Черный тюльпан
The Jailer’s Daughter
“Itisquitetrue,master!Iamquitereadytohelpyoustillmore.”
“You!”saidGryphus,“areyouamedicalman?”
“Itwasformerlymyprofession.”
“Andsoyouwouldbeabletosetmyarm?”
“Perfectly.”
“Andwhatwouldyouneedtodoit?letushear.”
“Twosplintersofwood,andsomelinenforabandage.”
“Doyouhear,Rosa?”saidGryphus,“theprisonerisgoingtosetmyarm,that’sasaving;come,assistmetogetup,Ifeelasheavyaslead.”
Rosalentthesuffererhershoulder;heputhisunhurtarmaroundherneck,andmakinganeffort,gotonhislegs,whilstCornelius,tosavehimawalk,pushedachairtowardshim.
Gryphussatdown;then,turningtowardshisdaughter,hesaid,—
“Well,didn’tyouhear?goandfetchwhatiswanted.”
Rosawentdown,andimmediatelyafterreturnedwithtwostavesofasmallbarrelandalargerolloflinenbandage.
Corneliushadmadeuseoftheinterveningmomentstotakeofftheman’scoat,andtotuckuphisshirtsleeve.
“Isthiswhatyourequire,sir?”askedRosa.
“Yes,mademoiselle,”answeredCornelius,lookingatthethingsshehadbrought,—“yes,that’sright.Nowpushthistable,whilstIsupportthearmofyourfather.”
Rosapushedthetable,Corneliusplacedthebrokenarmonitsoastomakeitflat,andwithperfectskillsetthebone,adjustedthesplinters,andfastenedthebandages.
Atthelasttouch,thejailerfaintedasecondtime.
“Goandfetchvinegar,mademoiselle,”saidCornelius;“wewillbathehistemples,andhewillrecover.
