Черный тюльпан
The Little Grated Window
Itwasstilllightenoughtosee,althoughindistinctly,throughthegrayhazeoftheevening,thevastexpanseofthehorizon.
“Whatviewhasonefromhere?”askedGryphus.
“Why,averyfineandpleasantone,”saidCornelius,lookingatRosa.
“Yes,yes,toomuchofaview,toomuch.”
Andatthismomentthetwopigeons,scaredbythesightandespeciallybythevoiceofthestranger,lefttheirnest,anddisappeared,quitefrightenedintheeveningmist.
“Halloa!what’sthis?”criedGryphus.
“Mypigeons,”answeredCornelius.
“Yourpigeons,”criedthejailer,“yourpigeons!hasaprisoneranythingofhisown?”
“Why,then,”saidCornelius,“thepigeonswhichamercifulFatherinHeavenhaslenttome.”
“So,herewehaveabreachoftherulesalready,”repliedGryphus.“Pigeons!ah,youngman,youngman!I’lltellyouonething,thatbeforeto-morrowisover,yourpigeonswillboilinmypot.”
“Firstofallyoushouldcatchthem,MasterGryphus.Youwon’tallowthesepigeonstobemine!Well,Ivowtheyareevenlessyoursthanmine.”
“Omittanceisnoacquittance,”growledthejailer,“andIshallcertainlywringtheirnecksbeforetwenty-fourhoursareover:youmaybesureofthat.”
Whilstgivingutterancetothisill-naturedpromise,Gryphusputhisheadoutofthewindowtoexaminethenest.ThisgaveVanBaerletimetoruntothedoor,andsqueezethehandofRosa,whowhisperedtohim,—
“Atnineo’clockthisevening.
