Черный тюльпан
What was going on all this Time in the Mind of one of the Spectators
Theheadsman,ontheotherhand,hadscarcelyanythingtodotoearnhishundredguilders.Heneededonly,assoonastheexecutionwasover,toallowMynheerBoxteltoascendthescaffoldwithhisservants,toremovetheinanimateremainsofhisfriend.
Thethingwas,moreover,quitecustomaryamongthe“faithfulbrethren,”whenoneoftheirmastersdiedapublicdeathintheyardoftheBuytenhof.
AfanaticlikeCorneliusmightveryeasilyhavefoundanotherfanaticwhowouldgiveahundredguildersforhisremains.
Theexecutioneralsoreadilyacquiescedintheproposal,makingonlyonecondition,—thatofbeingpaidinadvance.
Boxtel,likethepeoplewhoenterashowatafair,mightbedisappointed,andrefusetopayongoingout.
Boxtelpaidinadvance,andwaited.
Afterthis,thereadermayimaginehowexcitedBoxtelwas;withwhatanxietyhewatchedtheguards,theRecorder,andtheexecutioner;andwithwhatintenseinteresthesurveyedthemovementsofVanBaerle.Howwouldheplacehimselfontheblock?howwouldhefall?andwouldhenot,infalling,crushthoseinestimablebulbs?hadnotheatleasttakencaretoenclosetheminagoldenbox,—asgoldisthehardestofallmetals?
Everytriflingdelayirritatedhim.
