The Family Cell

           ItwasaboutmidnightwhenpoorVanBaerlewaslockedupintheprisonoftheBuytenhof.

           WhatRosaforesawhadcometopass.OnfindingthecellofCorneliusdeWittempty,thewrathofthepeopleranveryhigh,andhadGryphusfallenintothehandsofthosemadmenhewouldcertainlyhavehadtopaywithhislifefortheprisoner.

           Butthisfuryhadventeditselfmostfullyonthetwobrotherswhentheywereovertakenbythemurderers,thankstotheprecautionwhichWilliam—themanofprecautions—hadtakeninhavingthegatesofthecityclosed.

           Amomentarylullhadthereforesetinwhilsttheprisonwasempty,andRosaavailedherselfofthisfavourablemomenttocomeforthfromherhidingplace,whichshealsoinducedherfathertoleave.

           Theprisonwasthereforecompletelydeserted.WhyshouldpeopleremaininthejailwhilstmurderwasgoingonattheTol-Hek?

           GryphuscameforthtremblingbehindthecourageousRosa.Theywenttoclosethegreatgate,atleastaswellasitwouldclose,consideringthatitwashalfdemolished.Itwaseasytoseethatahurricaneofmightyfuryhadventeditselfuponit.

           Aboutfouro’clockareturnofthenoisewasheard,butofnothreateningcharactertoGryphusandhisdaughter.Thepeoplewereonlydragginginthetwocorpses,whichtheycamebacktogibbetattheusualplaceofexecution.

           Rosahidherselfthistimealso,butonlythatshemightnotseetheghastlyspectacle.

           Atmidnight,peopleagainknockedatthegateofthejail,orratheratthebarricadewhichservedinitsstead:itwasCorneliusvanBaerlewhomtheywerebringing.