Черный тюльпан
The Hymn of the Flowers
Well,Ishallgetatthethroatofthatoldvillain,andstranglehim.”
Corneliusatthesewordsstoppedforamoment,bitinghislipsandstaringoutbeforehim;then,eagerlyreturningtoanideawhichseemedtopossessastrangefascinationforhim,hecontinued,—
“Well,andoncehavingstrangledhim,whyshouldInottakehiskeysfromhim,whynotgodownthestairsasifIhaddonethemostvirtuousaction,whynotgoandfetchRosafromherroom,whynottellherall,andjumpfromherwindowintotheWaal?Iamexpertenoughasaswimmertosavebothofus.Rosa,—but,ohHeaven,Gryphusisherfather!Whatevermaybeheraffectionforme,shewillneverapproveofmyhavingstrangledherfather,brutalandmaliciousashehasbeen.
“Ishallhavetoenterintoanargumentwithher;andinthemidstofmyspeechsomewretchedturnkeywhohasfoundGryphuswiththedeath-rattleinhisthroat,orperhapsactuallydead,willcomealongandputhishandonmyshoulder.ThenIshallseetheBuytenhofagain,andthegleamofthatinfernalsword,—whichwillnotstophalf-wayasecondtime,butwillmakeacquaintancewiththenapeofmyneck.
“Itwillnotdo,Cornelius,myfinefellow,—itisabadplan.But,then,whatistobecomeofme,andhowshallIfindRosaagain?”
SuchwerethecogitationsofCorneliusthreedaysafterthesadsceneofseparationfromRosa,atthemomentwhenwefindhimstandingatthewindow.
AndatthatverymomentGryphusentered.
