Черный тюльпан
In which Van Baerle, before leaving Loewestein, settles Accounts with Gryphus
”
“Oh!oh!”saidCornelius,whoseheartfeltoppressedbythefirstdreadofdeath.“WhatquickworktheymakehereinthefortressofLoewestein.Andtherascaltalkedtomeoftwelvehours!”
“Ah!whatdidItellyou?”whisperedthecommunicativeguardintheearoftheculprit.
“Alie.”
“Howso?”
“Youpromisedmetwelvehours.”
“Ah,yes,butherecomestoyouanaide-de-campofhisHighness,evenoneofhismostintimatecompanionsVanDeken.Zounds!theydidnotgrantsuchanhonourtopoorMathias.”
“Come,come!”saidCornelius,drawingalongbreath.“Come,I’llshowtothesepeoplethatanhonestburgher,godsonofCorneliusdeWitt,canwithoutflinchingreceiveasmanymusket-ballsasthatMathias.”
Sayingthis,hepassedproudlybeforetheclerk,who,beinginterruptedinhiswork,venturedtosaytotheofficer,—
“But,CaptainvanDeken,theprotocolisnotyetfinished.”
“Itisnotworthwhilefinishingit,”answeredtheofficer.
“Allright,”repliedtheclerk,philosophicallyputtinguphispaperandpenintoagreasyandwell-wornwriting-case.
“Itwaswritten,”thoughtpoorCornelius,“thatIshouldnotinthisworldgivemynameeithertoachildtoaflower,ortoabook,—thethreethingsbywhichaman’smemoryisperpetuated.”
Repressinghismelancholythoughts,hefollowedtheofficerwitharesoluteheart,andcarryinghisheaderect.
CorneliuscountedthestepswhichledtotheEsplanade,regrettingthathehadnotaskedtheguardhowmanytherewereofthem,whichtheman,inhisofficialcomplaisance,wouldnothavefailedtotellhim.
