa! what's this?" cried Gryphus.

　　"My pigeons," answered Cornelius.

　　"Your pigeons," cried the jailer, "your pigeons! has aprisoner anything of his own?""Why, then," said Cornelius, "the pigeons which a mercifulFather in Heaven has lent to me.""So, here we have a breach of the rules already," repliedGryphus. "Pigeons! ah, young man, young man! I'll tell youone thing, that before to-morrow is over, your pigeons willboil in my pot.""First of all you should catch them, Master Gryphus. Youwon't allow these pigeons to be mine! Well, I vow they areeven less yours than mine.""Omittance is no acquittance," growled the jailer, "and Ishall certainly ............