Черный тюльпан
Wherein the Reader begins to guess the Kind of Execution that was awaiting Van Baerle
”
“Youdonotlovehim?”
“Idonot;atleast,notasadaughteroughttodo,Monseigneur.”
“Itisnotrightnottoloveone’sfather,butitisrightnottotellafalsehood.”
Rosacasthereyestotheground.
“Whatisthereasonofyournotlovingyourfather?”
“Heiswicked.”
“Inwhatwaydoesheshowhiswickedness?”
“Heill-treatstheprisoners.”
“Allofthem?”
“All.”
“Butdon’tyoubearhimagrudgeforill-treatingsomeoneinparticular?”
“Myfatherill-treatsinparticularMynheervanBaerle,who——”
“Whoisyourlover?”
Rosastartedbackastep.
“WhomIlove,Monseigneur,”sheansweredproudly.
“Sincewhen?”askedthePrince.
“SincethedaywhenIfirstsawhim.”
“Andwhenwasthat?”
“ThedayafterthatonwhichtheGrandPensionaryJohnandhisbrotherCorneliusmetwithsuchanawfuldeath.”
ThePrincecompressedhislips,andknithisbrowandhiseyelidsdroppedsoastohidehiseyesforaninstant.Afteramomentarysilence,heresumedtheconversation.
“Buttowhatcanitleadtoloveamanwhoisdoomedtoliveanddieinprison?”
“Itwilllead,ifhelivesanddiesinprison,tomyaidinghiminlifeandindeath.”
“Andwouldyouacceptthelotofbeingthewifeofaprisoner?”
“AsthewifeofMynheervanBaerle,Ishould,underanycircumstances,betheproudestandhappiestwomanintheworld;but——”
“Butwhat?”
“Idarenotsay,Monseigneur
