Черный тюльпан
The President van Systens
”
“Butwhere?”
“Well,withyourmaster,ofcourse.”
“Withmymaster?”
“Yes,areyounotintheserviceofMasterIsaacBoxtel?”
“I?”
“Yes,you.”
“Butforwhomdoyoutakeme,sir?”
“Andforwhomdoyoutakeme?”
“Ihope,sir,Itakeyouforwhatyouare,—thatistosay,forthehonorableMynheervanSystens,BurgomasterofHaarlem,andPresidentoftheHorticulturalSociety.”
“Andwhatisityoutoldmejustnow?”
“Itoldyou,sir,thatmytuliphasbeenstolen.”
“ThenyourtulipisthatofMynheerBoxtel.Well,mychild,youexpressyourselfverybadly.Thetuliphasbeenstolen,notfromyou,butfromMynheerBoxtel.”
“Irepeattoyou,sir,thatIdonotknowwhothisMynheerBoxtelis,andthatIhavenowheardhisnamepronouncedforthefirsttime.”
“YoudonotknowwhoMynheerBoxtelis,andyoualsohadablacktulip?”
“Butisthereanyotherbesidesmine?”askedRosa,trembling.
“Yes,—thatofMynheerBoxtel.”
“Howisit?”
“Black,ofcourse.”
“Withoutspeck?”
“Withoutasinglespeck,orevenpoint.”
“Andyouhavethistulip,—youhaveitdepositedhere?”
“No,butitwillbe,asithastobeexhibitedbeforethecommitteeprevioustotheprizebeingawarded.”
“Oh,sir!”criedRosa,“thisBoxtel—thisIsaacBoxtel—whocallshimselftheowneroftheblacktulip——”
“Andwhoisitsowner?”
“Ishenotaverythinman?”
“Bald?”
“Yes.”
“Withsunkeneyes?”
“Ithinkhehas.”
“Restless,stooping,andbowlegged?”
“Intruth,youdrawMasterBoxtel’sportraitfeaturebyfeature.
