Черный тюльпан
The Family Cell
ThegoodpeopleoftheHaguehadchoppedoffthefleshofitsvictims,butfaithfullycarriedtheremaindertothegibbet,tohaveapretextforadoubleinscriptionwrittenonahugeplacard,onwhichCornelius;withthekeensightofayoungmanoftwenty-eight,wasabletoreadthefollowinglines,daubedbythecoarsebrushofasign-painter:—
“HerearehangingthegreatrogueofthenameofJohndeWitt,andthelittlerogueCorneliusdeWitt,hisbrother,twoenemiesofthepeople,butgreatfriendsofthekingofFrance.”
Corneliusutteredacryofhorror,andintheagonyofhisfranticterrorknockedwithhishandsandfeetatthedoorsoviolentlyandcontinuously,thatGryphus,withhishugebunchofkeysinhishand,ranfuriouslyup.
Thejaileropenedthedoor,withterribleimprecationsagainsttheprisonerwhodisturbedhimatanhourwhichMasterGryphuswasnotaccustomedtobearoused.
“Well,now,bymysoul,heismad,thisnewDeWitt,”hecried,“butallthoseDeWittshavethedevilinthem.”
“Master,master,”criedCornelius,seizingthejailerbythearmanddragginghimtowardsthewindow,—“master,whathaveIreaddownthere?”
“Wheredownthere?”
“Onthatplacard.”
And,trembling,pale,andgaspingforbreath,hepointedtothegibbetattheothersideoftheyard,withthecynicalinscriptionsurmountingit.
Gryphusbrokeoutintoalaugh.
“Eh!eh!”heanswered,“so,youhavereadit.Well,mygoodsir,that’swhatpeoplewillgetforcorrespondingwiththeenemiesofhisHighnessthePrinceofOrange.
