Черный тюльпан
In which Van Baerle, before leaving Loewestein, settles Accounts with Gryphus
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Sayingthis,GryphusinhisfrenzyrushedtowardsCornelius,whohadbarelytimetoretreatbehindhistabletoavoidthefirstthrust;butasGryphuscontinued,withhorridthreats,tobrandishhishugeknife,andas,althoughoutofthereachofhisweapon,yet,aslongasitremainedinthemadman’shand,theruffianmightflingitathim,Corneliuslostnotime,andavailinghimselfofthestick,whichheheldtightunderhisarm,dealtthejaileravigorousblowonthewristofthathandwhichheldtheknife.
Theknifefelltotheground,andCorneliusputhisfootonit.
Then,asGryphusseemedbentuponengaginginastrugglewhichthepaininhiswrist,andshameforhavingallowedhimselftobedisarmed,wouldhavemadedesperate,Corneliustookadecisivestep,belaboringhisjailerwiththemostheroicself-possession,andselectingtheexactspotforeveryblowoftheterriblecudgel.
ItwasnotlongbeforeGryphusbeggedformercy.Butbeforebeggingformercy,hehadlustilyroaredforhelp,andhiscrieshadrousedallthefunctionariesoftheprison.Twoturnkeys,aninspector,andthreeorfourguards,madetheirappearanceallatonce,andfoundCorneliusstillusingthestick,withtheknifeunderhisfoot.
Atthesightofthesewitnesses,whocouldnotknowallthecircumstanceswhichhadprovokedandmightjustifyhisoffence,Corneliusfeltthathewasirretrievablylost.
Infact,appearancesweresadlyagainsthim.
