Черный тюльпан
The Execution
ThensuddenlyVanBaerlefeltgentlehandsraisinghim,andsoonstoodonhisfeetagain,althoughtremblingalittle.
Helookedaroundhim.Therewassomeonebyhisside,readingalargeparchment,sealedwithahugesealofredwax.
Andthesamesun,yellowandpale,asitbehoovesaDutchsuntobe,wasshiningintheskies;andthesamegratedwindowlookeddownuponhimfromtheBuytenhof;andthesamerabble,nolongeryelling,butcompletelythunderstruck,werestaringathimfromthestreetsbelow.
VanBaerlebegantobesensibletowhatwasgoingonaroundhim.
HisHighness,William,PrinceofOrange,verylikelyafraidthatVanBaerle’sbloodwouldturnthescaleofjudgmentagainsthim,hadcompassionatelytakenintoconsiderationhisgoodcharacter,andtheapparentproofsofhisinnocence.
HisHighness,accordingly,hadgrantedhimhislife.
Corneliusatfirsthopedthatthepardonwouldbecomplete,andthathewouldberestoredtohisfulllibertyandtohisflowerbordersatDort.
ButCorneliuswasmistaken.TouseanexpressionofMadamedeSévigné,whowroteaboutthesametime,“therewasapostscripttotheletter;”andthemostimportantpartoftheletterwascontainedinthepostscript.
Inthispostscript,WilliamofOrange,StadtholderofHolland,condemnedCorneliusvanBaerletoimprisonmentforlife.Hewasnotsufficientlyguiltytosufferdeath,buthewastoomuchsotobesetatliberty
