Черный тюльпан
Cornelius van Baerle’s Will
”
“Which?Ishouldhavethoughtthatallwassettledbetweenus.”
“Yougivemethehundredthousandguildersasamarriageportion,don’tyou?”
“Yes.”
“AndundertheconditionofmymarryingamanwhomIlove?”
“Certainly.”
“Well,then,sir,thismoneycannotbelongtome.Ishallneverloveanyone;neithershallImarry.”
And,afterhavingwithdifficultyutteredthesewords,Rosaalmostswoonedawayintheviolenceofhergrief.
Cornelius,frightenedatseeinghersopaleandsinking,wasgoingtotakeherinhisarms,whenaheavystep,followedbyotherdismalsounds,washeardonthestaircase,amidstthecontinuedbarkingofthedog.
“Theyarecomingtofetchyou.OhGod!OhGod!”criedRosa,wringingherhands.“Andhaveyounothingmoretotellme?”
Shefellonherkneeswithherfaceburiedinherhandsandbecamealmostsenseless.
“Ihaveonlytosay,thatIwishyoutopreservethesebulbsasamostprecioustreasure,andcarefullytotreatthemaccordingtothedirectionsIhavegivenyou.Doitformysake,andnowfarewell,Rosa.”
“Yes,yes,”shesaid,withoutraisingherhead,“Iwilldoanythingyoubidme,exceptmarrying,”sheadded,inalowvoice,“forthat,oh!thatisimpossibleforme.”
Shethenputthecherishedtreasurenextherbeatingheart.
ThenoiseonthestaircasewhichCorneliusandRosahadheardwascausedbytheRecorder,whowascomingfortheprisoner.Hewasfollowedbytheexecutioner,bythesoldierswhoweretoformtheguardroundthescaffold,andbysomecurioushangers-onoftheprison
