Черный тюльпан
The Pigeons of Dort
Therefore,iftheenviouswretchhadnotleftDorttofollowhisrivaltotheHagueinthefirstplace,andthentoGorcumortoLoewestein,—forthetwoplacesareseparatedonlybytheconfluenceoftheWaalandtheMeuse,—VanBaerle’sletterwouldhavefallenintohishandsandnotthenurse’s:inwhicheventthepoorprisoner,liketheravenoftheRomancobbler,wouldhavethrownawayhistime,histrouble,and,insteadofhavingtorelatetheseriesofexcitingeventswhichareabouttoflowfrombeneathourpenlikethevariedhuesofamanycolouredtapestry,weshouldhavenaughttodescribebutawearywasteofdays,dullandmelancholyandgloomyasnight’sdarkmantle.
Thenote,aswehavesaid,hadreachedVanBaerle’snurse.
Andalsoitcametopass,thatoneeveninginthebeginningofFebruary,justwhenthestarswerebeginningtotwinkle,Corneliusheardonthestaircaseofthelittleturretavoicewhichthrilledthroughhim.
Heputhishandonhisheart,andlistened.
ItwasthesweetharmoniousvoiceofRosa.
Letusconfessit,Corneliuswasnotsostupefiedwithsurprise,orsobeyondhimselfwithjoy,ashewouldhavebeenbutforthepigeon,which,inanswertohisletter,hadbroughtbackhopetohimunderheremptywing;and,knowingRosa,heexpected,ifthenotehadeverreachedher,tohearofherwhomheloved,andalsoofhisthreedarlingbulbs.
Herose,listenedoncemore,andbentforwardtowardsthedoor.
Yes,theywereindeedtheaccentswhichhadfallensosweetlyonhisheartattheHague.
