Черный тюльпан
The Murderers
“WillMonseigneuravailhimselfofmyhorse?”askedtheCaptain.
“Ithankyou,Captain,Ishallusemyownsteed,whichiswaitingformecloseathand.”
Andtakingfromhispocketagoldenwhistle,suchaswasgenerallyusedatthattimeforsummoningtheservants,hesoundeditwithashrillandprolongedcall,onwhichanequerryonhorsebackspeedilymadehisappearance,leadinganotherhorsebythebridle.
William,withouttouchingthestirrup,vaultedintothesaddleoftheledhorse,and,settinghisspursintoitsflanks,startedofffortheLeydenroad.Havingreachedit,heturnedroundandbeckonedtotheCaptainwhowasfarbehind,toridebyhisside.
“Doyouknow,”hethensaid,withoutstopping,“thatthoserascalshavekilledJohndeWittaswellashisbrother?”
“Alas!Monseigneur,”theCaptainansweredsadly,“IshouldlikeitmuchbetterifthesetwodifficultieswerestillinyourHighness’swayofbecomingdefactoStadtholderofHolland.”
“Certainly,itwouldhavebeenbetter,”saidWilliam,“ifwhatdidhappenhadnothappened.Butitcannotbehelpednow,andwehavehadnothingtodowithit.Letuspushon,Captain,thatwemayarriveatAlphenbeforethemessagewhichtheStates-Generalaresuretosendtometothecamp.”
TheCaptainbowed,allowedthePrincetorideaheadand,fortheremainderofthejourney,keptatthesamerespectfuldistanceashehaddonebeforehisHighnesscalledhimtohisside
