Черный тюльпан
What was going on all this Time in the Mind of one of the Spectators
WhydidthatstupidexecutionerthuslosetimeinbrandishinghisswordovertheheadofCornelius,insteadofcuttingthatheadoff?
ButwhenhesawtheRecordertakethehandofthecondemned,andraisehim,whilstdrawingforththeparchmentfromhispocket,—whenheheardthepardonoftheStadtholderpubliclyreadout,—thenBoxtelwasnomorelikeahumanbeing;therageandmaliceofthetiger,ofthehyena,andoftheserpentglistenedinhiseyes,andventeditselfinhisyellandhismovements.HadhebeenabletogetatVanBaerle,hewouldhavepounceduponhimandstrangledhim.
Andso,then,Corneliuswastolive,andwastogowithhimtoLoewestein,andthithertohisprisonhewouldtakewithhimhisbulbs;andperhapshewouldevenfindagardenwheretheblacktulipwouldflowerforhim.
Boxtel,quiteovercomebyhisfrenzy,fellfromthestoneuponsomeOrangemen,who,likehim,weresorelyvexedattheturnwhichaffairshadtaken.They,mistakingthefranticcriesofMynheerIsaacfordemonstrationsofjoy,begantobelabourhimwithkicksandcuffs,suchascouldnothavebeenadministeredinbetterstylebyanyprize-fighterontheothersideoftheChannel.
Blowswere,however,nothingtohim.HewantedtorunafterthecoachwhichwascarryingawayCorneliuswithhisbulbs.Butinhishurryheoverlookedapaving-stoneinhisway,stumbled,losthiscentreofgravity,rolledovertoadistanceofsomeyards,andonlyroseagain,bruisedandbegrimed,afterthewholerabbleoftheHague,withtheirmuddyfeet,hadpassedoverhim
