Черный тюльпан
The Happy Man makes Acquaintance with Misfortune
Thehousekeeperraisedherhandstoheaven.
AstoCorneliusvanBaerle,itmustbestatedtohishonour,notasaman,butasatulip-fancier,hisonlythoughtwasforhisinestimablebulbs.
Lookingaboutforapaperinwhichtowrapthemup,henoticedthefly-leaffromtheBible,whichCraekehadlaiduponthetable,tookitwithoutinhisconfusionrememberingwhenceitcame,foldedinitthethreebulbs,secretedtheminhisbosom,andwaited.
Atthisverymomentthesoldiers,precededbyamagistrate,enteredtheroom.
“AreyouDr.CorneliusvanBaerle?”demandedthemagistrate(who,althoughknowingtheyoungmanverywell,puthisquestionaccordingtotheformsofjustice,whichgavehisproceedingsamuchmoredignifiedair).
“Iamthatperson,MastervanSpennen,”answeredCornelius,politely,tohisjudge,“andyouknowitverywell.”
“Thengiveuptoustheseditiouspaperswhichyousecreteinyourhouse.”
“Theseditiouspapers!”repeatedCornelius,quitedumfoundedattheimputation.
“Nowdon’tlookastonished,ifyouplease.”
“Ivowtoyou,MastervanSpennen,”Corneliusreplied,“thatIamcompletelyatalosstounderstandwhatyouwant.”
“ThenIshallputyouintheway,Doctor,”saidthejudge;“giveuptousthepaperswhichthetraitorCorneliusdeWittdepositedwithyouinthemonthofJanuarylast.”
AsuddenlightcameintothemindofCornelius.
“Halloa!”saidVanSpennen,“youbeginnowtoremember,don’tyou?”
“IndeedIdo,butyouspokeofseditiouspapers,andIhavenoneofthatsort.”
“Youdenyitthen?”
“CertainlyIdo.
