Черный тюльпан
The Second Bulb
”
“Beonyourguard,friendGryphus;beonyourguardaslongasyouplease;myconspiracy,aswellasmyperson,isentirelyatyourservice.”
“We’llseethatatnoon.”
Sayingthis,Gryphuswentout.
“Atnoon?”repeatedCornelius;“whatdoesthatmean?Well,letuswaituntiltheclockstrikestwelve,andweshallsee.”
ItwasveryeasyforCorneliustowaitfortwelveatmidday,ashewasalreadywaitingfornineatnight.
Itstrucktwelve,andtherewereheardonthestaircasenotonlythestepsofGryphus,butalsothoseofthreeorfoursoldiers,whowerecomingupwithhim.
Thedooropened.Gryphusentered,ledhismenin,andshutthedoorafterthem.
“There,nowsearch!”
TheysearchednotonlythepocketsofCornelius,butevenhisperson;yettheyfoundnothing.
Theythensearchedthesheets,themattress,andthestrawmattressofhisbed;andagaintheyfoundnothing.
Now,Corneliusrejoicedthathehadnottakenthethirdsuckerunderhisowncare.Gryphuswouldhavebeensuretoferretitoutinthesearch,andwouldthenhavetreateditashedidthefirst.
AndcertainlyneverdidprisonerlookwithgreatercomplacencyatasearchmadeinhiscellthanCornelius.
GryphusretiredwiththepencilandthetwoorthreeleavesofwhitepaperwhichRosahadgiventoVanBaerle,thiswastheonlytrophybroughtbackfromtheexpedition.
AtsixGryphuscamebackagain,butalone;Corneliustriedtopropitiatehim,butGryphusgrowled,showedalargetoothlikeatusk,whichhehadinthecornerofhismouth,andwentoutbackwards,likeamanwhoisafraidofbeingattackedfrombehind.
