Черный тюльпан
A Last Request
”
“Theblacktulip!”repliedVanBaerle,thrustinghalfhisbodyoutofthecarriagewindow.“Whereisit?whereisit?”
“Downthereonthethrone,—don’tyousee?”
“Idoseeit.”
“Comealong,sir,”saidtheofficer.“Nowwemustdriveoff.”
“Oh,havepity,havemercy,sir!”saidVanBaerle,“don’ttakemeaway!Letmelookoncemore!IswhatIseedowntheretheblacktulip?Quiteblack?Isitpossible?Oh,sir,haveyouseenit?Itmusthavespecks,itmustbeimperfect,itmustonlybedyedblack.Ah!ifIwerethere,Ishouldseeitatonce.Letmealight,letmeseeitclose,Ibegofyou.”
“Areyoumad,Sir?HowcouldIallowsuchathing?”
“Iimploreyou.”
“Butyouforgetthatyouareaprisoner.”
“ItistrueIamaprisoner,butIamamanofhonour,andIpromiseyouonmywordthatIwillnotrunaway,Iwillnotattempttoescape,—onlyletmeseetheflower.”
“Butmyorders,Sir,myorders.”Andtheofficeragainmadethedriverasigntoproceed.
Corneliusstoppedhimoncemore.
“Oh,beforbearing,begenerous!mywholelifedependsuponyourpity.Alas!perhapsitwillnotbemuchlonger.Youdon’tknow,sir,whatIsuffer.Youdon’tknowthestrugglegoingoninmyheartandmind.Forafterall,”Corneliuscriedindespair,“ifthisweremytulip,ifitweretheonewhichhasbeenstolenfromRosa!Oh,Imustalight,sir!Imustseetheflower!Youmaykillmeafterwardsifyoulike,butIwillseeit,Imustseeit.
