Черный тюльпан
The Events which took place during those Eight Days
”
“Well,then,beitso;butlovingmedoesnotbindyoutoomuch.”
“Unfortunately,itdoesnotbindmemorethanIambound;butitbindsyou,Rosa,you.”
“Towhat?”
“Firstofall,nottomarry.”
Shesmiled.
“That’syourway,”shesaid;“youaretyrantsallofyou.Youworshipacertainbeauty,youthinkofnothingbuther.Thenyouarecondemnedtodeath,andwhilstwalkingtothescaffold,youdevotetoheryourlastsigh;andnowyouexpectpoormetosacrificetoyouallmydreamsandmyhappiness.”
“Butwhoisthebeautyyouaretalkingof,Rosa?”saidCornelius,tryinginvaintorememberawomantowhomRosamightpossiblybealluding.
“Thedarkbeautywithaslenderwaist,smallfeet,andanoblehead;inshort,Iamspeakingofyourflower.”
Corneliussmiled.
“Thatisanimaginaryladylove,atallevents;whereas,withoutcountingthatamorousJacob,youbyyourownaccountaresurroundedwithallsortsofswainseagertomakelovetoyou.DoyourememberRosa,whatyoutoldmeofthestudents,officers,andclerksoftheHague?Aretherenoclerks,officers,orstudentsatLoewestein?”
“Indeedthereare,andlotsofthem.”
“Whowriteletters?”
“Theydowrite.”
“Andnow,asyouknowhowtoread——”
HereCorneliusheavedasighatthethought,that,poorcaptiveashewas,tohimaloneRosaowedthefacultyofreadingthelove-letterswhichshereceived.
“Astothat,”saidRosa,“Ithinkthatinreadingthenotesaddressedtome,andpassingthedifferentswainsinreviewwhosendthemtome,Iamonlyfollowingyourinstructions
