Черный тюльпан
A Grateful People
“Goalongwithyou,”growledtheofficer,“youalwayscrythesamethingoveragain.Itisverytiresome.”
Withthis,hetookhispostattheheadofhistroops,whilstthetumultgrewfiercerandfiercerabouttheBuytenhof.
Andyetthefumingcrowddidnotknowthat,atthatverymomentwhentheyweretrackingthescentofoneoftheirvictims,theother,asifhurryingtomeethisfate,passed,atadistanceofnotmorethanahundredyards,behindthegroupsofpeopleandthedragoons,tobetakehimselftotheBuytenhof.
JohndeWitt,indeed,hadalightedfromhiscoachwithhisservant,andquietlywalkedacrossthecourtyardoftheprison.
Mentioninghisnametotheturnkey,whohoweverknewhim,hesaid,—
“Goodmorning,Gryphus;Iamcomingtotakeawaymybrother,who,asyouknow,iscondemnedtoexile,andtocarryhimoutofthetown.”
Whereuponthejailer,asortofbear,trainedtolockandunlockthegatesoftheprison,hadgreetedhimandadmittedhimintothebuilding,thedoorsofwhichwereimmediatelyclosedagain.
Tenyardsfartheron,JohndeWittmetalovelyyounggirl,ofaboutseventeenoreighteen,dressedinthenationalcostumeoftheFrisianwomen,who,withprettydemureness,droppedacurtesytohim.Chuckingherunderthechin,hesaidtoher,—
“Goodmorning,mygoodandfairRosa;howismybrother?”
“Oh,MynheerJohn!”theyounggirlreplied,“Iamnotafraidoftheharmwhichhasbeendonetohim.That’sallovernow.”
“Butwhatisityouareafraidof?”
“Iamafraidoftheharmwhichtheyaregoingtodotohim
