Master and Pupil

           TheworthyMasterGryphus,asthereadermayhaveseen,wasfarfromsharingthekindlyfeelingofhisdaughterforthegodsonofCorneliusdeWitt.

           TherebeingonlyfiveprisonersatLoewestein,thepostofturnkeywasnotaveryonerousone,butratherasortofsinecure,givenafteralongperiodofservice.

           Buttheworthyjailer,inhiszeal,hadmagnifiedwithallthepowerofhisimaginationtheimportanceofhisoffice.TohimCorneliushadswelledtothegiganticproportionsofacriminalofthefirstorder.Helookeduponhim,therefore,asthemostdangerousofallhisprisoners.Hewatchedallhissteps,andalwaysspoketohimwithanangrycountenance;punishinghimforwhathecalledhisdreadfulrebellionagainstsuchaclementprinceastheStadtholder.

           ThreetimesadayheenteredVanBaerle’scell,expectingtofindhimtrespassing;butCorneliushadceasedtocorrespond,sincehiscorrespondentwasathand.Itisevenprobablethat,ifCorneliushadobtainedhisfullliberty,withpermissiontogowhereverheliked,theprison,withRosaandhisbulbs,wouldhaveappearedtohimpreferabletoanyotherhabitationintheworldwithoutRosaandhisbulbs.

           Rosa,infact,hadpromisedtocomeandseehimeveryevening,andfromthefirsteveningshehadkeptherword.

           Onthefollowingeveningshewentupasbefore,withthesamemysteriousnessandthesameprecaution.Onlyshehadthistimeresolvedwithinherselfnottoapproachtoonearthegrating.