[The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas (Pere)]@TWC D-Link book
The Black Tulip

CHAPTER 15
3/8

You learned people have dealings with the devil." "Nonsense, Master Gryphus.

Are you dissatisfied with the manner in which I have set your arm, or with the price that I asked you ?" said Cornelius, laughing.
"On the contrary," growled the jailer, "you have set it only too 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, and promised me that I should have my blessed three months for my 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 cross with that arm' (Gryphus was a Roman Catholic), 'I laugh at the devil.'" "But if you laugh at the devil, Master Gryphus, you ought with so much more reason to laugh at learned people." "Ah, learned people, learned people! Why, I would rather have to guard ten soldiers than one scholar.

The soldiers smoke, guzzle, and get drunk; they are gentle as lambs if you only give them brandy or Moselle, but scholars, and drink, smoke, and fuddle--ah, yes, that's altogether different.

They keep sober, spend nothing, and have their heads always clear to make conspiracies.


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