Черный тюльпан
The Pupil of John de Witt
“Thequestionisnow,”saidtheGrandPensionary,“whetherGryphuswillopenthisdoorforus.”
“Indeed,hewilldonosuchthing,”saidRosa.
“Well,andhowthen?”
“Ihaveforeseenhisrefusal,andjustnowwhilsthewastalkingfromthewindowoftheporter’slodgewithadragoon,Itookawaythekeyfromhisbunch.”
“Andyouhavegotit?”
“Hereitis,MynheerJohn.”
“Mychild,”saidCornelius,“IhavenothingtogiveyouinexchangefortheserviceyouarerenderingusbuttheBiblewhichyouwillfindinmyroom;itisthelastgiftofanhonestman;Ihopeitwillbringyougoodluck.”
“Ithankyou,MasterCornelius,itshallneverleaveme,”repliedRosa.
Andthen,withasigh,shesaidtoherself,“WhatapitythatIdonotknowhowtoread!”
“Theshoutsandcriesaregrowinglouderandlouder,”saidJohn;“thereisnotamomenttobelost.”
“Comealong,gentlemen,”saidthegirl,whonowledthetwobrothersthroughaninnerlobbytothebackoftheprison.Guidedbyher,theydescendedastaircaseofaboutadozensteps;traversedasmallcourtyard,whichwassurroundedbycastellatedwalls;and,thearcheddoorhavingbeenopenedforthembyRosa,theyemergedintoalonelystreetwheretheircarriagewasreadytoreceivethem.
“Quick,quick,mymasters!doyouhearthem?”criedthecoachman,inadeadlyfright.
Yet,afterhavingmadeCorneliusgetintothecarriagefirst,theGrandPensionaryturnedroundtowardsthegirl,towhomhesaid,—
“Good-bye,mychild!wordscouldneverexpressourgratitude.
