Черный тюльпан
The Family Cell
Whenthejailerreceivedthisnewinmate,andsawfromthewarrantthenameandstationofhisprisoner,hemutteredwithhisturnkeysmile,—
“GodsonofCorneliusdeWitt!Well,youngman,wehavethefamilycellhere,andwewillgiveittoyou.”
Andquiteenchantedwithhisjoke,theferociousOrangemantookhiscressetandhiskeystoconductCorneliustothecell,whichonthatverymorningCorneliusdeWitthadlefttogointoexile,orwhatinrevolutionarytimesismeantinsteadbythosesublimephilosopherswholayitdownasanaxiomofhighpolicy,“Itisthedeadonlywhodonotreturn.”
Onthewaywhichthedespairingfloristhadtotraversetoreachthatcellheheardnothingbutthebarkingofadog,andsawnothingbutthefaceofayounggirl.
Thedogrushedforthfromanicheinthewall,shakinghisheavychain,andsniffingallroundCorneliusinordersomuchthebettertorecognisehimincaseheshouldbeorderedtopounceuponhim.
Theyounggirl,whilsttheprisonerwasmountingthestaircase,appearedatthenarrowdoorofherchamber,whichopenedonthatveryflightofsteps;and,holdingthelampinherrighthand,sheatthesametimelitupherprettybloomingface,surroundedbyaprofusionofrichwavygoldenlocks,whilstwithherleftsheheldherwhitenight-dresscloselyoverherbreast,havingbeenrousedfromherfirstslumberbytheunexpectedarrivalofVanBaerle.
