Черный тюльпан
Cornelius van Baerle’s Will
”
Onthisanswer,theRecordersalutedVanBaerlewithallthatconsiderationwhichsuchfunctionariesgenerallybestowupongreatcriminalsofeverysort.
Butwhilsthewasabouttowithdraw,Corneliusasked,“Bythebye,Mr.Recorder,whatdayisthething—youknowwhatImean—totakeplace?”
“Why,to-day,”answeredtheRecorder,alittlesurprisedbytheself-possessionofthecondemnedman.
Asobwasheardbehindthedoor,andCorneliusturnedroundtolookfromwhomitcame;butRosa,whohadforeseenthismovement,hadfallenback.
“And,”continuedCornelius,“whathourisappointed?”
“Twelveo’clock,sir.”
“Indeed,”saidCornelius,“IthinkIheardtheclockstriketenabouttwentyminutesago;Ihavenotmuchtimetospare.”
“Indeedyouhavenot,ifyouwishtomakeyourpeacewithGod,”saidtheRecorder,bowingtotheground.“Youmayaskforanyclergymanyouplease.”
Sayingthesewordshewentoutbackwards,andtheassistantturnkeywasgoingtofollowhim,andtolockthedoorofCornelius’scell,whenawhiteandtremblingarminterposedbetweenhimandtheheavydoor.
Corneliussawnothingbutthegoldenbrocadecap,tippedwithlace,suchastheFrisiangirlswore;heheardnothingbutsomeonewhisperingintotheearoftheturnkey.Butthelatterputhisheavykeysintothewhitehandwhichwasstretchedouttoreceivethem,and,descendingsomesteps,satdownonthestaircasewhichwasthusguardedabovebyhimself,andbelowbythedog.
