Черный тюльпан
A Grateful People
Inthismoment,CountTillyrodeforthtowardsthemsingle-handed,merelyliftinghisswordandcontractinghisbrowwhilstheaddressedthem:—
“Well,gentlemenoftheburgherguard,whatareyouadvancingfor,andwhatdoyouwish?”
Theburghersshooktheirmuskets,repeatingtheircry,—
“HurrahforOrange!Deathtothetraitors!”
“‘HurrahforOrange!’allwellandgood!”repliedTilly,“althoughIcertainlyammorepartialtohappyfacesthantogloomyones.‘Deathtothetraitors!’asmuchofitasyoulike,aslongasyoushowyourwishesonlybycries.But,astoputtingthemtodeathingoodearnest,Iamheretopreventthat,andIshallpreventit.”
Then,turningroundtohismen,hegavethewordofcommand,—
“Soldiers,ready!”
Thetroopersobeyedorderswithaprecisionwhichimmediatelycausedtheburgherguardandthepeopletofallback,inadegreeofconfusionwhichexcitedthesmileofthecavalryofficer.
“Holloa!”heexclaimed,withthatbanteringtonewhichispeculiartomenofhisprofession;“beeasy,gentlemen,mysoldierswillnotfireashot;but,ontheotherhand,youwillnotadvancebyonesteptowardstheprison.”
“Anddoyouknow,sir,thatwehavemuskets?”roaredthecommandantoftheburghers.
“Imustknowit,byJove,youhavemadethemglitterenoughbeforemyeyes;butIbegyoutoobservealsothatweonoursidehavepistols,thatthepistolcarriesadmirablytoadistanceoffiftyyards,andthatyouareonlytwenty-fivefromus.”
“Deathtothetraitors!”criedtheexasperatedburghers.
