Черный тюльпан
The Murderers
Wecannottakeuponourselvestosaywhether,throughthealmostimperceptiblechinkoftheshutter,theyoungmanwitnessedtheconclusionofthisshockingscene;butattheverymomentwhentheywerehangingthetwomartyrsonthegibbethepassedthroughtheterriblemob,whichwastoomuchabsorbedinthetask,sogratefultoitstaste,totakeanynoticeofhim,andthushereachedunobservedtheTol-Hek,whichwasstillclosed.
“Ah!sir,”saidthegatekeeper,“doyoubringmethekey?”
“Yes,myman,hereitis.”
“Itismostunfortunatethatyoudidnotbringmethatkeyonlyonequarterofanhoursooner,”saidthegatekeeper,withasigh.
“Andwhythat?”askedtheother.
“BecauseImighthaveopenedthegatetoMynheersdeWitt;whereas,findingthegatelocked,theywereobligedtoretracetheirsteps.”
“Gate!gate!”criedavoicewhichseemedtobethatofamaninahurry.
ThePrince,turninground,observedCaptainVanDeken.
“Isthatyou,Captain?”hesaid.“YouarenotyetoutoftheHague?Thisisexecutingmyordersveryslowly.”
“Monseigneur,”repliedtheCaptain,“thisisthethirdgateatwhichIhavepresentedmyself;theothertwowereclosed.”
“Well,thisgoodmanwillopenthisoneforyou;doit,myfriend.”
Thelastwordswereaddressedtothegatekeeper,whostoodquitethunderstruckonhearingCaptainVanDekenaddressingbythetitleofMonseigneurthispaleyoungman,towhomhehimselfhadspokeninsuchafamiliarway.
Asitweretomakeupforhisfault,hehastenedtoopenthegate,whichswungcreakingonitshinges.
